Customer Reviews

Hans Conried: A Biography; With a Filmography and a Listing of Radio, Television, Stage and Voice Work

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As a voice artist and character performer myself, I have long been in the habit of studying the "old masters" (Mel Blanc, Paul Frees, Stan Freberg, Daws Butler, and of course Hans Conried). Since most of them are no longer with us, I can only study examples of their work, as well as books and articles about them. Sadly, such books and articles are very few and very far between, and it can be extremely difficult to track down which episodes of which radio series featured which performers.

Suzanne Gargiulo's book is a huge help with this. It's extremely well-researched, and includes quotations from Hans' friends, co-workers and family, as well as numerous photographs and other ephemera from the Hans Conried Special Collection at Boston University. Fortunately for posterity, Hans was a packrat, who saved reams of these items, which were then donated to the University, after his death in 1982. He was so prolific---particularly in radio drama and bit roles in films---that Suzanne's website (www.hansconriedbook.com) includes corrections and additions, as they come up.

However, for all its information, this book is a very easy, comfortable read---not at all dry (except, of course, for the examples of Hans' own wit). I found it impossible to put down, and my copy is now very well lived-in, with dog-eared pages, highlighting, and notes scribbled in the margins. Needless to say, I do NOT intend to part with it!

As this is the only book about the life of Hans Conried, it gave me a wealth of information to discover, about this wonderfully talented and versatile (some would even say TOO talented and TOO versatile) character actor. One particular gem of information: Not only did he voice Captain Hook and Mr. Darling in the Disney version of "Peter Pan", but he also performed in full costume in the live-action reference footage that was shot to assist the animators. Therefore, many of Hook's and Darling's gestures and mannerisms are really Hans' own!


The Filmography and listings of Stage, Television, Voice, and (above all) Radio Work have proved an invaluable resource in my efforts to track down examples of his work, to add to my own reference library, because in the 1930s, '40s and '50s, most radio performers were uncredited.

After reading and re-reading this book, I know what a wonderfully talented actor and delightful person, Hans Conried was. And I feel truly cheated, that I never got to speak with him personally, or to work with him.

This book belongs in the library of anyone who is, aspires to be, or appreciates voice actors, character actors, Shakespearean actors, radio drama, and eccentric characters in general. (And few characters are as eccentric as Hans himself.)

When you purchase the book, I recommend adding the video of "The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T.", so you can see Hans in the role of a lifetime, which should have (had the studio not butchered the film in the editing suite) launched his career into the stratosphere it deserved. The DVD set of the complete series of "Fractured Flickers" (hosted by Hans) is also worth adding!