Book Description
First time in paperback: The landmark biography of one of Hollywood's last bigger-than-life stars.

Now in paperback, here is the critically acclaimed, best-selling biography of one of Hollywood's legendary stars. Burt Lancaster is known to audiences around the world as the electrifying performer of Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, From Here to Eternity, and Birdman of Alcatraz, among many others. Kate Buford brings to life his vivid, memorable on-screen presence as well as the off-screen life he kept intensely private. The first writer to win cooperation from Lancaster's widow and close friends, Buford has written the intimate story of one of the last great unexamined Hollywood lives, capturing both the golden boy and the husband, philanderer, and sometime bisexual. Buford's portrait is compelling, comprehensive, intelligent-and definitive.Amazon.com
If you have any serious interest in movies, you've got to read NPR pundit Kate Buford's sharp-eyed, meticulous, intelligent account of Burt Lancaster's life and work. The most inward of actors--director Luchino Visconti called him "the most perfectly mysterious man I ever met"--Lancaster spurned most press attention. Buford proves there was more to the No. 1 box-office star of Elmer Gantry and From Here to Eternity than muscles and big capped teeth. Growing up in Mob-ruled Harlem (Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll perpetrated the famous "baby massacre" on Lancaster's block), Lancaster ran off to the circus as an acrobat, went to war, and hit stardom at 33. Sweet Smell of Success cowriter Clifford Odets said there were seven Burts, including "Inscrutable Burt" and "Monster Golem Burt." He intimidated Montgomery Clift and Norman Mailer, threatened to toss his producer out a window, slugged Margot Kidder, put a girlfriend in the hospital by hurling her in the air just like his character in Brute Force, and made Kirk Douglas cry by mocking his elevator shoes. After he seduced costar Yvonne De Carlo in her mink coat (he also bedded Deborah Kerr and Marlene Dietrich), the mother of his five children comforted herself with innumerable minks and bottles of booze. His kids were neglected; the son whose baseball team Lancaster coached wrote The Bad News Bears, capturing Burt in the gruff Matthau character.

Buford notes that the seducer Gantry and control freak J.J. Hunsecker were closest to the real Burt, while the Birdman of Alcatraz was who he wanted to be. She takes us behind the scenes, showing precisely what the actor contributed (and threatened to undermine) in his great films, including his Oscar win as producer, Marty. Buford also explains how his independent film company anticipated many later trends but blew it by overspending on script development, and assesses his brilliant deconstruction of his own legend as the lion in winter of Local Hero and Atlantic City. And she puts all gossip in perspective. Burt's jealousy as he fumed in his car outside the house where his ex Shelley Winters was bedding Marlon Brando had a film-historical importance: Brando also stole Stanley Kowalski and the Godfather roles from Burt, and he represented the Method acting style Burt strenuously opposed for the first half of his career. Because he was too smart and curious to stick with one persona, and more interested in art than money, Lancaster needs a landmark biography. He's got one now. And you must check out his full-backside nudity on the back cover! --Tim Appelo ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

A Star and an actor of considerable talent
I read this biography when it first came out and I used it as a reference whenever I watched any of Burt Lancaster's films. It was full of useful information and anecdotes about his various projects. I didn't know for instance that he was one of the first actors to become a part of the business of Hollywood and that the film Marty was made with his production company.
In many ways BL was a pioneer. He tried everything and usually succeeded. He has made a couple of bad films but he was always working and always trying to get better. One could see that he was truly a part of Hollywood.
One great thing about this book is the way that is written. The author does such a good job that you feel as if you are really watching him move across the pages.
My early memory of him is in the pirate films with his side kick. He was really nothing more than an amusing actor and acrobat. I followed his career and saw him evolve into the character in Atlantic City and many other films. In a way I feel that we grew up together.

Deja vu
After reading Kate Buford's tedious and somewhat salacious bio of Burt Lancaster, I read an earlier account of the actor's life: Against Type: The Biography of Burt Lancaster by Gary Fishgall (published in 1995, not long after Lancaster's death).Not only is Fishgall's version more interesting, but I felt a strong sense of deja vu as I read it, thinking that Buford obviously used Fishgall's book as a primary source for her own book.Entire sentences and passages mirrored many written by Fishgall--if not word for word, certainly in tone and sequence.If you want to see a photograph of Burt's bare behind and ponder unfounded speculations that the actor was gay or bisexual, buy Buford's book.If you want a more solid, well-documented biography of the man, choose Fishgall's.

