Yul: The Man Who Would Be King [Paperback]

Rock Brynner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1991

A dazzling and eye-opening memoir that captures one of the most charismatic figures of stage and screen--Yul Brynner--by Yul's only son. 32 pages of black-and-white photos.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Berkley (February 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425125475
• ISBN-13: 978-0425125472
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #740,063 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The man who would be king, September 18, 2005

By 

Kona (Emerald City) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Yul: The Man Who Would Be King : A Memoir of Father and Son (Hardcover)

This excellent biography of Yul Brynner, written by his son Rock, is a must-read for all of the King's many fans. It clarifies the often-conflicting stories of Yul Brynner's birth, describes his childhood in Paris (where he spent his time entertaining in gypsy night clubs), and his memorable stint on Broadway in "The King and I" in the 1950s. His film successes, such as "The King and I" and The Ten Commandments, and his many screen flops are discussed, but it is Yul, the family man, who is at the center of the book.

When Rock was young, his father doted on him; even after his parents divorced and Yul moved on through three more marriages, the two were close. But when his son failed to achieved stability or success as a young adult, Yul summarily cut off all ties with him for a while. In the 1980s, out of money (as always), Yul began an eight-year tour of "The King and I" which was hugely successful, but he identified with the role so completely, he became an unreasonable tyrant, alienating himself from those closest to him. He kept doing eight shows a week even after he was diagnosed with cancer, dying just weeks after his 4,633rd performance as the King.

This is a riveting biography about a fascinating man.

Kona

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life of the King, May 4, 2006

By 

Amazon_Junkie (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yul: The Man Who Would Be King : A Memoir of Father and Son (Hardcover)

I recently stumbled on this biography. I meant to flip through it to look up some trivia and ended up reading it cover to cover. It's an eye-opening and quite moving account of the actor we've come to associate with The King & I. The book details much of the circumstances around Brynner's films which I found most interesting. It's sad that such a gifted actor with a talent for directing ended up making so many B-movies. I really enjoyed this book. His rocky relationship with his son (no pun intended), adds a new dimension to his personna. The only drawback for me is that some of the events are told out of synch. For a good companion piece, read Yul Brynner: The Inscrutable King by Jhans Robbins. The chronology of events are clearer there. Plus, it has a complete list of Brynner's works.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sad tale, November 20, 2005

By 

Hanajima "Saki" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yul: The Man Who Would Be King : A Memoir of Father and Son (Hardcover)

I recently saw some movies of Yul Brynner and was much impressed by his talents as an actor and his incredible screen presence. I read this book to find out more about the man behind the actor. I felt extremely sad after learning how he would put fame above family and friends. Myself an immigrant twice in two different countries, and having to learn French as a second language and then English a while later, just like Yul had to, I experienced the same exclusion and injustice as he did and I understand his anger against the Fox executives and those who profited from the actors. I wished he did get a chance to become a movie director...and succeed as such because his life probably would have been very different. It is ironic that he would hate his father so much to the point of wanting to kill him for not being there for him but that he, would too, abandon his wives and children. Despite being disappointed in his behavior, he remains the greatest actor to my eyes. Bless his heart and I wish that in his next life, he would be a more forgiving and compassionate person.