Customer Reviews

Under the Rainbow: An Intimate Memoir of Judy Garland, Rock Hudson and My Life in Old Hollywood

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There's plenty of dish, but it's never malicious. Carlyle is sufficiently realistic about his own shortcomings to earn your trust. It's interesting that a man so seduced by the allure of celebrity does such an effective job describing how bad stardom looks without its makeup. His intimacy with Judy Garland, especially, allows him to share some juicy stories only he can tell. He manages to do so while still remaining gentlemanly. All in all, it's a fascinating, detailed account of a bygone era, by a man who survived Hollywood with his ego a little bruised but his humanity intact.

Excellent, thoroughly enjoyable book. A shame Mr. Carlyle did not live to see publication of his memoirs. I truly hated putting down this book. When I came to the last chapter I set the book aside and forced myself to not finish the read, as I knew I would miss his tales. Even sans the Garland anecdotes, Mr. Carlyle's life was fascinating reading; however, the one odd note is Joan Fontaine's attitude throughout. That girl needs to relax! A delightfully bitter-sweet story. Bravo, Mr. Carlyle, for a life well lived!

I really enjoyed this book. I liked John Carlyle immediately into the first pages. I thought he was very honest about his life. He certainly had a more interesting life than most, particularly that it had a Hollywood twist. He sure never had any good roles or parts that I could see, but he never tried that hard to me. I wish he had told more and in more detail about his homosexual conquests if you would call them that-but as has been said previously, he was gentlemanly in his writings. Sometimes you weren't sure exactly what he was saying so you have to decide for yourself and he sure uses some big words (at least for me). But I enjoyed the local flavor of which locales I am all familiar with and I was right there with him in all his travels far and wide. I was very disappointed that there weren't more photos. I guess he never kept any. I REALLY would have liked to see photos from his youth up to the last days. That was real disappointing. But I think this book is going to be a keeper on my bookshelves, and that is saying a lot-because most are given to the library afterwards. In a postscript of my own, you can see his gravesite at <www.findagrave.com>. He's in good company there.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. John Carlyle lived a fascinating life. Although the info here about Judy Garland included no big surprises
for me, I enjoyed reading about her by somebody who was there for both the good and the bad times covered here.

I enjoyed reading this book, but its connection with Judy Garland can be misleading. John Carlyle does a good job in describing his friendship and deepening relationship with her. However, it's only a small part of the book. Just be aware that if you are a Garland fan, it's worth reading, even if you only read the parts about her.

However, I did enjoy learning about his own experiences as a young actor and the people he knew. Hollywood told from another perspective (the one who never made it big) was interesting.

The biography gets a bit bogged down when he describes his European trips, but he has a nice, friendly style of writing. He doesn't gossip too much, and he protects the names of those he probably could have mentioned.

I would have liked more photos. It only had one in the book and two on the dust jacket. I know the book was published after his death, but I would imagine his friends who edited his manuscript could have gotten access to more photos.

I would like to have seen his cut scenes from the 1954 A Star is Born; too bad none seem to have survived the years.

Author John Carlyle isn't just a researcher doing yet another Hollywood expose: his UNDER THE RAINBOW: AN INTIMATE MEMOIR OF JUDY GARLAND, ROCK HUDSON & MY LIFE IN OLD HOLLYWOOD comes from an insider who was Judy Garland's on/off lover, and who tells of his life with her and encounters with her contemporaries. UNDER THE RAINBOW recreates the atmosphere, involvements and drama of the Hollywood of the 1950s, 60s and 70s: as such it's a top pick not only for fans of Judy Garland, but for broader audiences and library collections interested in Hollywood history and culture as a whole.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I found the story very entertaining. I enjoyed how the author was able to bring his early years together with his adult life and how those early years define who he was. Especially in a time where society did not discuss homosexuality and problems in the home. His ability to describe his experiences enable the reader to keep turning the pages.

It's sad to think that John didn't live to see his memoirs published. I found it endlessly memorable and interesting. He led a fascinating life, full of excitement and travels. Had he applied himself better, perhaps he would have done better in the industry. As it was, he only touched the edges. I loved his book.

A most interesting posthumous bio of a little known actor of the '50s, '60s,..and his experiences and impressions of the Hollywood of that era.

John Carlyle was a lifelong "wannabe" in Hollywood. He was hopelessly smitten with Judy Garland from his youth, and only a bit less smitten with Joan Fontane. Eventually he apparently became close to Judy for a relatively short time. And he knew lots of people in the Hollywood scene of the 50's, 60's and 70's. But his memoir about these actors, producers, directors and agents is flawed by fuzzy writing and perhaps fuzzy memory. People in his circle DID drink a lot and do lots of drugs in those days. Light reading for anybody inerested in the movie industry of the last half of the 20th Century.