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Tough Guys Do Dance
David Winters has produced and directed over 80 feature films and over 200 television shows and TV movies, and is recognized as nothing short of an icon in the entertainment industry. In Tough Guys Do Dance, David shares many fascinating and, at times, jaw-dropping behind-the-scenes stories regarding his associations with some of the biggest names in show business—names like Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand, and Michael Jackson, to name a few. It is filled with personal stories of David’s life that at times may seem hard to imagine and is told with David’s personal voice and real-life humility in a way that only he could tell. David’s work in the legendary Broadway show and film West Side Story inspired millions of boys and men alike to embrace the art of dance and truly showed them that “tough guys do dance”! Whether you are a student of dancing or an aspiring actor or producer, this book will prove to be one of the most entertaining reads you will ever experience.
506 pages, Paperback
Published June 11, 2018
3 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
David Winters
20 booksLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 4, 2018
In his autobiography “Tough Guys Do Dance", David Winters may well have written the definitive Broadway theatre and Hollywood movie industry exposé of modern times.
World famous as dancer/choreographer/actor/director and producer of numerous plays, feature films, TV specials and series, Winters reveals all that he experienced professionally over seven decades in Hollywood, New York and elsewhere, warts and all, down to the argot people in the industry use to communicate with each other. He succeeds in doing that with brutal honesty and a refreshing lack of political correctness. Whilst sharing the story of his enormous successes with humour and a cheeky lack of humility. He is courageous enough to admit his downfalls, both professionally and personally.
Winters is a by-word for the talent, energy and dedication invested in creating the entertainment we all enjoy. He struck gold at the age of 17 when he landed a major role in West Side Story, the youngest member of the cast in both the Broadway play and the film adaptation. His relentless pursuit for challenges and perfection catapulted him to great fame and fortune internationally often to the detriment of his romantic relationships. And yet, there is something rather endearing and touching about Winters who seems unable to grasp why, despite all his personal charm and charisma, he could not hang on to his relationship with either of his wives or children, but one. Hollywood does that to people. It is a place of dreams, wilder than anything one might imagine and yet, it robs you of reality.
“Tough Guys Do Dance” should be compulsory reading for anyone who is contemplating a career in movies or theatre in the USA. And for those who enjoy the vicarious thrill of following what the rich and famous get up to both in front and behind the screen, you won’t be disappointed either.
World famous as dancer/choreographer/actor/director and producer of numerous plays, feature films, TV specials and series, Winters reveals all that he experienced professionally over seven decades in Hollywood, New York and elsewhere, warts and all, down to the argot people in the industry use to communicate with each other. He succeeds in doing that with brutal honesty and a refreshing lack of political correctness. Whilst sharing the story of his enormous successes with humour and a cheeky lack of humility. He is courageous enough to admit his downfalls, both professionally and personally.
Winters is a by-word for the talent, energy and dedication invested in creating the entertainment we all enjoy. He struck gold at the age of 17 when he landed a major role in West Side Story, the youngest member of the cast in both the Broadway play and the film adaptation. His relentless pursuit for challenges and perfection catapulted him to great fame and fortune internationally often to the detriment of his romantic relationships. And yet, there is something rather endearing and touching about Winters who seems unable to grasp why, despite all his personal charm and charisma, he could not hang on to his relationship with either of his wives or children, but one. Hollywood does that to people. It is a place of dreams, wilder than anything one might imagine and yet, it robs you of reality.
“Tough Guys Do Dance” should be compulsory reading for anyone who is contemplating a career in movies or theatre in the USA. And for those who enjoy the vicarious thrill of following what the rich and famous get up to both in front and behind the screen, you won’t be disappointed either.
July 16, 2018
Winters may be a hoofer, but he was also a hustler. Of course, he had to peddle projects for TV and screen, but his use of women (and their potential use of him) as part of the so-called "Hollywood scene" made me glad that I could remember him for his talented role as A-rab in the film version of West Side Story. Plenty of name-dropping (he obviously got to know a lot of people, including Hollywood legends), some honesty about his faults, and some behind-the-scenes tales; however, I still wanted to know more about the filming of West Side Story.
Winters is a very talented man, and he pursued his ever-changing dreams through hard work, connections, and hustling. HIS life, of course ... but at what cost?
Winters is a very talented man, and he pursued his ever-changing dreams through hard work, connections, and hustling. HIS life, of course ... but at what cost?
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews