Peter Finch a Biography by Trader. Faulkner

by Trader Faulkner

Book by Faulkner, Trader

Genres: Biography

Hardcover

First published April 5, 1979

Reviews

[Annabelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this four stars for the last 20-30 pages of the good stuff: Finchie's haciendero life at Jamaica (coconuts for copra, bananas loaded into the Mercedes!), the stories surrounding the shooting of Network, Finch's premonition of death the night a strong wind blows into a rented house in Beverly Hills, and the first person accounts of the people who were with Finch the day before and the day he died.

Two stars for the prose, as Trader Faulkner is no writer I think, and the text is full of typos. Also, Faulkner is a friend from the old, pre-Hollywood days, so meetings between both were few and far between. He tends to dwell on the good old days down under and in London, when all this reader wants to hear are the details of Peter Finch's life in Hollywood, his co-stars and his relationships with them.

[Mick Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reasonably good insight to the actor,never really on of my favourites.comes across in the version as a spoilt teenager.only picks up momentum when it covers his films.

[Mervyn Whyte · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about an actor written by an actor - it's difficult sometimes to tell what's true and what isn't. Actor's like to embellish stories, and I suspect this happens from time to time here. To be fair, Faulkner always gives fair warning. And he does try to sort through the myth and present the facts. Being a close friend of Finch's - or as close as you can be to such a solitary, mercurial, volatile figure - Faulkner is able to reach parts of Finch's personality that most biographers would struggle to reach. And because he's in the acting business himself, he's managed to interview many of the key players in the world of film and theatre who knew or worked with Finch. His friendship with Finch hasn't stopped him reporting on all Finch's selfish behaviour - the drinking, the many women, the tantrums, the poor parenting. The difficult part for me was when he allowed his - supposedly beloved - cat to be put down. It was his sister who made him do it. According to the book at least. But a man with Finch's sensitivity and love of nature could've prevented it. I mean, why not just give the cat away? When it comes to the films, I've seen Finch in a number of middling roles. I thought his Oscar Wilde was done well. But that aside I can't remember too many masterpieces. Personally, I found Network a little overacted. As for this book, it was a bit muddled at the beginning - lots of names to remember, whizzing about from here to there. I'm sure it was a reflection of Finch's life at that time. But it is confusing to read about. And there's something missing when it comes to Finch and his mother. One minute she's abandoned him, the next they're living together. I must've missed the reunion part. Faulkner writes well about Finch's stage career. The film career is dealt with more episodically. Maybe this is a reflection of Faulkner's own priorities. Nevertheless, a decent enough read. And in the end you do get a good insight into Peter Finch the man and the actor.