Rating: 
Summary: A Man of Many Paradoxes
Review: Apparently many of those who knew Lancaster best (family members, friends, and co-stars) had the same reactions to him that I did who knew him only through various characters he played throughout his film career. Whatever the role, he always seemed to me to be so self-assured, at times arrogant. Almost never encumbered by self-doubt. "Larger than life" in terms of his appetites. Obsessed with learning as much as he could about as many different subjects as he could and then leveraging his knowledge to gain advantage over others. But also tender, vulnerable, loving, gentle, sensitive, and compassionate. Even in his later years in films such as Atlantic City and Field of Dreams, Lancaster and the characters he played seem inseparable. By then, on and off the screen, age had obviously taken its toll but even so, there was always that sense of dignity, of personal pride, a twinkle in the eye. For me, Lancaster's personality and character are most evident in one of his least appreciated films, The Leopard. However, the same can also be said of the roles he plays in The Sweet Smell of Success, From Here to Eternity, Elmer Gantry, and Come Back, Little Sheba. Kate Buford's biography provides about as much information about Lancaster's life and career as I care to know. The man she reveals could well have said of himself what Whitman expresses in "Song of Myself": Do I contradict myself? Very well then, I contradict myself. I am large. I contain multitudes.
Rating:
Summary: '.A gifted 'carni'on high wire..made Hollywood's heyday..
Review: Author's research so intense--(like B.L.)...59 pages NOTES!..+plus extended bibliography. Burt's carnival life-on road,then as (USO) army-overseas..a lucky choice by agent-got him into film. He's credited being first of Indie producers..HHH Prod,..won over big studio lockouts. His "Sweet Smell of Success" now a book in development
Rating:
Summary: The Story of an American Original
Review: Burt Lancaster was an American original in every sense of the term. Born and raised in the melting pot atmosphere of New York City's East Harlem, Lancaster initially wins the respect of peers with his athletic prowess. He plays basketball in high school and college, then becomes a professional acrobat. He experiences tough times during the Depression as he seeks work in a series of faceless small towns as an acrobat. It was to his ultimate career benefit that World War Two came along, giving Lancaster a steady job as well as a launching pad to the career which would make him a fortune and an international celebrity. He becomes a USO performer and, upon his discharge, lands a part in a New York play. The play closed early, but Lancaster attracted a Hollywood talent scout's interest and was signed to a contract by Hal Wallis of Paramount.Lancaster became one of the fortunate few actors to become a full-fledged star in his first film. While his first film officially was the quickly forgotten "Desert Sun" at Paramount with Lizabeth Scott and John Hodiak, he was fortunate that his first ever released film was the much better received "The Killers," an adaptation of a famous Ernest Hemingway short story. Director Robert Siodmak knew that he had immediately struck gold with the explosive dynamism of leading man Lancaster and his high voltage leading lady, the sizzling Ava Gardner. Siodmak would work with Lancaster later in the noir thriller "Crisscross" opposite brunette bombshell Yvonne DeCarlo and in the sea adventure "The Crimson Pirate." Author Buford has heavily researched Lancaster's busy life, chronicling the fact that the actor's expensive lifestyle fored him into an exhausting cinema workload that would have killed a less powerful man. Interesting insights are provided into the creative process leading up to Lancaster's Oscar-winning performance in the 1960 adaptation of Sinclair Lewis' powerful novel about a basically sincere while profoundly debauched clergyman, "Elmer Gantry." Lancaster and the film's director, Richard Brooks, were equally combustible types. They spent a lot of time shouting at each other, but eventually hammered out a winning screenplay, for which Brooks received an Oscar. Another fascinating segment of the book deals with Lancaster's efforts in the producing field. As a partner in Hecht-Hill-Lancaster he shared in the triumph of a Hollywood first, a "Best Picture" Oscar for an independent production, removed from Tinseltown's then solidly dominant studio system. The film was "Marty" and it made its Oscar-winning star, Ernest Borgnine, into a major international leading man after an earlier seasoning period as a villain. Another ultimate triumph for the independent team was "Sweet Smell of Success." It is now renowned as one of the most biting and brilliantly original film noir efforts ever made, but, like so many classics, such as Hitchcock's "Vertigo," it took awhile for the film public to warm up to its greatness. Buford also explores Lancaster's life as a generous contributor to liberal causes. Unlike other more fair weather celebrity types, Lancaster always responded if he believed in the cause without once asking who else would be appearing with him. A man of staggering talent, imagination, and intelligence, the gifted Lancaster is fully explored, as well as his more troubled side, complexities befitting a sensitive artistic genius. Lancaster maintained a burning presence both on and off the screen. William Hare
Rating:
Summary: A dangerous man!
