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A Divided Life
An autobiography of Bryan Forbes, describing his turbulent years as head of production of EMI. The author also recollects his friendships with such stars as Graham Greene, Peter Sellers, Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis and Terence Rattigan.
- GenresNonfiction
384 pages, Paperback
First published May 11, 1992
10 people want to read
About the author
Bryan Forbes
51 books10 followersBryan Forbes CBE (born John Theobald Clarke) was an English film director, screenwriter, film producer, actor and novelist, described as a "Renaissance man" and "one of the most important figures in the British film industry".
He directed the film The Stepford Wives (1975) and wrote and directed several other critically acclaimed films, including Whistle Down the Wind (1961), Séance on a Wet Afternoon (1964), and King Rat (1965). He also scripted several films directed by others, such as The League of Gentlemen (1960), The Angry Silence (1960) and Only Two Can Play (1962).
Forbes wrote two volumes of autobiography and several successful novels, the last of which, The Soldier's Story, was published in 2012.He was a regular contributor to The Spectator magazine.
He directed the film The Stepford Wives (1975) and wrote and directed several other critically acclaimed films, including Whistle Down the Wind (1961), Séance on a Wet Afternoon (1964), and King Rat (1965). He also scripted several films directed by others, such as The League of Gentlemen (1960), The Angry Silence (1960) and Only Two Can Play (1962).
Forbes wrote two volumes of autobiography and several successful novels, the last of which, The Soldier's Story, was published in 2012.He was a regular contributor to The Spectator magazine.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
September 25, 2024
Writer, director, and actor Bryan Forbes has contributed much to British film-making, and in this informative autobiography he recounts insights into the industry, including his time as head of production for EMI at Elstree.
I’ve long been a fan of Bryan Forbes as an actor and director, though I wasn’t aware of the large number of screenplays and novels he’d written. This is a very readable narrative of his working life in films and theatre, as well as his long-term relationship with his wife, the actor and writer Nanette Newman. The book jumps around quite a bit and is not a chronological account, so his early years as an actor are only touched on later in the book. I was a little disappointed that he barely mentions some of my favourite films (The League of Gentlemen (which he starred in and also wrote), Whistle Down the Wind (directorial debut) and An Inspector Calls (Actor). As you’d expect, there are a great many anecdotes about his work in films and the theatre, his friendship with actors, writers and directors, and his take on Hollywood and the British film industry.
A thoroughly enjoyable book.
I’ve long been a fan of Bryan Forbes as an actor and director, though I wasn’t aware of the large number of screenplays and novels he’d written. This is a very readable narrative of his working life in films and theatre, as well as his long-term relationship with his wife, the actor and writer Nanette Newman. The book jumps around quite a bit and is not a chronological account, so his early years as an actor are only touched on later in the book. I was a little disappointed that he barely mentions some of my favourite films (The League of Gentlemen (which he starred in and also wrote), Whistle Down the Wind (directorial debut) and An Inspector Calls (Actor). As you’d expect, there are a great many anecdotes about his work in films and the theatre, his friendship with actors, writers and directors, and his take on Hollywood and the British film industry.
A thoroughly enjoyable book.
Displaying 1 of 1 review