The Real Life Of Laurence Olivier [ Advance Reading Copy]

by Roger Lewis

(Applause Books). A captivating, seductive and monumental celebration of the life and career of one of the greatest actors of the 20th century.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published September 2, 1996

Reviews

[Dominic H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've reached this medium sized book on Olivier in my reading of Roger Lewis. It has the learning and acuity, the deeply attractive digressiveness that is now associated with him and as he says at the start, is blatantly not a conventional biography - as none of Lewis' books are. Indeed - he sets out his manifesto very clearly in the Preface (in a footnote of course).
There is much of genuine interest here, the more so the more one has seen of Olivier. It is very problematic though that the core of Olivier's genius was manifested most fully as a stage actor. Lewis clearly saw very little of Olivier on stage and so is falling back all the time: on the film performances (although not always the ones you would expect - his essay on 'Clash of the Titans' for all its insight did not make me want to see the film), on comparisons with what are familiar reference points to Lewis but are overdone e.g. Peter Sellers, (a subject one could probably have guessed was covered by Lewis in a 1,000 page biography after reading what he has to say here) and by Lewis' take on what is effectively hearsay (e.g. Olivier's less than guarded remarks on Peggy Ashcroft as told to Robert Stephens) or simply his review of a review. We encounter a similar failing in 'Erotic Vagrancy' at least insofar as it relates to Richard Burton but by now you are compelled to read on anyway!

[Stev · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fever dream pinball approach, so effective with the Sellers book, falls a bit flat here. The feeling that Lewis finds Olivier a bit of a drag pervades by the end.


* Lots of footnotes.
** Lots.