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On Bette Midler: An Opinionated Guide
Bette Midler today is a beloved legacy star, best known for her comic witch in Disney's Hocus Pocus (1993) and its 2022 sequel. She has also gained prominence for sentimental, anthemic ballads like "Wind Beneath My Wings," her initiation of green space projects in New York City, and tussling with Donald Trump on Twitter. Her profile is that of an articulate, civic-minded matriarch enjoying thoroughly mainstream stardom. But more than fifty years earlier she emerged from the steam of the subterranean Continental Baths as the Divine Miss M, the bawdy, campy, fearless alter ego she created in front of an audience of towel-clad gay men who came to the baths seeking not just sex, but a sense of community and safety from an often-harrowing outside world. "I was able to take chances on that stage that I could not have taken anywhere else," she later wrote. "Ironically, I was freed from fear by people who, at the time, were ruled by fear. And for that I will always be grateful."
Overnight, Bette Midler became a much-loved icon of the gay community.
The Divine Miss M coalesced gay, Jewish, feminist, and show business sensibilities into an outrageously funny and emotionally compelling persona that travelled with surprising ease from the cultural margins to the entertainment mainstream. Her embrace by mom-and-pop audiences, rock fans and critics, and the guardians of middle-of-the-road show business demonstrates just how deeply the tastes and sensibilities of her original audience have been absorbed into popular culture. On Bette An Opinionated Guide traces the early development of Midler's performing ethos from New York's downtown experimental theater scene and examines her impact across media, with chapters on the soaring highs (and occasional cringe-worthy lows) of her stage work, movies, recordings, and television appearances, and considers her influence as an environmental activist and social media presence.
On Bette Midler features performance analysis and deeply researched background information, all of it supporting informed--and divinely opinionated--consideration of Midler the artist. It judges her work by the highest those she established for herself.
Overnight, Bette Midler became a much-loved icon of the gay community.
The Divine Miss M coalesced gay, Jewish, feminist, and show business sensibilities into an outrageously funny and emotionally compelling persona that travelled with surprising ease from the cultural margins to the entertainment mainstream. Her embrace by mom-and-pop audiences, rock fans and critics, and the guardians of middle-of-the-road show business demonstrates just how deeply the tastes and sensibilities of her original audience have been absorbed into popular culture. On Bette An Opinionated Guide traces the early development of Midler's performing ethos from New York's downtown experimental theater scene and examines her impact across media, with chapters on the soaring highs (and occasional cringe-worthy lows) of her stage work, movies, recordings, and television appearances, and considers her influence as an environmental activist and social media presence.
On Bette Midler features performance analysis and deeply researched background information, all of it supporting informed--and divinely opinionated--consideration of Midler the artist. It judges her work by the highest those she established for herself.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
232 pages, Hardcover
Published May 21, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 2, 2024
I really appreciated this author for his honesty and flair. He’s clearly a big fan of Bette’s but he recognizes that some of her art is better than others. We both agree that the real magic is seeing this force of nature perform live. She’s incredible! She really has had an exceptional career and I too wish she had had more projects to showcase her truly unique talent. But she’s so unique and special that she rarely fits into any mold, even roles that were written for her. She’s too amazing to fit into any box.
While I thought some criticisms were a little too harsh, they still read honestly and Winkler did title this book as “An Opinionated Guide.”
It’s always fun to read a respectful perspective from a fellow fan. Even though he didn’t seem to be the biggest supporter of her movies, all I want to do right now is watch them all! Her star and her smile shine brighter than anything else, making (almost) every film worth watching just to see her sparkle.
She has always been so kind, so clever, so empathetic, and so inclusive. She supports women’s rights, gay rights, and people of color. We’re all equal to her and she is fiercely loyal to her fans and the friends she’s worked with over the years. She’s given us so much to enjoy over the years, from beautiful music and hilarious movies, to live shows and clean parks, not to mention the perfect sendoff to Johnny Carson or the healing anthem we all needed after the tragedy of September 11th. This woman has a heart big enough to love the whole world, but she won’t tolerate garbage (in human form either).
She’s so funny and spunky and can make you laugh one minute and cry the next. The greatest talent I’ve ever seen and my favorite entertainer of all time.
While I thought some criticisms were a little too harsh, they still read honestly and Winkler did title this book as “An Opinionated Guide.”
It’s always fun to read a respectful perspective from a fellow fan. Even though he didn’t seem to be the biggest supporter of her movies, all I want to do right now is watch them all! Her star and her smile shine brighter than anything else, making (almost) every film worth watching just to see her sparkle.
She has always been so kind, so clever, so empathetic, and so inclusive. She supports women’s rights, gay rights, and people of color. We’re all equal to her and she is fiercely loyal to her fans and the friends she’s worked with over the years. She’s given us so much to enjoy over the years, from beautiful music and hilarious movies, to live shows and clean parks, not to mention the perfect sendoff to Johnny Carson or the healing anthem we all needed after the tragedy of September 11th. This woman has a heart big enough to love the whole world, but she won’t tolerate garbage (in human form either).
She’s so funny and spunky and can make you laugh one minute and cry the next. The greatest talent I’ve ever seen and my favorite entertainer of all time.
December 24, 2024
The author is clearly a fan of Bette Midler as are most of those who will read this book. I loved reading about her early years as an entertainer as they corresponded to my times as a young adult in New York City. It brought back lots of memories of an exciting time in 70’s. The joy of seeing Bette live stays with anyone who sees her. While her choices in projects were not always the best she managed to ride them through and let her talent shine. In many ways, this is a love letter to Bette with dashes of reality thrown in. I enjoyed the read.
August 30, 2024
This biography is perfect for fans of Bette Midler, a woman who has become an entertainment institution. It covers her early years on Broadway in "Fiddler on the Roof", her time establishing her persona as a bravura entertainer in the Gay bathhouses of pre-AIDS New York, her recordings, movies, and TV appearances. As the subtitle states, it is "An Opinionated Guide".
I don't agree with all of the author's assessments of her performances and output, but I did enjoy reading it. At nearly 79, Midler continues to be a one-of-kind talent and artist, and a clever satirist of the current political scene.
I don't agree with all of the author's assessments of her performances and output, but I did enjoy reading it. At nearly 79, Midler continues to be a one-of-kind talent and artist, and a clever satirist of the current political scene.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews