Customer Reviews

Vanity Will Get You Somewhere: An Autobiography

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This was one of the best autobiographies I have ever read! For any Joseph Cotten fan or classic movie fan it is a must. Joseph Cotten reveals everything from life as a child in VA to college to becoming a star, and all of the relationships he made along the way. I picked the book up once and didn't put it down until I had read every word.

I bought the hardback version of this book when it was first published in 1987, and I still have that copy. I was at the time a big fan of Joseph Cotten's films, and I still believe he was one of the best, most natural actors of the 1940s and 1950s. Of course, his career took him from stage to radio, from film to television and back to film, and if you take the time to look at his filmography you see him starring with some of the most famous movie stars of the twentieth century. He certainly was underrated, but I think that as you read his autobiography you'll see that he was an extremely humble man who truly enjoyed his life and was a dedicated husband as well.

His autobiography falls into two parts, from the beginning of his life to the death of his first wife, and then from the time he meets his second wife, Patricia Medina, to his recollections of a serious stroke.

If you are interested in Joseph Cotten and the loving relationship he had with Patricia Medina, you really need to read her own autobiography, entitled Laid Back in Hollywood: Remembering, and available second-hand on Amazon.com. It tells the story of her life up to the time that Joseph Cotten died, and I was moved by how much they loved one another. It is very inspiring.

Looking at both books together it does seem that Patricia Medina helped Joseph Cotten edit his own book, because she has a wacky sense of humor that comes through in both her book and the second half of Vanity Will Get You Somewhere. The other thing I noticed about this book when I revisited it was that it is somewhat sparse in some details, and other things are written about with great detail. I think the first half is actually better written.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Joseph Cotten, any of the films he made, or to read about what it was like to be a movie star during Hollywood's glamorous heyday. It was also fun to read about Joseph Cotten's many travels. I remember visiting Venice for the first time and excitedly going to Harry's Bar because I read about it in Cotten's book.

I always looked at Joseph Cotten as an interesting, humorous man who would have been a delightful companion. Vanity Will Get You Somewhere does nothing to dispel my admiration, not just for the actor, but the human being.

As autobiographies go, this is a bit spotty. It is linear in most respects, but some things are left out. Those looking for exhaustive, film-by-film analysis will be disappointed. Cotten is more keen to provide an overview of his life and relationships, with emphasis on anecdotes regarding Hedda Hopper, Marilyn Monroe, David O. Selznick and Jennifer Jones and, of course, Orson Welles. Cotten admits to being an imperfect husband the first time around, and it's clear he did much better on his second attempt. His adoration for Patricia Medina flows through all pages where she is present, and it's clear that her sense of humor complements his beautifully. He describes their travels and gatherings in such a way that I am sad to have been born too late to take part.

To have made your film debut in a major role in Citizen Kane is no small thing. To originate the role of C.K. Dexter Haven in the stage version of Philadelphia Story is splendid. To write about all of it without making yourself sound like an egocentric jerk? That's what Joseph Cotten does here. Brilliant, gentlemanly and funny - highly recommended.

I LOVE this book! One of the best Autobiographies I've read!
If you are a Joe Cotten fan, I recommend this book!