Life Is a Banquet

by Rosalind Russell, Chris Chase

Recounts Rosalind Russell's Connecticut childhood, her early careers in New York and Hollywood, her comedic and dramatic film successes, her triumphant return to the stage, and her thirty-five-year marriage

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Media Tie In, Film, Memoir, History

260 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Catherine Rosalind Russell was an American actress, comedian, screenwriter and singer, known for her role as fast-talking newspaper reporter Hildy Johnson in the Howard Hawks screwball comedy His Girl Friday (1940), as well as for her portrayals of Mame Dennis in Auntie Mame (1958), based on the 1955 novel Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade, and Rose in Gypsy (1962), based on the 1957 memoir Gypsy. A noted comedian, she won all five Golden Globes for which she was nominated. Russell won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 1953 for her portrayal of Ruth in the Broadway show Wonderful Town (a musical based on the film My Sister Eileen, in which she also starred). She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress four times throughout her career.

In addition to her success as a comedic lead, Russell was known for playing dramatic characters as well, especially wealthy, dignified, ladylike women, being one of the few actresses of her time who regularly played professional women, such as judges, reporters, and psychiatrists. She had a wide career span from the 1930s to the 1970s, and attributed her long career to the fact that, although usually playing classy and glamorous roles, she never became a sex symbol.

Her autobiography Life Is a Banquet, written with Chris Chase, was published a year after her death. The foreword (written by her husband) states that Russell had a mental breakdown in 1943. She made no films in 1944. Details are scant, but the book indicates that health problems and the deaths of a sister and a brother were major factors leading to her breakdown. Russell had rheumatoid arthritis, and the UCSF Arthritis Research Center currently bears her name.

In 2009, the documentary film Life Is a Banquet: The Life of Rosalind Russell, narrated by Kathleen Turner, was shown at film festivals across the U.S. and on some PBS stations.

Reviews

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite autobiographies written by one of my favorite stars--it's not as comprehensive as say Myrna Loy's or Lillian Gish's--and I wish a lot more was covered about her earlier years (as Roz points out in the book people want to read about the Golden Age of Hollywood because it's like a country you can no longer visit)--she also died before finishing this book.

It's light--even when covering her own illnesses and her terminal cancer--you can't help but feel that she was a fun person to know--on one hand devious and trouble making but on the other hard working and totally dedicated to her craft. It's why no one else could have played off of Cary Grant quite so well as in Girl Friday as she did. It's also why she's one of the hardest actresses to pin down, since much like Grant she was one of the very few who was never really owned by any studio. She talks in the book how she was originally hurt when Kay Francis told her that she was not "Hollywood" and when Francis explained that yes, she lived in Hollywood, was a star, but wasn't owned by it like the rest.

It's also a very funny book. Generally the "early years" section of any autobiography tends to be the slow boring one but actually in this one, the strongest part. Growing up in almost A Life With Father household, one of a giant brood always up to no good, and the many cons she pulled in the course of her early years, was fantastic.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Rosalind Russell's films and was glad to find this 1977 publication of her memoirs, in her own words. There's a very lovely and touching preface written by her husband, Freddie Brisson. He mentions that Roz's biography was still being editted when she died and he was so happy that it was published, as is, in her own words. He also mentions his wife's health problems later in life, which ultimately lead to her passing, knowing that she wouldn't include much of this information herself, being the ultimate non-complainer that she was.

Rosalind Russell certainly did NOT live the life of a typical Hollywood starlet, but just the opposite. If neither her nor her husband were in show business, their lives would have been exactly the same. A full and happy life. A wonderful childhood with parents and six siblings in Connecticut. Great career doing what you love. The love of one man, unconditionally for the rest of your life. Motherhood. Amazing friends, including past presidents, royalty and Hollywood royalty like Frank Sinatra and Cary Grant (who introduced Rosalind and Freddie and was Best Man at their wedding).

This biography was completely devoid of any scandals, arrests, or even profanity. It was pure Rosalind in her own voice and wonderful sense of humor. She could have been writing about someone else's life and I'd have enjoyed it still.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining Hollywood memoir. Roz was a witty, funny, intelligent woman who wasn't crazy. Now, don't get me wrong, I adore reading memoirs of crazy Hollywood folks whose lives are just one long exciting train wreck. Sometimes, however, it is nice to read about a successful actor/musician/director etc. whose actions don't cause me to constantly shake my head while muttering "Oh Lord, what are you thinking? Why are you doing x?"

I believe that not only her innate intellect & good sense helped her out in life, but so did not being considered by Hollywood bigwigs as a sex symbol. Roz recognizes this too and was relieved in the beginning to play "the second woman" - the foil of the leading lady/glamour puss. Roz was good friends with Jean Harlow (!) and writes about how difficult Jean's life was. I've read a biography of her and agree. She was boxed into the sex-kitten role and was stymied in both her private and professional lives by this typecasting. Lana Turner, Ava Gardener, Hedy Lamar....I've read all their memoirs and they all struggled with their beauty and how it overshadowed everything else and when they lost it due to aging, their lives became difficult and depressing. Roz writes a bit about what it takes to be a successful actor. Talent, of course, but more importantly it takes self-discipline and good health. Exactly! I've read so many Hollywood memoirs where the person had no self-discipline but acted like a kid in a candy store. Living beyond their financial means, having affairs with inappropriate(married, drunk, crazy etc) people, acting like a diva etc. Not to mention the drinking and the drugs and the mental illnesses. Talent will get you to a certain point and then you implode (Vivian Leigh, Eddie Fisher, Monty Clift etc)

Roz had it pretty good and she recognizes this. She had a large, loving family - grew up in an upper-middle class home( a lovely large Victorian) in Connecticut. She went to good schools. She got some lucky breaks at the beginning of her career and signed with Hollywood. She married the perfect kind of a man for a Hollywood actress. He was first an agent, then a producer. Not another actor to compete with for fame & fortune. Not someone completely out of the business that will feel left out and insecure. Honestly, every successful actress that wants to get married should marry someone who works behind the scenes in the movie business. They were married for 35 years. Lived in the same house the entire marriage. Only had one kid, which Roz was sad about, but at least she had one and it sounds like they had a pretty good relationship. I loved how she wrote about taking her son to the set when he was little and found out on the playground that his mom was a big movie star. She had him come to the set with her at 5am and sit around one long, long day so he could see how little glamour there really was in her daily life. When he was older, he'd hang around the theater with her, doing odd jobs and just generally being with his mom. That sounded nice. I recently read Jane Fonda's memoir and when Henry was in a big Broadway play he planted his kids in a mansion out in Connecticut with their grandma and servants and hardly ever saw his kids.

Roz writes about her famous friends(Sinatra, Coco Chanel, Duke & Duchess of Windsor etc) - dolling out little tidbits about them without being too personal. I get it. She's not a writing a tell-all memoir. No lurid sex scenes. She does write about how she would hear second hand about crazy stuff but sadly was never invited to an orgy. Haha. She writes a bit about her feelings - not as much as younger actors do - but I think that's a generational thing. Compared to male actors her age who have written memoirs, she was pretty forthcoming. Roz reminded me somewhat of David Niven, another smart, witty actor who was successful but never quite a leading man a la Cary Grant or Clark Gable. She delves into more personal issues than David and writes more about her emotions surrounding events.

This is a fun memoir to read even if you aren't a big fan of hers or of Hollywood in general. It's a humorous, quick read about a basically decent woman who lived an exciting life. Nothing sordid, nothing too upsetting. Go check it out.

[Quiltpixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago and loved it! It made me laugh, it made me cry. My eyes were opened to some of the opulence of Hollywood but also to some of the nicest people.

'Life is a Banquet but most poor suckers are starving to death' is my lifetime favorite quote, cuz it is so very true.

[Barbara VA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roz has always been in my top tier favorites. Fun LADY, Love this book written like she was flying around the room, and you were following her taking notes, hanging on every syllable for the next story! No drama, no scandals, just love and a woman who Lived, Laughed and Loved!

[Krys Conner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosalind Russel is a very gifted actress and shares the photogenic screen quality of Marilyn Monroe. She always gives a enticing performance and puts passion into whatever she does. it was such a treat to read her story in her own words. I really enjoyed this book.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read an autobiography I ask myself, would I have a beer with this person. In the case of Rosalind Russell, it would be a resounding YES. An actress, but not a self-described star. A very funny lady, especially when she talks about her childhood. Life is indeed a banquet.

[Merriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, very funny and interesting, with plenty of pictures as well. I especially like Rosalind's description of Hayley Mills.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosalind Russell is one of my all time favorite actresses and her autobiography is wonderful! Her sense of humor is on every page, making it a quick and enjoyable read.

[Matty Lapointe-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an exciting and fun journey through the Golden Age of Hollywood with a classy broad I've been a fan of for decades! The whole time I was reading this I just kept picturing the scene about 2/3rds of the way through Auntie Mame where she's decided to write her autobiography and just wanders through the house spouting stories left and right while the Gooch does her best to keep up with her notepad.

It was exhilarating to fly through 50 years of entertainment history and get insights into some of my favorite movies and idols as experienced through the eyes of a real top drawer woman. This book delivered pretty much exactly what I expected and hoped for. And even had a couple of surprises like Rosalind Russell's son was married in the Catholic Church that was right across the street from our old apartment in Toluca Lake.

Not only is Ms. Russell a strong personality who always stood up for herself but she genuinely cared about people and doing what she could to serve communities whenever she could. "I happen to like all sorts of people," she says explaining her every-man personality, "but the rich tend only to like the rich. Their interests are mostly limited to each other, they share a sort of decadence of thought and motive that makes a short time with them seem long enough."(p.175) But then, true to fashion goes on to say how she has some very rich friends too but they're more "real" than her blanket statement observed.

She also knew how to turn a thoughtful phase. Referring to her activities supporting the troops and general fundraising during WWII she said "Because there was no time, there was time enough. Somehow, during the war years, we could get it all done." (p.141) Something I intend to take to heart this fall as I dive into the trenches of learning for my Masters Degree while (most likely) also having to maintain a job.

And being a trained actress I also appreciated her observation about the craft. "Jack Lemmon once asked me what I thought acting was. I said, 'Acting is standing up naked and turning around very slowly.' "(p. 211)

The heart of this autobiography is her 36 year love story with her husband, theater producer Freddie Brisson. It opens with a prologue written by him simply because her death from the breast cancer she thought she'd beat years before happened so quickly. But her life before him and the 3 1/2 decades they spent together is beautifully told about two very strong-willed people who clearly idolized each other. I may not know Frank Sinatra personally but the 25th Anniversary Party he threw for them is now on my bucket list for when my husband and I get there in 18 years. "Twenty-five years is a very long time," she said to the star studded crowd in attendance. "but it is also a very short time when you love someone."

My only issues with the book come primarily from the same things I love about Ms. Russell. Due to the conversational nature the timeline, while more or less linear, does skip around a bit. Something that may not have been as distracting when the book was first published and all the pop cultural/celebrity references were current. This is something I feel I find common in a lot of autobiographies. Although in this case it's entirely possible part of the issue is that she wasn't around to make tighter edits.

Which leads me to the second thing that I felt detracted just a bit from the book. She was such a classy and respectful lady of her time that you don't get the whole story regarding the lower points in her life. In Freddie's prologue he mentioned she had a breakdown in 1943. She never says anything about that and only through looking it up online did a piece together it was just a real crap year for her when she was working too hard, her husband was serving in the war and her younger sister died from cancer.

She also never makes mention of her multiple battles with breast cancer beyond a mention in the final chapter that "they found tumors." It's really only frustrating because toward the end of the book she spends time talking about another fight against rheumatoid arthritis and how important it was to her to be on the forefront of raising money for and being the face of that cause that so few people knew or talked about at that time. Not that she owes her audience any further testimony than she offered, and I imagine it's simply because she was such a proper lady that talking about something like breast cancer at that time was too embarrassing, as well as her stressing she didn't want to sound like she was whining, but with 45 years distance on the book, and as someone who's got breast cancer racing through his family (though not with any fatalities that I'm aware of) it would've been inspiring for her to get behind that cause as well. Though of course I imagine on top of everything else, she may have just been too tired by that point.

Despite my wallowing in the more somber moments this is a touching, amusing quick read that I'd recommend to anyone who's a fan. Thank you to my friend Ky for setting up the Pandemic Book Club and selecting this excellent read for me!

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosalind Russell managed to write and publish her memoirs a few years before she passed on. If one
is looking for a lot of juicy gossip and dirt on her colleagues one had better move on. True to her
image as a sophisticated professional woman on the screen she had nothing but praise for her colleagues with one exception.

She was born in Connecticut to an Irish Catholic family and in Hollywood she was part of a close knit
group of actresses who wore their Catholicism quite openly. They would include Loretta Young, Irene
Dunne and Ann Blyth. With the exception of Young the others never had so much as a whiff of personal scandal. Russell was married for over 30 years to producer Frederick Brisson and they had
one son.

