Julie Andrews: A Bio-Bibliography (Bio-Bibliographies in the Performing Arts) [Hardcover]

Les Spindle (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0313262233 | ISBN-13: 978-0313262234 | Publication Date: September 12, 1989 | Edition: annotated edition

For fans of Julie Andrews as well as students of the performing arts, Spindle's reference chronicles the professional career of one of the world's most loved performers. No other book provides such a wealth of detail on the career achievements of Julie Andrews or delineates all her professional activities so thoroughly. A complete, all-in-one resource, the volume presents a comprehensive and accurate profile of the people, projects, artistic highs and lows, and general influences that propelled the actress into the public eye beginning in the late 1950s. Starting with Andrews' first film, "Mary Poppins," Spindle examines each of her 16 films including such classics as "Sound of Music," "Hawaii," "Victor/Victoria," and ending with her latest film, "Duet for One." He provides a detailed commentary on factors influencing her short reign as a box office superstar in the mid-1960s, for Andrews is an anomaly in that she has retained her fame and admired celebrity status long after ceasing to be a Hollywood superstar. Besides film work, all other aspects of Andrews' career (theatre, television, personal appearances, concerts, recordings, and even her fiction for children) are considered. An episode-by-episode summary in the Television Appearances chapter is the only published survey of the entire 1972-1973 ABC-TV variety series, The Julie Andrews Hour. In his preface, Spindle offers a lively discussion of the eclectic and highly individual career of a perennial trooper and star whose career he likens to a roller coaster. This is followed by a biography and chronology which summarizes events and landmarks in Andrews' life. The next four chapters scrutinize major professional achievements in-depth, including Filmography, Stage and Television Appearances, and Discography. All entries in the four sections correspond to a particular career achievement, and consecutive numbering facilitates both subject index use and cross referencing within chapters. Over 150 reference sources, including books, and magazine and news articles are listed in the comprehensive bibliography. The three appendices review awards and nominations, identify roles considered but not played, and describe the two children's books written by the actress. A readable and informative reference work for students and scholars of the performing arts and popular culture, as well as for fans of movie musicals, this volume should also find a place on the shelves of most libraries.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Spindle, author of numerous articles on computers and entertainment, has compiled the first extensive biobibliography covering the career of entertainer Julie Andrews. The book aligns into ten sections: a 17-page biography; short chronology of Andrew's life; complete filmography, including credits, cast, synopses, excerpts from reviews, and commentary; chronologically arranged television appearances, with synopses; discography, including list of tracks; 185-item bibliography; awards and nominations; `roles Julie (almost) played'; and her books for children. Spindle also adds a good subject index and 14 black-and-white film stills. Will serve as a welcome addition to two biographies, R. Windeler's Julie Andrews (1983) and J. Cottrell's Julie Andrews (1969), as well as articles on Andrews in standard theater and film annuals. Recommended for all public and academic libraries serving a numerous popular entertainment clientele.”–Choice

“We get a useful biography, analysis of her stage, singing and film careers and appendices listing films, stage and television appearances and discs. Many forget that Andrews has appeared in such important cinematic works (by aesthetic, social and economic criteria) as The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, and Victor/Victoria. She and husband, director Blake Edwards, have long been partners in making contemporary comedies. This is a useful reference book.”–CAST/Communication Booknotes

“Well-researched and comprehensive . . . includes a lively biography, complete credits, annotated bibliography and other valuable source material.”–American Cinematographer

“Julie Andrews, number six in the Greenwood Press' "Bio-Bibliography" series, is a very thorough as well as attractive record of her career in films, television, stage and records. Its few illustrations are well selected and representative of her entire career - one with highs and lows - and containing at least one underrated masterpiece, Star (1968), to ge beside such gems as Mary Poppins (1964) and Victor, Victoria (1982), which nearly everyone loved. A bibliography lists book and periodical references of the star. Roles which Miss Andrews rejected are also listed . . . The book will be a "must" for every Andrews fan, and it is an excellent reference source for its subject.”–Videomania

