Rex

by Harrison Rex

1974 - 1st Edition - Morrow - Hardcover - REX : An Autobiography - By Rex Harrison - With Dust Jacket - Photos throughout - VG Condition - Out of Print - Very Collectible

Genres: Nonfiction, Autobiography, Biography

Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

Reviews

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of use as a record of practically everything Rex did on stage or screen up to that point with (limited) commentary from him on most of it. However, when it comes to his personal life and despite his remarks at the beginning that he learned all about himself when writing, there's a detached and not very indepth quality to it. He led a pretty interesting existence, married to Lilli Palmer, sleeping with Carole Landis, involved with Kay Kendall (one segment in which he does shed SOME light, though not enough) and then married to Rachel Roberts and yet his really glosses over most of the details. One doesn't get a sense of knowing him much better than one did prior to reading the book. Lilli Palmer's own book "Change Lobsters and Dance" is FAR more interesting and insightful.

[Surreysmum · Rating 3 out of 5]

[These notes were made in 1983:]. For a change, I think this autobiography was actually written by the man whose name is on the title-page. Or more likely, dictated into a machine, for the prose is conversational: educated but pedestrian. But I think the real giveaway is the relative flatness and blandness of the account; though there is potential for sensationalism, there is little made of his multiple marriages, etc. The genial disdain - very English - for intense self-analysis, rings true enough to Harrison's public image. So does the occasional touch of humour. An amusing read.

[Don LaFountaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good autobiography by classic actor Rex Harrison. To be clear, I have only seen him in a couple of movies, and so d0 not have a background of having viewed a large amount of his work.

Rex discusses his life and career (up through 1974) and how he became an stage and screen actor. He toured with road companies and acted in plays that were hits. He also took roles in movies that sometimes led to acclaim, and at other times led to poor reviews. Throughout the pages, he was honest and upfront with his successes and failures, professional and personal, and brought the reader into his world. Not only does the reader experience the highs of his life in the theater and movies, they also experience the lows of his professional life along with the lows of his numerous divorces.

Again, this was a pretty good book about an acclaimed actor; one worth reading once, though I don't think I will want to reread it. At times it was dry, and at times the pages would turn rapidly. I would recommend this book to fans of classic movies and the actors and actresses that played in them.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have always been a fan of Rex Harrison's work, though I have heard he was not an especially nice man. This book includes lots of details about his career, his plays and movies, but not a lot about his personal life and many wives. He was married to his fifth when he wrote this book, and of course she was THE ONE; a year after this book was published, they divorced and he married his sixth wife. Would love to hear from the wives; I do remember reading Lilli Palmer's memoirs decades ago and found those very interesting.

[Maximilian Sinsteden · Rating 3 out of 5]

I plowed through it in a day, I think if I had not I might not have ever picked it up again.
Although I do feel I know more about both his career and the way the theater world was function before, during and immediately after the war, the book is more a narrative resume of his work (and his wives) than it is an eye-opening look into such an amazing actor.
If you like Harrison and are interested in knowing more about his career and his procession of wives then dig in (it won't take too much effort).