Cary Grant: A Celebration

Rating:
Summary: Impeccably tasteful at all times
Review: Lavish pictorial biography illuminates this enchanting and enigmatic actor who has given countless hours of entertainment. This tribute interweaves a critical analysis of Grant's films--including such classics as She Done Him Wrong, Bringing Up Baby, His Girl Friday, The Philadelphia Story, Notorious, and To Catch A Thief--with biographical insights that provide a unique understanding of his art and his contribution to the history of film. A wealth of photos enliven fond memories while Mr. Schickel's text, ina style that approaches the elegance of the actor himself, masterfully maps the intersection where a great legend's personal history and screen personality meet. Illustrated throughout with black and white photography.

Rating:
Summary: A nice analysis of Grant's film career...
Review: Often, to sell copies, authors of celebrity biographies stoop to including gossip, rumors, and throughly unsubstantiated claims to ruin the reputation of the celebrity. Among other things, the nice thing about Cary Grant A Celebration is that it does not need to resort to these tactics, which are very tasteless, not to mention disrespectful for the celebrity involved.

In addition to having its lack of gossip as a recommendation, A Celebration is really a clear, interesting analysis of Cary Grant's career. It goes through each movie he made, reviews it, and presents a comprehensive theory on Grant's work and the times and man that led to its creation. The reviews, which are blended in to the narrative, are very useful for fans who want to know which movies are worth watching besides the obvious choices.

So, anyhow, this book has a simple but truthful biography of a real Hollywood legend, whose talent and originality on screen was only matched by his reticence and desire for privacy off of it. It is also a useful reference. For all of Cary Grant's fans and anyone interested in classic cinema in general, this is highly recommended. If you aren't interested in any of the above things, why are you looking here anyhow?

Rating:
Summary: Impeccably tasteful at all times
Review: Richard Schickel seems to love Cary Grant. And good on him. What he fails to do is translate that love to a book that should convey to the reader the life of Cary Grant.

He spends most of the book waxing lyrical about the different roles he has played and how his own personal feelings are represented in the roles he undertakes.

In a book that claims "to be more than a review of his movies" Richard Schickel completely bypasses his non-film achievements and notoriety. Maybe he is trying to shield the reader from his more questionable side.

The only refreshing deviance from the morbidity is the suggestion of his homosexuality, which is quickly refuted by another few pages of dripping prose.

I am now searching for another book to provide me an insight into this man. This one did not do it for me.

Rating:
Summary: Flowery, but no substance
Review: Richard Schickel seems to love Cary Grant. And good on him. What he fails to do is translate that love to a book that should convey to the reader the life of Cary Grant.

He spends most of the book waxing lyrical about the different roles he has played and how his own personal feelings are represented in the roles he undertakes.

In a book that claims "to be more than a review of his movies" Richard Schickel completely bypasses his non-film achievements and notoriety. Maybe he is trying to shield the reader from his more questionable side.

The only refreshing deviance from the morbidity is the suggestion of his homosexuality, which is quickly refuted by another few pages of dripping prose.

I am now searching for another book to provide me an insight into this man. This one did not do it for me.