About the Author

LES SPINDLE is Senior Editor at EEsof in Westlake Village, California, where he writes and edits user manuals for computer software.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 163 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press; annotated edition edition (September 12, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313262233
• ISBN-13: 978-0313262234
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,733,787 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Les Spindle is a theater writer and critic for Back Stage, the actors' trade paper, which is based in New York and Los Angeles. He's also a longtime contributor in theater topics to Frontiers In La magazine, and a member of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle. He also contributes to The Hollywood Reporter and is a monthly columnist for Theatermania.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ONE OF THE BEST-WRITTEN BOOKS ON JULIE ANDREWS!, June 29, 2000

By 

Robert Corbell - See all my reviews

This review is from: Julie Andrews: A Bio-Bibliography (Bio-Bibliographies in the Performing Arts) (Hardcover)

As a loyal fan of Julie Andrews, I have followed her life & career over the past twenty or so years with much interest. In my humble opinion, Mr. Spindle's book is a major and welcome addition to the short list of Julie biographies. This is the first book to truly cover Julie's ENTIRE career, spanning the Broadway stage, film, television, concert tours and her writing career. It is exceptionally well-organized, divided into 4 major areas - Films, Stage, Television & Recordings - and the author has invested much time and research in this major compendium. Mr. Spindle truly deserves some kind of award for this major undertaking, for discussing Ms. Andrews's career can be a daunting task. Most of the fans I know (after running a Julie fan club for five years) have stated they enjoyed the book, and found it an accurate and well-crafted work. As well as the four main sections just mentioned, the book also contains a short outline biography, a chronology, lengthy bibliography and index. The photo section is very impressive, with some great shots from "The Julie Andrews Hour" (ABC) not seen in previous books on Julie, as well as other photos. The shot from "Duet For One" with Julie holding the violin, is simply lovely. The author (or editor) did a good job in the photo selections. I must mention that the book was part of a series of "Bio-Bibliographies in the Performing Arts" published by Greenwood Press in the 1980s. Other volumes discussed such stars as Patty Duke, Elvis and Sinatra. Worthy company for our Julie! I must mention that there are several errors in the book, most noticable in the Bibliography and Discography sections. Several entries for books and magazines contain factual & grammatical errors. The blame for this should probably go to the editor or proofreader & NOT to the author, as one malicious "fan" deemed. The Discography is extremely well-organzied, containing Julie's early recordings done in England when she was a child performer - the FIRST Andrews biography to include these recordings, I might add. This section should serve as a model for standard discography listings in future biographies; with full details such as record label, year and catalog number. Mr. Spindle unfortunately appears not to have been aware of several audiotapes narrated by Julie in the mid-eighties for Dove Audio - an abridged version of her own book, MANDY, as well as lending her voice to one story on THE SUMMER FRIEND, and narrating yet another audiotape, the classic tale of knomes in THE LITTLE GREY MEN (one of Julie's favourites when she was a child). The author also makes a few minor errors in the TV section as well, such as stating in the entry for "The David Frost Show" (1970) that she appears "with future husband Blake Edwards" while the fact is they were married in 1969. A major accomplishment is the author's detailed listing of every episode for Julie's variety show, "The Julie Andrews Hour" (1972-73). This section alone shows how much time and work the author put into this project. The book has some interesting sections, such as the listing of film roles Julie either turned down or was considered for, among them the comedy "Forty Carats" (which starred Liv Ullman), "International Velvet," a sequel to "National Velvet;" and "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" which won an Academy Award for Maggie Smith. Julie would have given a superb performance as the lonely middle-aged schoolteacher who deals with life as best she can. A pity that Julie turned down the role. In summing up, I consider this book one of THE BEST volumes ever written on Julie Andrews; and it is a major achievement in which the author discusses every aspect of her glorious career. Throw in a delightful photo section, as well as outline biography & very lengthy bibliography, and I think any Julie Andrews fan who reads this book will find it just as compelling & well-crafted as I have. Take a bow, Mr. Spindle. You have done an excellent job with this exceptional book!

