My Heart Belongs

by Mary Martin

A marvelous voyage to Never Land, an enchanted trip to the South Pacific, a magical tour of the musical theater - let the inimitable Mary Martin be your guide. First to Weatherford, Texas, where she was born on a horse-trading day. Then to the early days on Broadway, where she stormed the town singing "Daddy" in Leave It To Me. To a stint in Hollywood where she met her lifelong leading man, and back to Broadway as a shining star in Lute Song, One Touch Venus, South Pacific, Peter Pan and The Sound Of Music. She'll take you on whirlwind trips across continents and oceans, into television studios, behind the scenes with the theater greats and into the homes of her friends and family. There, as the wife of Richard Halliday, as mother, and as grandmother, she has played her favorite roles. Come on a dazzling journey!

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Music

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Samantha Glasser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Martin is best known today for her portrayal of Peter Pan, a role she felt destined to play. She also appeared in such shows as South Pacific and Hello Dolly!. She made several films too, but her real love was the stage. She discusses her early life, beginning with her childhood as a tomboy and a showoff, two things that served her well in her career. She began her own dance studio in Texas and moved on to bigger and better things. Mary discusses her marriages, her children, her career, and the famous faces that she knew including Richard Rogers, Noel Coward, Janet Gaynor, and others.

She writes with gusto and excitement. This book makes you feel that you are a friend of Mary's who is listening to her stories about the past. Sometimes the stories are sad and sometimes they're downright funny. Mary is always honest and forthright; she'll tell you if something didn't turn out so well and completely take the blame. She doesn't try to make herself out to be a huge important star, but she doesn't constantly demean herself either. The best thing is, just like everything she did, she seems to be having fun telling her story. That makes it easy and enjoyable to read.

The only thing I would have liked to hear more about is her film career, which receives only a few pages total. Martin was a stage star at heart and never really cared for the movies she made (although they're quite good).

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Heart Belongs is one of those autobiographies that just makes you want to re-read it about every five or ten years because it makes you smile. Mary Martin never takes herself seriously. With all the "Dallas" and J.R. hype going on right now, I couldn't help but think of his mother and grab my tattered old copy of her book and read it again. She had an incredible life. She helped Rogers and Hammerstein write some of their most famous musicals, and the stories she has to tell about early Broadway! She worked with so many famous (and not so famous!) people, and she has a way of spinning a yarn that only a girl from Weatherford, Texas, can do. Deep? Not at all. Fun? Oh, yes! I can't wait to read it again in another six or seven years.

[Jeremy Blaustein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. You easily get the sense that Martin isn't telling the whole truth, but you forgive her based on her charm alone. Some glossing over of the dirtier details, which is exactly what you'd expect from a woman who had the image of Maria Von Trapp, Nellie Forbush, and Peter Pan to maintain. Her dedication, while not unparalleled in the theater, is certainly to be admired.

[Brigitta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great behind the scenes commentary from the golden age of Broadway.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many books on my "TBR" list at the moment that rereading one seems absolutely insane. But when I saw that Mary Martin's autobiography, MY HEART BELONGS, was added to BARD (The Braille and Audio Download site of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped), all of those other options looked pale in comparison. I read this book shortly after it came out in 1977 and I loved it so much that I had a hard time returning my braille copy to the library. In fact, the only way I could convince myself to do that was to read certain favorite passages onto a cassette so that I could hear them again and again. I will admit, however, that I was afraid that the book might not live up to my memories of it. I needn't have worried; it was as good as I recalled, maybe even better.

Those of you who follow my reviews know that I have had a lifelong love affair with the Broadway musical; Mary Martin is one of the main reasons for that. If you are looking for a deeply introspective autobiography, or a tell-all worthy of today's reality TV, this isn't the book for you. But if you want to hear wonderful stories from the golden age of the musical theater told by a legendary performer, you've come to the right place.

The title comes from the song which first brought her fame, "My Heart Belongs to Daddy," from the musical LEAVE IT TO ME. Martin cleverly begins each chapter by telling us where her heart belongs: "to SOUTH PACIFIC," "to Peter Pan," "to Maria Von Trapp," etc. After enjoying this amazing memoir, there's no doubt about it: my heart belongs to Mary Martin, and if you decide to read this gem of a book, so will yours.

[Cindy Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many years ago I realized I have a thing for celebrity autobiographies. Even if I'm not especially a fan of that person, I still enjoy them. I had heard of Mary Martin before I read this, but was totally unprepared for how much I would LOVE this book. Her anecdotes are often hilarious (her mistake while singing the National Anthem at a WWII bond rally still makes me laugh), and she is so very relatable! Highly recommend!

[Graceann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please see my review at Amazon.com: Grace's Mary Martin Book Review

Please click that my review was helpful at Amazon so that my rating continues to climb!

[Ann Amadori · Rating 3 out of 5]

My mother was a Mary Martin fan and I remember seeing her on TV as Peter Pan when I was very young. Her daughter, Heller, was a year ahead of me in high school and lived in the room next door my junior year so I was interested to read this book. The back stage look was interesting.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A warm reflection of an interesting life. Talented woman.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warm and fun biography of Mary Martin.