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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
In this engaging biography, Nolan (Rodgers and Hammerstein: The Sound of Their Music) presents an affecting portrayal of the man who teamed up with Richard Rodgers to write A Connecticut Yankee, Pal Joey, On Your Toes and many other successful musical comedies. Hart, who was barely five feet tall, disorganized, homosexual, irresponsible and infinitely witty and charming-the opposite of the conventional and reserved Rodgers-was a genius with words who could transform and revitalize the commercial song lyric. Nevetheless, low self-esteem and a self-destructive tendency colored his life, causing his friend Mabel Mercer to describe him as "the saddest man I ever knew." Eventually his erratic behavior broke up his partnership with Rodgers, who began collaborating instead with Oscar Hammerstein. Hart, dissipated and weakened by alcoholism, died in 1943 at the age of 48, leaving behind a legacy of hundreds of wonderful songs such as "Ten Cents a Dance," "My Funny Valentine" and "My Heart Stood Still." Nolan vividly captures the personality of this talented and unstable man, as well as the spirit of the entertainment world. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
A breezy and frank, yet exhaustively researched biography of Broadway's "Laureate of Lyrics," who, with Richard Rodgers, authored the hit musicals Pal Joey and On Your Toes, as well as a host of classic popular songs including "My Funny Valentine," "The Lady is a Tramp," and many others. When the 24-year-old Hart met the 16-year-old Rodgers, some said it was, for Hart, "love at first sight," though Rodgers claimed never to be aware of what Nolan calls Hart's "sexual ambivalence." From their big splash in 1925 with the hit song "Manhattan," through the innovative Pal Joey (1940) and their sort-of falling out in 1942 (which resulted in Rodgers teaming with Oscar Hammerstein to do Oklahoma!), the two set the standard for musical comedy on Broadway and in Hollywood. If Hart's homosexuality was, as Nolan claims, his "personal tragedy," drink and the high life were the means to his early death at 47 in 1943. Nolan's account of Hart's life provides a wonderful look at Broadway's Golden Age, and a quite readable, informal peak backstage. Unfortunately, his failure to secure permission to use Hart's lyrics leaves a hole in an otherwise fine effort. Ron Antonucci
See all Editorial Reviews
In this engaging biography, Nolan (Rodgers and Hammerstein: The Sound of Their Music) presents an affecting portrayal of the man who teamed up with Richard Rodgers to write A Connecticut Yankee, Pal Joey, On Your Toes and many other successful musical comedies. Hart, who was barely five feet tall, disorganized, homosexual, irresponsible and infinitely witty and charming-the opposite of the conventional and reserved Rodgers-was a genius with words who could transform and revitalize the commercial song lyric. Nevetheless, low self-esteem and a self-destructive tendency colored his life, causing his friend Mabel Mercer to describe him as "the saddest man I ever knew." Eventually his erratic behavior broke up his partnership with Rodgers, who began collaborating instead with Oscar Hammerstein. Hart, dissipated and weakened by alcoholism, died in 1943 at the age of 48, leaving behind a legacy of hundreds of wonderful songs such as "Ten Cents a Dance," "My Funny Valentine" and "My Heart Stood Still." Nolan vividly captures the personality of this talented and unstable man, as well as the spirit of the entertainment world. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
A breezy and frank, yet exhaustively researched biography of Broadway's "Laureate of Lyrics," who, with Richard Rodgers, authored the hit musicals Pal Joey and On Your Toes, as well as a host of classic popular songs including "My Funny Valentine," "The Lady is a Tramp," and many others. When the 24-year-old Hart met the 16-year-old Rodgers, some said it was, for Hart, "love at first sight," though Rodgers claimed never to be aware of what Nolan calls Hart's "sexual ambivalence." From their big splash in 1925 with the hit song "Manhattan," through the innovative Pal Joey (1940) and their sort-of falling out in 1942 (which resulted in Rodgers teaming with Oscar Hammerstein to do Oklahoma!), the two set the standard for musical comedy on Broadway and in Hollywood. If Hart's homosexuality was, as Nolan claims, his "personal tragedy," drink and the high life were the means to his early death at 47 in 1943. Nolan's account of Hart's life provides a wonderful look at Broadway's Golden Age, and a quite readable, informal peak backstage. Unfortunately, his failure to secure permission to use Hart's lyrics leaves a hole in an otherwise fine effort. Ron Antonucci
See all Editorial Reviews
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