MORE FICTION THAN FACT...DESIGNED TO SELL NOT TO ENLIGHTEN
Please permit me to straighten out a few allegations promulgated in this rather prurient (because it sells) book. One, B.L. was NOT an abusive man toward women (or anyone else)at all. One isolated incident do not a misogynist, or history of violence, make. One of his later relationships involved a hot-tempered lady who broke a champagne bottle over his head, so that rather belies his abuse with females...and no, he did not retaliate.
Also, another allegation, and one clearly designed to mislead the reader in addition to pumping up sales: B.L., at NO time, was EVER, in ANY way homosexual or bi-sexual...ever.
As to what his sons did or didn't do in a neighbor's pool, is another allegation and a rather cheap shot; even if it IS true or has ANY basis in fact, who among us has led a perfect childhood? Who among us has never behaved in a childish way when we were children?
This is tawdry writing at it's zenith, an unnecessary "factoid" thrown in for sensation rather than edification. If it is true, who cares? Why put it in? Does it MATTER what B.L.'s sons did when they were kids?
Ms. Buford has done some research, for what that is worth, but did not bother to either verify or confirm any of her allegations, so they must remain just that, allegations...however, the cat is already out of the bag and her inclusion of unsubstantiated "facts" helped the sale of her book, so she got what she wanted in the first place.
B.L. was a consummate actor, a loving, generous untamed man who changed careers in his mid forties from that of a trapeze artist in the circus to acting...and he took care of 17 of his circus friends for life after he began his acting career. Of course he had his faults; ALL of us do, but few of us have them the focus of a book slanted to sell no matter what, much as the tabloids do in the checkout line in the supermarket...
He made friends and enemies on the way, and carved a unique niche for himself in the most competitive profession in the world. His personal relationships were intense, close and very very strong; however, it must be noted again, that he was NOT homosexual OR bi-sexual; this is a craven, distasteful and rather cheap ploy on the part of Ms. Buford to spice up her book. Sex sells and scandal sells even better...and there isn't an author alive who doesn't want to make money, but many refrain from outright lies, libel and slander of someone they never met or knew personally.
As for B.L. fuming in his car over Shelley Winters and Brando, Winters was more likely to spend time "fuming", as she was the aggressive partner in that relationship, admitting in her own book how she resented him for wanting to be with his wife for the birth of one of their sons...
There was a book about Errol Flynn some years back that alleged he was not only bi-sexual (again, not true) but also a NAZI SPY.
The point is, anyone can say anything about a celebrity once they're dead.
He did not engage in violence with all his relationships and he did not have sex with men and he was not parodied in Bill Lancaster's movie "Bad News Bears"; he was light years away from Matthau's persona, and certainly never "gruff."
BUT: People believe exactly what they WANT to believe and some enjoy believing anything bad or off color about famous people because it makes their own lives a little exciting for a time...so, that is the truth, and it is up to those who read this book whether they choose to take it as gospel or merely a semi-informative read.
B.L. was a business genius; he OWNED his movies and formed a production company with Ben Hecht to retain control over all his work, and in addition to Hecht-Lancaster he also founded Norlan Productions, named for Norma, his wife.
He kept his mystery and movie star image all of his life and was a very generous, loving man with a great sense of humor.
So, read it with a grain of salt and remember, it is easy to play hard and fast with the truth when the subject is no longer alive to refute it.
The real B.L. can be seen in any one of his movies, and IMO, Sweet Smell of Success is his best work, alongside Atlantic City. Those who knew this fascinating man personally know the truth, and hopefully, people will remember him more for his art than for the smarmy words of someone wanting to make money off a true artist.
Those who can, do; those who can't write smutty biographies...

Riveting reading
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.

The Story of a Legend
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. ... Read more

Product Description
With a career in films spanning nearly fifty years, Burt Lancaster brought his unique charisma and energy to roles in films ranging from the adventurous to the bittersweet. This comprehensive filmography of Lancaster’s career is accompanied by a biography that provides the background for his immense range of work on the screen. Production information, a synopsis, and commentary is provided for each of Lancaster’s 85 films, from the first—The Killers—to the last—Separate But Equal. Photographs from nearly all of Lancaster's films accompany the text, and an index and bibliography are also included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

highly valued replacement text...
Dave Fury's similar treatment, (1989) will be re-issued in 2002. Ed's filmography is the definitive narrative, useful key to popular 'cult' classic 50's film starring Burt..."Sweet Smell of Success" for which Ann Hornaday, ex-film critic Baltimore Sun, has a book in development. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Professional Job
Gary Fishgall is very good on the professional life of actors. He's written about James Stewart, Burt Lancaster, and Gregory Peck. Fishgall seems not very much interested in [physical activity] and social name-dropping, which is fine with me. He gives the bare facts of the actor's social life without the juicy and sordid detail for which many people read star biographies.

On the actor's professional life and accomplishments, Fishgall is excellent. He covers childhood and youth thoroughly as it relates to the future career. He discusses every professional job the actor ever had. You learn not only about the big successes, with which you may already be familiar, but also the small successes and the failures. Nothing relating to the professional life is left out. You learn what the subject thought about his coworkers and what they thought about him.

I have now read two of Fishgall's bios and plan to read the third. This is just the kind of information I find fascinating. If you enjoy any of Fishgall's bios, you may also enjoy Vincente Minnelli's "I Remember It Well." Minnelli's story-telling mode is very similar to Fishgall's. He dwells on his professional life and downplays the personal.

Increases appreciation of one of Hollywood's Greats
Chronicles the professional life and accomplishments of one of Hollywood's most loved stars, Burt Lancaster.I was disappointed with the lack of insight into the personal life of Lancaster, but as a biography of his professional life it was excellent.It was fascinating to read of the diametrically opposite views that co-stars and directors had for him, ranging from ardour to hate. This is an unbiased portrait of a great star ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Cancelled
Please check your records before sending these messages.This order was cancelled by the seller (abe books) because they didn't have a copy left to sell to me.They refunded my money and I got the book from another seller.I've already left feedback with the merchant from whom I actually got the book. ... Read more

Book Description
336 Pages * Coffee table edition * $39.95 * Hardcover w/dustjacket * 300 photographs including 40 movie posters from classic Lancaster films * Library bound and printed on acid-free paper * Complete cast list and credits, plot synopses and film notes, and more than 200 critical reviews * PLUS... Telefilms, miniseries, TV guest appearances, short subject and documentary work, stage plays, radio, and more! ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document, covering the life and work of Burt(on) (Stephen) Lancaster, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thompson Gale. The length of the entry is 2311 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Cineaste, published by Cineaste Publishers, Inc. on September 22, 2000. The length of the article is 1449 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Burt Lancaster: An American Life.(Review) (book review)
Author: Patrick McGilligan
Publication: Cineaste (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 22, 2000
Publisher: Cineaste Publishers, Inc.
Volume: 25Issue: 4Page: 57

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more