"All my life I had one dream and that was to be in the movies." He was the Golden Boy of the Golden Age. A prince of the silver screen. Dashing and debonair, Tony Curtis arrived on the scene in a blaze of bright lights and celluloid. His good looks, smooth charm, and natural talent earned him fame, women, and adulation--Elvis copied his look and the Beatles put him on their Sgt. Pepper album cover. But the Hollywood life of his dreams brought both invincible highs and debilitating lows. Now, in his captivating, no-holds-barred autobiography, Tony Curtis shares the agony and ecstasy of a private life in the public eye. No simple tell-all, American Prince chronicles Hollywood during its heyday. Curtis revisits his immense body of work--including the unforgettable classics Houdini, Spartacus, and Some Like It Hot--and regales readers with stories of his associations with Frank Sinatra, Laurence Olivier, director Billy Wilder, and film industry heavyweight Lew Wasserman, as well as paramours Natalie Wood and Marilyn Monroe, among others. As forthright as he is enthralling, Tony Curtis offers intimate glimpses into his succession of failed marriages (and the one that has endured), his destructive drug addiction, and his passion as a painter. Written with humor and grace, American Prince is a testament to the power of living the life of one's dreams.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
Never finished!:
I gave up after the first third of the book. While his early life was relatively interesting, I soon wearied of his boasting of his many sexual conquests. (Ewww!)
Interesting Life:
Growing up in the 50s Tony Curtis was one of the movie stars I liked. Who knew he was an artist!!! It was an interesting story.
A Frenetic, Self-Congratulatory Life:
In this 2 and 1/2-star book, Tony Curtis spins his life story in such a positive, princely way that you're not sure whether to believe him. He leaves out enough key details to make the reader question whether he's telling the truth. Then he includes minor facts that go nowhere in developing his stories. In other words, it's a mumbled mixture that ranges from fun behind-the-scenes stories to repeated immoral confessions. For example, his first chapter grabs your attention by discussing his getting a... more info
It's all about him, him, him, him, him, him, ad infinitum:
I'm not a big fan of Hollywood biographies, but once in a while, I'll read one out of idle curiosity. My last excursion was William Shatner's autobiography and it was a delight. The man has had a far richer life than I would have imagined. Marlon Brando and Bob Dylan also penned interesting biographies describing their very interesting lives, both outer and inner. I remember Tony Curtis from my youth as being a "pretty boy" who appeared mostly silly, forgettable movies, but also appeared in great films... more info
