Solid Gold!
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There is something about the way in which David Niven writes about other people where you just know they would approve. David Niven always seemed to play the good guy, the hero, the sort of person to whom we would all wish to aspire. Writing about those people with whom he worked and came into contact was, however, a serious departure from acting - and could easily have gone so horribly wrong.
In this book, however, he confirms his credentials as a writer and pours his own brand of humour onto each and every encounter he describes. Not once does he stoop to the level of gossip monger, not once does attack another person.
Instead, we have a first hand account of that golden age of Hollywood written by a master wordsmith who has also mastered the art of writing humour.
Was it me, or did I detect a certain disappointment from within his own relationship?, or was it that David Niven was far too much the perfect gentleman to describe such things.
If you are a fan of the olden days - the golden days of Hollywood, you will enjoy this book. If you simply want a damned good read, you will enjoy this book. In fact, I cannot think of anyone who would not enjoy such an excellent product.
NM
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Marvellous
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David Niven is a fantastic raconteur. This book is an insider's view into the wild days of the Hollywood golden era. For me this book really explains the Hollywood phenomenon and how the whole thing started out. Do not be under the impression that these were 'innocent times'. On the contrary, there were indesribable machinations going on in Hollywood between the years of 1935-1960 (the period covered by the book), the only difference being that the characters involved then were a great deal more interesting than today's rather tame excuses for actors/ actresses/ producers/ directors. David Niven knew them all and gives us his untainted first hand accounts with great wit and a real ability to deliver a story. This is a must-read.
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This Book Changed My Life.....
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I read this great book when I was 16, my step-mother gave it to me to keep quiet, and it sure did, I couldnt put it down. I have read many books since but none have come close for pure entertainment, it drew me into a world that I never really new existed. This book encouraged me to chase my dreams and I eventually worked in Radio and then Television I now have a business dealing in Hollywood Collectables. If i could I would give it 6 stars.
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The book that started me off reading biographies
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I could not have chosen a more colourful biog to start my interest in this type of book. I have never laughed out so loudly in any other book in the following 16 years. Obviously the stories were found to have been attributed to other movie stars after the book was published but, that aside, if only part of it was Niven then it is still worth anyone's time to read this fabulous insight to Hollywood in its heyday. He comes across with all the style, panache and feeling that we have become accustomed to in his long and distinguished career. Read this and remember - not all books will be this good. Unless you count 'The Moon's a Baloon' of course!
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A fantastic insight to the Golden Age of Hollywood!
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The incomparable David Niven offers a series of vignettes of the famed stars of Hollywood, from Gary Cooper to Greta Garbo. Niven reveals what the famed actors, directors and producers really were - normal people (with a few interesting quirks, of course). It is a great companion to Niven's autobiography, "The Moon's a Balloon."
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