Review: Compliments to the author! This is probably the best investigated star biography I know - and the bluntest. Burt Lancaster grew up in New York under desolate conditions. His mother beat him. He found diversion in sports and practiced frequently. He became a true muscle man and even worked as acrobat. His magnificent body and his colgate smile became his biggest assets in Hollywood, but he wanted more: He gave dynamic performances in "issue" films, like SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, ELMER GANTRY and THE SWIMMER and became also a successful producer. Like most stars of his generation he survived the sixties in westerns, but late in life he was rewarded with worthwile roles in ATLANTIC CITY and LOCAL HERO. At one point, the author complains that today's filmgoers throw him in the same pot as Kirk Douglas and Charlton Heston, yet, despite her obvious admiration of his talents, something drives her to unveil the dark side of his life. I fully expected to discover some skeletons in his closet, but I didn't expect them to rattle so loud: It's neither the hint at bisexuality that shocks me, nor the revelation that a government agency kept a file about his secret life, that included "orgies" with Rock Hudson (She does not tell us what exactly happened at those orgies). No, the most shocking moment comes when Buford reveals that once he threw a woman to the floor with brute force. This case of grievous bodily harm was settled out of court, but I think it is too serious to be excused with charming Walt Whitman citations. Yet - we had been warned before: he was always on his guard, she tells us, because "He knew that he was able to kill a man". Like his character in THE LEOPARD he took what he wanted with the right of the sovereign. His marriage was a "must" marriage, but it produced 7 children, despite his wife's serious alcohol problems. He was apparently a dedicated father. Some of the details in this book excite real awe for the author, not because they are unsavory, but because they made it in this book at all: What Lancaster's sons did to a neighbor's swimming-pool (exactly what you think), that digestion was a topic at dinner table...How she made her interview-partners babble! Lancaster was a star who kept an "entourage": Generous in financial matters, he kept many people at arm's length, hereby preventing them, of course, to stand on their own feet. No one hindered Kate Buford to write a pretty, fan-pleasing hagiography. That she opted for honesty instead does her credit: Those are the only biographies worth reading, even if they are not always pleasant. Well done, Mrs. Buford!
Rating: 
Summary: More than a hunk
Review: From the cheesecake nude of Lancaster on the rear cover, one might expect only tales of sexual liasons in this Buford biography. What one gets is a new appreciation of this hunk of a film star. Lancaster was a film genius. He had the personal drive of a starving Irish artist, who did whatever it took to succeed. Learning of his life in the circus and in the Depression Era theater adds dimension to this pretty boy. Lancaster never lacked the desire to go further than just his pretty face. He saw the market potential for independent filmmakers and met the challenge. If anything, Buford's exacting details of Lancaster's business dealings slow the reading down. But one gains respect for Lancaster over all. Amazingly loyal to wife and family, Lancaster's final days without that tie to Norma were somewhat melancholy. However, what a rich life he had! What a gifted, determined actor he was! Despite the seamy immorality that always seems to rear its ugly head in these star biographies, one gains new admiration for the Hollywood star who was much more than a celluoid dream. Not a speedy read, but worthwhile.
