Jean Seberg -- Breathless

by Garry McGee

She was from a large town in Iowa and became the darling of Paris. She alternated between small European films and big Hollywood movies, on the way helping Jean-Luc Godard to shape contemporary cinema. She moved between the worlds of show business and politics, from private and state dinners with leaders, to clandestine activities supporting groups and individuals on both sides of the Atlantic. She was a unique person ahead of her time. Breathless tells the story of the woman who, after a disastrous film debut in Saint Joan, became both acclaimed international actress (Lilith, Dead of Summer) and popular star (Paint Your Wagon, Airport). It also tells of the FBI's campaign to "neutralize" Seberg, and the still unsolved mystery of her death in 1979 at the age of 40. Featuring exclusive interviews with family, friends and acquaintances, Jean Seberg - Breathless includes personal letters and obscure quotes from the subject, and more than sixty rare photographs. Iowa-born Garry McGee is a documentary filmmaker and author. Jean Seberg - Breathless is his fourth book. His book with Jean Russell Larson, Neutralized: the FBI versus Jean Seberg, is also being published by BearManor Media.

Genres: Biography, Biography Memoir, Nonfiction

328 pages, Paperback

First published January 4, 2008

Reviews

[Steven Godin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fasinating insight into the life of the beautiful goddess that was Jean Seberg, who helped change the face of 60's cinema in my favourite movie of all time 'A Bout de Souffle' (Breathless), with the cropped hair and outfits that oozed cool style she was a natural born for the screen. I know all about the actress but wanted to know more regarding her life outside the showbizz scene. As an activist she provided financial support to various groups supporting civil rights and made a big donation to the 'The Black Panther Party', this was deeemed unacceptable by the FBI who launched a plan to harass and intimidate her with the hope of discrediting her image, but this would only be the beginning as close friends revealed after her death it turned into a long term hate campain involving constant surveillance and wiretapping all under the watchful eye of a certain Mr Nixon (american tax payer funds being wasted again on the grounds of paranoia!). Blacklisted from hollywood for reportedly refusing roles that bordered on pornography and a history of marital problems would ultimately lead to her tragic suicide in Paris 1979 aged just forty.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her life story leaves me breathless. Gary McGee has done a phenomenal job with his several projects on Jean Seberg. This book is a must-read. A profile of Jean will be included in my upcoming book: Midwesterners in Movieland: 12 Classic Stars Who Once Called the Heartland Home."

[Ann Hein · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author certainly did his research: 7 pages of footnotes. A very sad story of a girl from Marshalltown, Iowa who made it big in the movies, though she was more popular in France than in the U.S.

The author told her life story in an unbiased way, stating facts as he found them. Jean was caring and wanted to help people, but was badly used by many. Again, he stated the facts of her three marriages but didn't try to figure out why she made the choices she did. Addiction and mental illness can only be described, not explained. But adding Hoover's FBI to her story made it truly over the top. (The FBI spread an untrue rumor about the father of the daughter she carried who died at birth that made the headlines.)

[Othón A. León · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still touched by her tragic death. Destroyed by the FBI, Seberg was an all American woman, who stood for social justice and generosity through out most of her life. I recommend this book with no hesitation.

[Daniel Keyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente biografía, (muy completa) para los interesados en Jean Seberg. Pasamos por toda su vida conociendo aciertos y errores personales del fascinante personaje, dejando al final una sensación de tristeza por la trágica deriva final.