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Anne Bancroft: A Life
"Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me. Aren't you?" These famous lines from The Graduate (1967) would forever link Anne Bancroft (1931–2005) to the groundbreaking film and confirm her status as a movie icon. Along with her portrayal of Annie Sullivan in the stage and film drama The Miracle Worker, this role was a highlight of a career that spanned a half-century and brought Bancroft an Oscar, two Tonys, and two Emmy awards.
In the first biography to cover the entire scope of Bancroft's life and career, Douglass K. Daniel brings together interviews with dozens of her friends and colleagues, never-before-published family photos, and material from film and theater archives to present a portrait of an artist who raised the standards of acting for all those who followed. Daniel reveals how, from a young age, Bancroft was committed to challenging herself and strengthening her craft. Her talent (and good timing) led to a breakthrough role in Two for the Seesaw, which made her a Broadway star overnight. The role of Helen Keller's devoted teacher in the stage version of The Miracle Worker would follow, and Bancroft also starred in the movie adaption of the play, which earned her an Academy Award. She went on to appear in dozens of film, theater, and television productions, including several movies directed or produced by her husband, Mel Brooks.
Anne A Life offers new insights into the life and career of a determined actress who left an indelible mark on the film industry while remaining true to her art.
In the first biography to cover the entire scope of Bancroft's life and career, Douglass K. Daniel brings together interviews with dozens of her friends and colleagues, never-before-published family photos, and material from film and theater archives to present a portrait of an artist who raised the standards of acting for all those who followed. Daniel reveals how, from a young age, Bancroft was committed to challenging herself and strengthening her craft. Her talent (and good timing) led to a breakthrough role in Two for the Seesaw, which made her a Broadway star overnight. The role of Helen Keller's devoted teacher in the stage version of The Miracle Worker would follow, and Bancroft also starred in the movie adaption of the play, which earned her an Academy Award. She went on to appear in dozens of film, theater, and television productions, including several movies directed or produced by her husband, Mel Brooks.
Anne A Life offers new insights into the life and career of a determined actress who left an indelible mark on the film industry while remaining true to her art.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
366 pages, Hardcover
Published September 22, 2017
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91 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 30, 2022
This is a very well written and thoroughly researched book about a truly complex, interesting woman whose career was filled with compelling performances. It's an entertaining, insightful and well balanced biography of a great actress who was as colorful off screen as on. I really enjoyed reading about so many wonderful films and plays as well as learning about who the iconic Anne Bancroft was underneath her well defined persona.
October 9, 2019
I read this to contrast with the biography I read earlier this year about her husband, Mel Brooks. This specific book was mentioned often in the Brooks' biography.
This one seemed very thoroughly researched and paints a very complimentary portrait of Ms. Bancroft. She was always professional, on-time, prepared, and willing to help others in any role. She tried very hard to not be "typed" (by Mrs. Robinson, for instance) and searched for roles she could sink her teeth into. Most importantly, her family always came first.
An interesting read that often took me down memory lane.
This one seemed very thoroughly researched and paints a very complimentary portrait of Ms. Bancroft. She was always professional, on-time, prepared, and willing to help others in any role. She tried very hard to not be "typed" (by Mrs. Robinson, for instance) and searched for roles she could sink her teeth into. Most importantly, her family always came first.
An interesting read that often took me down memory lane.
September 12, 2021
A fascinating and enjoyable tribute to one truly remarkable actress. Although major plot lines of her movies and plays are frequently revealed, the research and attention to detail are commendable.
April 14, 2017
I am giving this book "much love" although it may not be everyone's cup of tea. The book is comprehensive, missing few episodes in Bancroft's decades long career in Hollywood and on stage, yet it misses the spark that would make it a page turner. Instead, it is a methodical rundown, movie by movie, play by play, of the renowned actresses body of work. This, of course, means that real fans (like me) get to revisit some of her "little" films such as "Garbo Speaks" and "84 Charing Cross Road," which garnered neither critical nor box office acclaim, but are small valentines for devoted aficionados. Bancroft's monologue in "Garbo Speaks" was Oscar worthy, no matter what the critics said.
The book reveals that Bancroft was often a reluctant star, choosing home (with Mel Brooks and son, Max) over a location shoot or an extended run of the play. In truth, she preferred the rehearsal process to the performance.
The author also reveals that, from the age of fifty on, getting parts was a fight, even for a star of the magnitude of Bancroft. Not ingénue (she was never an ingénue), not sexpot, and not grandmother, she took some roles that were not well received to work.