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing because it could have been much better!, July 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Julie Andrews: A Bio-Bibliography (Bio-Bibliographies in the Performing Arts) (Hardcover)

As a great fan of Ms. Andrews I find this book a major disappointment. Despite finding several fans' names acknowledeged(including my own!)in the book I can't help but wonder if the author sought enough help from any of us or asked our advice. I'm sure we could have assisted in correcting mistakes and adding much more valuable information on Julie's career! The book was overpriced when it was printed nearly 10 years ago and remains even more so! A brochure from Greenwood Press states that the book is "a complete, all-in-one resource, the volume represents a comprehensive and accurate profile.." The book is certainly an ATTEMPT as an all-in-one resource. As far as being complete, comprehensive and accurate it most certainly is NOT! The concept of the book seems fine. Dividing Julie's career into 4 major areas(Films, Stage, Television and Recordings) would make sense to most fans as she has had major achievements in each field. A short biography, chronology, bibliography, several appendixes, and index thrown in for good measure would on the surface suggest a well organized book. However the small selection of black and white photos included is disappointing. Only beautiful color shots of one of the most attractive and photogenic actresses of our time would have done Julie justice! At the very least a generous selection of candid shots of Julie at work or relaxing would have been much better than what was chosen. I'm amazed that the publishers (Greenwood Press) can't afford to give us a nice dustcover for the book (no dustcover is included). Apparently only Elvis and Ol'Blue Eyes deserve dust covers in Greenwood's series of biographies.Everyone else in this series deserves nothing which I think is a slap in the face to Julie and many other great entertainers. Aside from bad window dressing let's pick out a section of the book - Discography. The discography is far and away the most disappointing section of the book. When the book was published in l989 we were very much into the world of ! Compact Discs. Julie had several CDs issued at that time. The book mentions NONE. To repeat, the book mentions no compact discs at all! Most of the listing is composed of tired old LPs that very few people collect anymore. That wouldn't be so bad, but the author lists several LPs with no tracks at all! This is unforgiveable. How difficult would it have been for the author to call some fans and ask what the tracks were on every LP issued on Julie? I maintain that it would not have been hard at all. Mr. Spindle(the author) owes all of us an apology for this oversight as well as numerous errors and omissions. Greenwood Press owes all of us an apology as well for not proofing the book in an accurate manner. I will mention several errors that I have picked out at random. The album "Love, Julie" is listed as being released in January, l988. That is strange because I bought my copy in the summer of l987! The LP "An Evening With Julie Andrews" is listed as only being released in Japan. I have an Australian pressing in my collection! The author omits a cassette only recording of Julie's reading of her own children's book: "Mandy" as well as 2 other cassette only releases with Julie's voice. The TV listing in the book omits tons of interviews that Julie did on Entertainment Tonight and other shows. A Japan TV concert appearance is not listed from the late l970's, a PBS Special with co-host Bill Bixby entitled The Puzzle Children is omitted as well.An appearance that is listed (David Frost show of l970) mentions Julie with"future husband Blake Edwards". Julie and Blake were already married at that time! A TV special with Rudolph Nureyev (Invitation to the Dance)was not broadcast from New York but the Merriweather Post Pavillion in Columbia, Maryland! The only saving grace of this book is the detailed listings it gives us of each episode of the "Julie Andrews Hour" broadcast in the early l970's. If only the rest of the book could have been so meticulous as this! section I would not have a problem with it! Please note that the errors and omissions that I have mentioned were easily found by my perusing the book. I have never sat down and examined each section thoroughly and tried to find just how many mistakes there are in this volume. I will leave that chore to any serious Julie fan who wants to take on this daunting task! The book does contain some interesting facts but one is left with the feeling that the author must have had a deadline and in order to meet it he sacrificed a lot of accuracy. I truly hope that not too many editions of this book have graced library shelves. Since the book has not been reprinted in nearly a decade hopefully not too many copies have been sold. I would still tell most Julie fans that if they must collect everything by all means buy this book. But to the average fan or someone merely interested in Ms. Andrews life and career please don't regard the book as a serious reference work! In my humble opinion the only book that has come close to being a great all around reference book on Julie is the Arntz and Wilson book which is now sadly out of print. It is certainly the best book on Julie ever published. The Les Spindle book which I have just reviewed will remain a great disappointment to most fans of Julie. I think it is up to the fans to demand that an accurate bio-bibliography on Julie does indeed appear! Julie certainly deserves one as do her fans!

Review by Richard Pearson