Rating:
Summary: More than a hunk
Review: From the cheesecake nude of Lancaster on the rear cover, one might expect only tales of sexual liasons in this Buford biography. What one gets is a new appreciation of this hunk of a film star. Lancaster was a film genius. He had the personal drive of a starving Irish artist, who did whatever it took to succeed. Learning of his life in the circus and in the Depression Era theater adds dimension to this pretty boy. Lancaster never lacked the desire to go further than just his pretty face. He saw the market potential for independent filmmakers and met the challenge. If anything, Buford's exacting details of Lancaster's business dealings slow the reading down. But one gains respect for Lancaster over all. Amazingly loyal to wife and family, Lancaster's final days without that tie to Norma were somewhat melancholy. However, what a rich life he had! What a gifted, determined actor he was! Despite the seamy immorality that always seems to rear its ugly head in these star biographies, one gains new admiration for the Hollywood star who was much more than a celluoid dream. Not a speedy read, but worthwhile.
Rating: 
Summary: Could Lancaster really have been as boring as this?
Review: I bought the book as a moviegoer who has always found Lancaster an unusually powerful screen presence. He looks like he must have been an uncommon personality. You'd never guess it after reading this. Too much emphasis on the history of the film industry, not enough information or anecdotes about the man. And the editing is terrible ... lots of paragraphs that just don't hold together, irrelevant notes that an editor should have chopped (the geneology of the Lancaster name ... for a high-school level biography, maybe, but not for a pro). Maybe Lancaster turned out to be boring, and the author had to fill in the book with all this extra stuff to meet her obligations to the publisher?
Rating:
Summary: Riveting reading
Review: I enjoyed this book a great deal. While I was familiar with most of Lancaster's films, his private life was a mystery. One thing I do have to say for the author: she's thorough. Not to the point of boredom, but all her bases are covered. There's just enough information on Lancaster's background, and I found the story of his parents as fascinating as his. The accounts of his physical feats during his "circus" years were remarkable, as were his inner conflicts over some of the parts he played. Of special interest was the Hect collaboration and foray into producing. My only dislike of the book (and this echoes another reviewer) was Buford's teasing of the bisexuality theme. Why make oblique references to this unless you're going to give us some facts? Was he or wasn't he? There should be more to substantiate this, given the fact that a)This was Hollywood and everyone knew everyone else's business, and b) Lancaster is dead and, according to even the most die-hard Hollywood standards, this makes for fair game. But when all is said and done, this is a great read. I highly recommend this, along with Gerald Clarke's bio on Truman Capote.
Rating:
Summary: Riveting reading
Review: I enjoyed this book a great deal. While I was familiar with most of Lancaster's films, his private life was a mystery. One thing I do have to say for the author: she's thorough. Not to the point of boredom, but all her bases are covered. There's just enough information on Lancaster's background, and I found the story of his parents as fascinating as his. The accounts of his physical feats during his "circus" years were remarkable, as were his inner conflicts over some of the parts he played. Of special interest was the Hect collaboration and foray into producing. My only dislike of the book (and this echoes another reviewer) was Buford's teasing of the bisexuality theme. Why make oblique references to this unless you're going to give us some facts? Was he or wasn't he? There should be more to substantiate this, given the fact that a)This was Hollywood and everyone knew everyone else's business, and b) Lancaster is dead and, according to even the most die-hard Hollywood standards, this makes for fair game. But when all is said and done, this is a great read. I highly recommend this, along with Gerald Clarke's bio on Truman Capote.
Rating:
Summary: The Story of a Legend
Review: I hadn't paid very much attention to Burt Lancaster until just a few months ago. I didn't know what an outstanding actor he was. After reading this book, I feel I know him even more. This book is very detailed and thorough. It's obvious Kate Buford put enormous amounts of time and research into it. She did a great job. If you, like me, want to discover the real Burt Lancaster, this is the book to buy.
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