Her famous marriage to Mel Brooks is touched on and it is clear that their's was the unlikeliest of love matches, but that their partnership was one of true love and support, both professionally and personally. Less well known was her frail health, including a decade's long fight with cancer which was kept quiet so as not to jeopardize her insurability for projects.
Bancroft's early death deprived her of Kennedy Center Honors and Lifetime Achievement Awards, but this book speaks for her talent, her dedication, and her professionalism in a copious way. Backmatter includes a complete filmography and theatre projects. Get this for complete theatre/ movie collections, Baby Boomer fans, and people who say, "Are you trying to seduce me, Mrs. Robinson," once too often.
The book reveals that Bancroft was often a reluctant star, choosing home (with Mel Brooks and son, Max) over a location shoot or an extended run of the play. In truth, she preferred the rehearsal process to the performance.
The author also reveals that, from the age of fifty on, getting parts was a fight, even for a star of the magnitude of Bancroft. Not ingénue (she was never an ingénue), not sexpot, and not grandmother, she took some roles that were not well received to work.
Her famous marriage to Mel Brooks is touched on and it is clear that their's was the unlikeliest of love matches, but that their partnership was one of true love and support, both professionally and personally. Less well known was her frail health, including a decade's long fight with cancer which was kept quiet so as not to jeopardize her insurability for projects.
Bancroft's early death deprived her of Kennedy Center Honors and Lifetime Achievement Awards, but this book speaks for her talent, her dedication, and her professionalism in a copious way. Backmatter includes a complete filmography and theatre projects. Get this for complete theatre/ movie collections, Baby Boomer fans, and people who say, "Are you trying to seduce me, Mrs. Robinson," once too often.
July 13, 2024
Good (and only, as far as I know) bio of one of the greatest actresses of this and the last century. You know, sometimes it's just really fun to know more about someone you have enjoyed over the years even if the result is to only learn a bit about their background, who they knew, who they worked with, and how it all ended-- but the other part of the fun is to hear about every production -- film or play-- and wish you'd been able to have seen some, be surprised that there were ones you had no idea about, and remember those you have seen and loved. I must have pulled ten or fifteen DVDs off my shelves by the time I finished reading this-- the awe and appreciation never ends with someone like Anne Bancroft.
June 12, 2020
Douglass K. Daniel, author of "Anne Bancroft: A Life" (2017), has been a personal friend since our days with The Associated Press 40 years ago in Kansas City. That said, his biography of the respected star of "The Miracle Worker" and "The Graduate" is an entertaining, straightforward account of a woman whose childhood performances for her family evolved into a 50-year movie, TV and stage career that netted an Oscar, two Emmys and two Tonys. Bancroft emerges as a serious and proud actress driven to be the best in a very public profession while also fiercely protective of her personal life, including her long marriage to comedy director Mel Brooks. Well-written and informative. Thanks, Doug.
May 30, 2018
A comprehensive, involving biography of a remarkable woman. At times there was a little too much "and then she made this film, and then she did this play"--and I never really felt I got to know exactly what made Bancroft tick--but her professionalism and dedication to her art certainly came through.
February 14, 2018
An insightful, interesting and fascinating look at the phenom that is Anne Bancroft.
March 11, 2024
Anne Bancroft: A Life by Douglass K. Daniel is a 2017 University Press of Kentucky publication.
I always thought Anne Bancroft was a fabulous actress- the real deal- very talented. But she was also an enigma. Naturally, when I realized someone had written a biography about her life, I was very interested.
This bio is mostly centered around Anne’s career. There are a few insights into her private life- and the author did get some input from people close to her, but Anne was such a private person, I think it would be difficult to draw her personality out into the open in a truly intimate way. Finding balance between career and her personal life was not going to happen here- and so I made do with what was placed in front of me.
Normally, I would whine if a biographer failed to give me more balance or deep insights into the personal life of a performer, but in this case, I found Anne’s career interesting in many ways. Her forays into stage, television, and movies- her eclectic roles, and her attitude towards her acting career made her stand out from most other actresses. I loved that she was picky about her roles, I loved that she didn’t let her acting career define her- as she enjoyed doing many other things with her time. I did fully understand the conflict many women have when it comes to home and work balance- and the inevitable regret no matter what tact one takes in that situation. I admire her for guarding her privacy, too, which compared to the oversharing that goes on today, was refreshing.
