Christopher Plummer (1929–2021)

Finally finished it, only seven months after I began it. True, there were several weeks through the summer I did not touch it. Once I got into the rhythm of the book, it went better. I realized it made for good bedtime reading. I don't mean that it is so boring it put me to sleep! The book is a compilation of vignettes throughout Plummer's life. It's easy to read a few pages and stop: perfect for calming down my mind at the end of the day in preparation for sleep. With a novel, you want to know what happens next; this was more like short stories, but rarely heart-racing, keep-you-awake stuff.

I admit to likely the final third of the book best; probably because the stories are shorter, and they are about people or projects that I have heard of (more than the first two-thirds). The style is also less garrulous in the latter part.

Overall, I think Plummer has written about the stage and its players (and film) more than his life per se. He is arrogant and a rogue, yes, but he acknowledges that about himself, even if he does not apologize for it. I took the "name-dropping" not so much as a "I'm so great because I've worked with all these great people" but as a record of what the acting world is/was like throughout his life. As a historical record, I think his memoir has value. It records a lifestyle that no longer exists, of people who will now not be forgotten.

His love of Shakespeare comes across throughout the book; especially his admiration of [b:The Tempest|12985|The Tempest|William Shakespeare|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275657977s/12985.jpg|1359590], having read the book during the season he played Prospero at Stratford in Ontario made the experience of seeing him on stage and reading the book that much more meaningful.
… (mais)

It took me the better part of two weeks to read this - not because it is a bad book but because it is so overwhelming in scope. I was amazed at the number of people this man has worked with over the last forty years, ranging from Lillian Hellman and Raymond Massey to Russell Crowe and Spike Lee. The sheer number of names dropped from the world of Hollywood and New York Theatre are amazing. Plummer is probably best known as the Baron von Trapp from the Sound of Music and after thirty years or so he now admits that the film is actually pretty good, even though for years he called it "The Sound of Mucus" or "S&M". He still maintains that as a non-singer and non-dancer he was horribly miscast but does now admit that the film itself isn't awful. This is a fascinating autobiography full of life, humor and tragedy, some his own most of the various stars he has worked with over the years. It was slow going but well worth the time and effort spend.… (mais)

Finally finished it, only seven months after I began it. True, there were several weeks through the summer I did not touch it. Once I got into the rhythm of the book, it went better. I realized it made for good bedtime reading. I don't mean that it is so boring it put me to sleep! The book is a compilation of vignettes throughout Plummer's life. It's easy to read a few pages and stop: perfect for calming down my mind at the end of the day in preparation for sleep. With a novel, you want to know what happens next; this was more like short stories, but rarely heart-racing, keep-you-awake stuff.

I admit to likely the final third of the book best; probably because the stories are shorter, and they are about people or projects that I have heard of (more than the first two-thirds). The style is also less garrulous in the latter part.

Overall, I think Plummer has written about the stage and its players (and film) more than his life per se. He is arrogant and a rogue, yes, but he acknowledges that about himself, even if he does not apologize for it. I took the "name-dropping" not so much as a "I'm so great because I've worked with all these great people" but as a record of what the acting world is/was like throughout his life. As a historical record, I think his memoir has value. It records a lifestyle that no longer exists, of people who will now not be forgotten.

His love of Shakespeare comes across throughout the book; especially his admiration of The Tempest, having read the book during the season he played Prospero at Stratford in Ontario made the experience of seeing him on stage and reading the book that much more meaningful.… (mais)