Russell attended Catholic colleges Rosemont and Marymont majoring in theater and got her first job
with a repertory company in Boston. Eventually she came to Hollywood first signing for Universal
and then wrangling herself out of that contract went to MGM where both Louis B. Mayer and Irving
Thalberg took an interest in her career. For most of the 30s she played dignified other women
roles. Competition was fierce at that studio. Rox singles out one actress for being kind and gracious and always helpful. That would be Jean Harlow who she said always went out of her way
to be helpful. Russell was in the supporting cast of Harlow's film with Clark Gable China Seas.

A loan out film to Columbia gave her a real part in the George Kelly play Craig's Wife. It's a stern
part about a woman obsessed with material trappings of wealth of which her house is the chief
ornament. A great role, Russell still wanted to expand her range.

She got the chance when MGM bought the rights to the Clare Booth Luce play The Women which
had an all distaff cast. Russell got the third billing in the film behind Norma Shearer and Joan
Crawford. She wanted to play it more serious the role of catty gossip Sylvia Fowler, but director
George Cukor made it more humorous, different than what was on the stage. Russell got some
rave notices.

What Cukor started Howard Hawks honed to perfection in His Girl Friday. Russell played opposite
Cary Grant in a version where the reporter role is changed to a woman. That film holds up so well
today for its comedy and for some biting satire on the press and the criminal justice system.

In 1942 Russell got her first of four Oscar nominations for My Sister Eileen. In the 40s she was now
playing sophisticated and successful career women. Still she wanted to expand further.

In 1947 she signed for a three picture deal with RKO studio and got Oscar nominations for two of
the three films. The first was for Mourning Becomes Electra where RKO went highbrow with an
adaption of Eugene O'Neill's classic. It's a long play and a long film and deep like O'Neill works
are. Russell had the lead as Lavinia Manion and she mentions getting a note from the ailing O'Neill saying how much he liked her performance. Great critical review and an Oscar nomination,
but the film died at the box office.

The following year she did a most personal project, a biographical film of Sister Kenny, an Australian nurse who developed new techniques in combating polio. Great critical reviews another
Oscar nomination and a box office disaster. Russell went back to films the public wanted to see
her in.

And as they were drying up Russell went to Broadway where she took one of her screen roles, Ruth
Sherwood in My Sister Eileen and starred in the musical play Wonderful Town. She got a Tony
Award for that. And then it was the role she is most identified with Auntie Mame both on Broadway and back in Hollywood. The title of the book, Life Is A Banquet comes from Auntie Mame. And it was her fourth Best Actress nomination.

Russell continued to do all kinds of different films right through the mid 70s. The only colleague
she ever knocked was Hayley Mills from The Trouble With Angels where Russell played a nun. Mills
was a spoiled juvenile with some raging hormones which might have stood her in good stead playing a rebellious Catholic school girl.

Age and infirmities slowed Rosalind Russell down. She was an arthritis sufferer. She confesses
she wished she could have done a western with either Gary Cooper or John Wayne. No westerns in
her body of work however. She died in 1976 of cancer.

No scandals still a nice bit of reminiscing from a Hollywood legend.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent read. I fell in love with Rosalind Russell after seeing Auntie Mame (the movie) many years ago. Ros was an amazing actress and very smart. I loved reading her story in her own words. She had some amazing experiences and knew some fabulous people...and a few duds. Loved this book! Long live Auntie Mame!!

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosalind Russell wrote much of the script for the film "Auntie Mame" and didn't want credit.

Rosalind Russell hated the monumental size of Auntie Mame's apartment in the film version, especially the grand staircase. But it's the most visceral and affecting set of all time!

[Samantha Glasser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have seen many Rosalind Russell films. I never considered her to be a favorite but I liked her fine. After reading this book, I like her infinitely more. She was witty and thoughtful, which makes for excellent reading. She died while working on this, which is a loss because I’m sure she had many more great stories and insights to share.

[Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't realize that I would enjoy this book so much. She was a very comical and interesting woman.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I would have finished this much sooner at I not dropped this pristine 2nd edition hardcover (a fabulous souvenir from Dog Eared Books of San Francisco’s Castro District) into the lake we were vacationing at. Luckily, a hairdryer was handy I and was able to try the thing out over 4 days, but jeesch, what a mess! However, I was able to finish a dry, yet very crinkled edition. Russell has always been one of my favorite actresses, all the way from “The Women” to “Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows.” What’s great about her autobiography, written right before she died (she didn’t get a chance to edit the thing,) is that you can really hear her voice telling her story. One does wonder what she left out, but she does a pretty good job of telling her story and not trashing too many others along the way (with the exception of Haley Mills!) She strikes me as one tough cookie (or dare is say, “Broad!”) The autobiography does rather fizzle to an end, but it does have great photos, as well as her filmography. Certainly a good read for any Russell fan and anyone interested in “old Hollywood.” I'd probably give this a 3.5 if I could.

[zudlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, Roz, absolutely beautiful.

Rosalind Russell takes everything we know and think about the rich stars of Hollywood and throws it in a curveball at our uninformed minds. She lived as a star, yet maintained her humanity. She married a man less renowned than herself, yet she respected his leadership of the home, and remained faithful to him always.

Roz smashes the stereotype of the unfeeling superstar. She shatters the image of the self-made woman, replacing it with a new model, one that works hard but still cherishes womanhood.

Over all, she just had fun. And a whole lot of it.

Slow clap.

[C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the wittiest, funniest and most charming memoirs I've read, full of the most fantastic character sketches, pearls of wisdom and a wonderful account of a life well-lived. It's a shame that Roz didn't live to finish the book but it was published in its present tense form, as if she was still here, telling these stories, sparkling with life. I've never picked up a memoir that has made me want to go back to the first page and read it all again and I've read my share of memoirs. Laugh out loud funny, wistful, sad, wise, and heart-warming -- brava!

[karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

this being a rosalind russell book, of course it would be hilarious. okay but i was not expecting to start SOBBING during the preface by her husband. they really were meant to be.

my fav story is still how she pretended to be sick during the filming of the women (1939) and stayed sick until she recieved top billing. plus how there were no doubles used during the fight scene and she actually bit paulette goddard’s leg and left a mark.

anyway i love rosalind russell so much, she really deserved more dramatic roles bc she would always eat them all up

[Lady Katsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with this book on the first page. It was absolutely wonderful!

Rosalind Russell made you want to grab life by the horns! She gave new meaning to "Being alive" as well as what a Hollywood actress can be. She was kind but she also was tough and not someone you could easily take advantage of. I usually don't like to make celebrities role models but she certainly made the list!

I will now have to watch some more of her pictures, after hearing so much about them in her book! :)

[Ida · Rating 3 out of 5]

that the worst thing is not to suffer from the disease of talent but to have all the symptoms without the affliction, oh, and that LA hats are not acceptable in NY. she prefaced this book by talking about how boring and privileged she was and yeah, she was. i always like autobiographies by people famous for something else besides writing, especially these retrospectives by STARS!

[Suzanne Yuskiw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was terrific. A great summer read for a theater and movie junkie. Ros russell tells a charming tale of her growing up in the upper class of Waterbury Connecticut, her private catholic school education, her early days onstage and then the fascinating inside stories of movie studio drama, challenges and gossip. For lovers of Auntie Mame, it's a must. She was born to play that role.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've gotten into old movies lately, so when I realized that I had seen her in the movies, I had to read this. And I had great fun watching His Girl Friday right before reading that part of the book. But, more than that, I've really enjoyed her voice. She was an amazing woman who comes alive in these pages.

[Janet Hartzell]

I always had a great deal of respect for Rosalind Russell--but never knew why until I read this, her autobiography. Although she says that she modeled her portrayal of Auntie Mame on her older sister, I think Rosalind herself was Auntie Mame.

[Sandy Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

She was a lady, a dame, and a hell of a good actress who lived as fully as possible!i if you like biographies, you may have to search for it but it is truly worthwhile! it was put out in both hard and paperback.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Far more fascinating / comprehensible than Katharine Hepburn's autobiography. And/or life.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully fun and funny! One of the most delightful autobiographies I have ever read.

[Linsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Russell is no writer, but it's what makes this autobiography so charming. I've zipped through the first 60 pages, still pleasantly surprised by how much I like this woman.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! If only more women were like Rosalind Russell! This is one of the best autobiographies. She was so open and honest and yet very sweetly ladylike. I think this woman truly enjoyed her life.

[Nicholas Disabatino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosalind Russell lived a rich and full life. Her biography is breezy, but enjoyable.