Her marriage to Mel Brooks has always fascinated me. I couldn’t have imagined two more different people. I still can’t really wrap my head around that one- but evidently, the marriage worked and the couple stayed together until Anne’s death- again- very refreshing.
My only quibble was the author spent too much time on the opinions of various critics. A quick summary of how her work was received would have sufficed. While mostly well-organized there were a few moments that seemed out of order, and the book does not have a lot of pizzaz- it’s very plain, simple, even- but I was reminded of Anne’s unique body of work which went far beyond ‘The Miracle Worker’ and ‘The Graduate’. Anne is still paradoxical- but maybe that’s not a bad thing. Keeping a little mystery around her seems fitting somehow.
3.5 stars
I always thought Anne Bancroft was a fabulous actress- the real deal- very talented. But she was also an enigma. Naturally, when I realized someone had written a biography about her life, I was very interested.
This bio is mostly centered around Anne’s career. There are a few insights into her private life- and the author did get some input from people close to her, but Anne was such a private person, I think it would be difficult to draw her personality out into the open in a truly intimate way. Finding balance between career and her personal life was not going to happen here- and so I made do with what was placed in front of me.
Normally, I would whine if a biographer failed to give me more balance or deep insights into the personal life of a performer, but in this case, I found Anne’s career interesting in many ways. Her forays into stage, television, and movies- her eclectic roles, and her attitude towards her acting career made her stand out from most other actresses. I loved that she was picky about her roles, I loved that she didn’t let her acting career define her- as she enjoyed doing many other things with her time. I did fully understand the conflict many women have when it comes to home and work balance- and the inevitable regret no matter what tact one takes in that situation. I admire her for guarding her privacy, too, which compared to the oversharing that goes on today, was refreshing.
Her marriage to Mel Brooks has always fascinated me. I couldn’t have imagined two more different people. I still can’t really wrap my head around that one- but evidently, the marriage worked and the couple stayed together until Anne’s death- again- very refreshing.
My only quibble was the author spent too much time on the opinions of various critics. A quick summary of how her work was received would have sufficed. While mostly well-organized there were a few moments that seemed out of order, and the book does not have a lot of pizzaz- it’s very plain, simple, even- but I was reminded of Anne’s unique body of work which went far beyond ‘The Miracle Worker’ and ‘The Graduate’. Anne is still paradoxical- but maybe that’s not a bad thing. Keeping a little mystery around her seems fitting somehow.
3.5 stars
October 7, 2017
In the mid 1950s, Anne Bancroft was drifting in a lucrative but mediocre Hollywood contract, when she gave it all up to return to her native New York and try her luck in the theatre. Her role as Anne Sullivan, the teacher who transformed Helen Keller's life in The Miracle Worker, won her plaudits on Broadway and an Oscar when she recreated her performance on film. A star on her own terms, she later had another iconic moment as the predatory Mrs Robinson in The Graduate. She is also known for her marriage to comedian and filmmaker Mel Brooks, one of the few rare celebrity romances to go the distance. Douglass K. Daniel reviews her long career on stage and screen, and her secret battle against cancer. Anne's sudden death at 73 was a shock to many, robbing her of the lifetime achievement awards an actress of her calibre deserved. This biography goes some way towards restoring her reputation, and the author convincingly portrays the conflict between her steely professionalism and occasionally volatile nature, although lacking input from her very private circle of family and friends.
June 11, 2024
I'm trying not to let my love for Bancroft cloud my opinion on this book's quality. It took me longer than expected to read. Bancroft having been an intensely private individual I'm sure made for a challenging journey in writing her biography. This fact also begs the question of whether it should have been written at all. That being said, it was good, but lacked the personality owed to someone like Bancroft i.e. it was too two-dimensional for my liking. But it did make me cry.
July 9, 2018
Fascinating look at the ups and downs of Anne Bancroft's acting career. She was an immensely private person so there is not very much about her personal life. Full review here: http://www.outofthepastblog.com/2018/...
September 2, 2025
I loved reading the personal history of one of my favorite actresses, her story from b-movie actress to one of the most respected female performers is really inspiring to me. She kept going when most people would have given up.
June 1, 2017
A detailed account of the life of the infamous 'Mrs Robinson'.
April 5, 2018
A good read for fans of Anne Bancroft. The author wrote about all of her movies, which is welcome for those of us who didn't see them all.
May 24, 2019
Interesting but a bit clinical.
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September 21, 2018Biog B2125d 2017
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews