Based on exclusive, unprecedented access, the definitive biography of Sir Laurence Olivier, the dashing, self-invented Englishman who became the greatest actor of the twentieth century
Sir Laurence Olivier met everyone, knew everyone, and played every role in existence. But Olivier was as elusive in life as he was on the stage, a bold and practiced pretender who changed names, altered his identity, and defied characterization.
In this mesmerizing book, acclaimed biographer Terry Coleman draws for the first time on the vast archive of Olivier's private papers and correspondence, and those of his family, finally uncovering the history and the private self that Olivier worked so masterfully all his life to obscure. Beginning with the death of his mother at age eleven, Olivier was defined throughout his life by a passionate devotion to the women closest to him. Acting and sex were for him inseparable: through famous romances with Vivien Leigh and Joan Plowright and countless trysts with lesser-known mistresses, these relationships were constantly entangled with his stage work, each feeding the other and driving Olivier to greater heights. And the heights were great: at every step he was surrounded by the foremost celebrities of the time, on both sides of the AtlanticRichard Burton, Greta Garbo, William Wyler, Katharine Hepburn. The list is as long as it is dazzling.
Here is the first comprehensive account of the man whose autobiography, written late in his life, told only a small part of the story. In Olivier, Coleman uncovers the origins of Olivier's genius and reveals the methods of the century's most fascinating performer.

Coleman, Terry, 1931-

Twenty-First Century Books, Incorporated

St. Martin's Press

New York: H. Holt

Bloomsbury

1st U.S. ed., New York, New York State, 2005

United States, United States of America

First American Edition, PS, 2005

October 13, 2005

London, 2005

Removing Scanfee from Billable Books scanned before June 2011 which appear to have manually set scanfees

[curator]venus@archive.org[/curator][date]20111004134123[/date][state]approved[/state]

Includes bibliographical references (p. 514-567) and index.

Based On Unprecedented Access, The Definitive Biography Of Sir Laurence Olivier, The Dashing, Self-invented Englishman Who Became The Greatest Actor Of The Twentieth Century. Olivier Met Everyone, Knew Everyone, And Played Every Role In Existence. But He Was As Elusive In Life As He Was On The Stage, A Bold And Practiced Pretender Who Changed Names, Altered His Identity, And Defied Characterization. Biographer Coleman Draws For The First Time On The Vast Archive Of Olivier's Private Papers And Those Of His Family, Uncovering The History And The Private Self That Olivier Worked All His Life To Obscure. Acting And Sex Were For Him Inseparable: Through Famous Romances With Vivien Leigh And Joan Plowright And Countless Trysts, These Relationships Entangled With His Stage Work, Each Feeding The Other And Driving Olivier To Greater Heights. Here Is The First Comprehensive Account Of The Man Whose Autobiography, Written Late In His Life, Told Only A Small Part Of The Story.--from Publisher Description. As The Olive Tree Flourishes -- Sweet Singing, And Whispering -- An Unanswered Wish To Be Liked -- Our Particular Pet Devil, Or What? -- The Lick Of Luxury Of Those Lush Valleys -- Matinee Idol To Roaring Italian Boy -- Vivling And Dark Destruction -- Hamlet And Mr. And Mrs. Andrew Kerr -- The Making Of Wuthering Heights -- Gone With The Wind -- Not Sceered, Just Proud -- Not Ever Having Been An Actor -- The Walrus And The Sceptered Isle -- Kean's Sword, And The Thrill -- Buckingham Palace, 10:15 -- God And The Angel -- Living Like Royals -- Streetcar, Carrie, And The Cleos -- Great God In Heaven, What Now? -- Richard Iii And The Menage A Trois -- The Prince And The Showgirl -- The King Comes To The Court -- Dropping The Legend -- New Wife, New National -- Max Factor 2880, And Love Of A Strange Strength -- The Concrete Never-never Land -- Listening To That Man Breathing -- The College Of Cardinals, And Surprise -- A Bit Worried About Time Running Out -- A Gesture Somewhere Round Glory -- Dracula-the Shame Of It -- Jobbing Actor, Om -- That Damned Book -- No Longer On An Even Keel -- Uninsurable As God -- St. Paul's Or Westminster Abbey -- Epilogue: Olivier Remembered -- Author's Note: The Androgynous Actor -- The Olivier Family. Terry Coleman. Originally Published In 2005 By Bloomsbury Uk, London -- T.p. Verso. Includes Chronologies Of Olivier's Stage, Film And Television Work. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [514]-516) And Index.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 514-567) and index
Based on unprecedented access, the definitive biography of Sir Laurence Olivier, the dashing, self-invented Englishman who became the greatest actor of the twentieth century. Olivier met everyone, knew everyone, and played every role in existence. But he was as elusive in life as he was on the stage, a bold and practiced pretender who changed names, altered his identity, and defied characterization. Biographer Coleman draws for the first time on the vast archive of Olivier's private papers and those of his family, uncovering the history and the private self that Olivier worked all his life to obscure. Acting and sex were for him inseparable: through famous romances with Vivien Leigh and Joan Plowright and countless trysts, these relationships entangled with his stage work, each feeding the other and driving Olivier to greater heights. Here is the first comprehensive account of the man whose autobiography, written late in his life, told only a small part of the story.--From publisher description
As the Olive Tree Flourishes -- Sweet Singing, and "Whispering" -- An Unanswered Wish to Be Liked -- Our Particular Pet Devil, or What? -- The Lick of Luxury of Those Lush Valleys -- Matinee Idol to Roaring Italian Boy -- Vivling and Dark Destruction -- Hamlet and Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Kerr -- The Making of Wuthering Heights -- Gone With the Wind -- Not Sceered, Just Proud -- Not Ever Having Been an Actor -- The Walrus and the Sceptered Isle -- Kean's Sword, and the Thrill -- Buckingham Palace, 10:15 -- God and the Angel -- Living Like Royals -- Streetcar, Carrie, and the Cleos -- Great God in Heaven, What Now? -- Richard III and the Menage a Trois -- The Prince and the Showgirl -- The King Comes to the Court -- Dropping the Legend -- New Wife, New National -- Max Factor 2880, and Love of a Strange Strength -- The Concrete Never-Never Land -- Listening to That Man Breathing -- The College of Cardinals, and Surprise -- A Bit Worried About Time Running Out -- "A Gesture Somewhere Round Glory" -- Dracula-the Shame of It -- Jobbing Actor, OM -- That Damned Book -- No Longer on an Even Keel -- Uninsurable as God -- St. Paul's or Westminster Abbey -- Epilogue: Olivier Remembered -- Author's Note: The Androgynous Actor -- The Olivier Family

"In this biography, acclaimed biographer Terry Coleman draws for the first time on the vast archive of Olivier's private papers and correspondence and those of his family, finally revealing the history and the private self that Olivier worked so masterfully all his life to obscure. Olivier maintained a volatile connection between his acting and his personal relationships. Following the death of his mother when he was eleven, Olivier was defined by a passionate devotion to the women closest to him." "And for Olivier, acting and sex were for him inseparable: his turbulent marriage to Gone With the Wind star Vivien Leigh became both a powerful inspiration and a relentless torment, and for twenty years the two were the royal family of the British stage. Through this and other famous romances - including his third marriage, to Joan Plowright - as well as trysts with lesser-known mistresses, his romantic life was constantly entangled with his stage work, each feeding the other and driving Olivier to greater heights. And the heights were great. At every step he was surrounded by the foremost celebrities of the time, on both sides of the Atlantic - Richard Burton, Tennessee Williams, Greta Garbo, William Wyler, Arhur Miller, Katharine Hepburn. The list is as long as it is dazzling." "Here is the first comprehensive account of the man whose own autobiography, written late in his life, told only a small part of the story. In Olivier, Coleman uncovers the origins of Olivier's genius and reveals the methods of the century's most fascinating performer."--BOOK JACKET

The story of a High Church clergyman's son who became a West End matinee idol, and only at the age of twenty-eight determined to make himself a great Shakespearean actor, which he did in one season at the Old Vic. Laurence Olivier is a complex and unexpected portrait of a man tormented by his own ruthless genius and guilt.

A portrait of the legendary actor redefines Olivier's personal life through his devotion to the women closest to him, and discusses his various romances and relationships with some of the foremost celebrities of his time.

2023-06-28