From Publishers Weekly
Abandoned by his father shortly after birth in 1940 and "dropped off" with his maternal grandparents for several years, actor Al Pacino attributes both his drive and restlessness to his early childhood experiences. After leaving his Bronx, N.Y., home, he spent more than a decade on his own, holding a variety of odd jobs, struggling to make it as an actor. His break came with The Godfather in 1972; he cemented his reputation with leading roles in the two Godfather sequels, Scarface , Serpico and Dog Day Afternoon . Yule ( Fast Fade: David Puttnam, Columbia Pictures and the Battle for Hollywood ) relies primarily on interviews with Pacino's associates and material from other journalists to fill out this breezy biography. Covered are such matters as Pacino's "rivalry" with Dustin Hoffman and his liaisons with actresses Diane Keaton and Jill Clayburgh. Yule also quotes Pacino at length, lending evidence to the accepted wisdom that little is more tiresome than a Method actor talking about acting. For example, Pacino observes, "Doing a play like Richard III is being involved with words, with where we're from." Photos not seen by PW .
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
As one of America's most revered contemporary actors, Pacino is a dichotomy: acting in several disastrous films yet part of some of Hollywood's biggest successes; suffering from alcoholism yet possessing the ability to play roles of control; achieving his own star status yet constantly being confused with Dustin Hoffman. Author Yule, who also penned Fast Fade: David Puttnam ( LJ 1/89), takes the insider's view in writing this unauthorized biography. He chronicles Pacino's life, from his penurious childhood through last year's much-publicized Godfather III filming, relying on conversations with the actor's manager, acting teacher, closest friends, former lovers (including Jill Clayburgh and Diane Keaton), and at times Pacino himself. This is not as deep an emotional study as it promises to be, but ultimately it proves an interesting and entertaining work on a fascinating dramatic and artistic life.
- David Nudo, New YorkCopyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
