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Thank Heaven: A Memoir
One of the best-loved stars of classic American cinema tells all in this wry, funny, and poignant memoir
Leslie Caron is one of the most cherished and admired international film stars of our time. She made her film debut with Gene Kelly in the classic MGM musical An American in Paris, created one of the most enduring roles in American musicals as Gigi, danced with Fred Astaire in Daddy Long Legs, and starred with Cary Grant in Father Goose.
In Thank Heaven (an homage to ?Thank Heaven for Little Girls,? the song Maurice Chevalier sings about her in Gigi) Caron shares her remarkable life story. From her childhood with her American mother and French father in occupied France to her early success as a young ballerina; to her meeting Gene Kelly and her years in Hollywood; to her love affairs (including a very funny and very public one with Warren Beatty) and motherhood; to her alcoholism and depression; and finally her recovery and continuing success in film and television, Caron offers an illuminating account of her career.
Thank Heaven is filled with reminiscences of MGM at the end of its Golden Era, of the great stars with whom Caron worked, and of her own struggles as an actress. This is a sharp, unsentimental, and moving memoir for everyone who loves classic American movies.
Leslie Caron is one of the most cherished and admired international film stars of our time. She made her film debut with Gene Kelly in the classic MGM musical An American in Paris, created one of the most enduring roles in American musicals as Gigi, danced with Fred Astaire in Daddy Long Legs, and starred with Cary Grant in Father Goose.
In Thank Heaven (an homage to ?Thank Heaven for Little Girls,? the song Maurice Chevalier sings about her in Gigi) Caron shares her remarkable life story. From her childhood with her American mother and French father in occupied France to her early success as a young ballerina; to her meeting Gene Kelly and her years in Hollywood; to her love affairs (including a very funny and very public one with Warren Beatty) and motherhood; to her alcoholism and depression; and finally her recovery and continuing success in film and television, Caron offers an illuminating account of her career.
Thank Heaven is filled with reminiscences of MGM at the end of its Golden Era, of the great stars with whom Caron worked, and of her own struggles as an actress. This is a sharp, unsentimental, and moving memoir for everyone who loves classic American movies.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published October 14, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
August 23, 2021
I will admit that I was drawn to THANK HEAVEN because I wanted to read the life perspectives of Leslie Caron who so delighted me in the movies “An American In Paris” and “Lili.” I will also admit that I was unprepared for how joyless her story was to read. There were times that I approached the next chapter with foreboding, and then decided that catching up on my correspondence would be time better spent.
This is not to suggest that I would rather have read fabrications or rosy interludes that would produce false feelings of living in “the best of all possible worlds.” Yet, there was a bitter undertone that took over after she left the ballet for Hollywood. Up until that point, there were stories that contained an energy and joy of performing. I was especially moved by the story of her ballet company arriving at a post-War ravaged town in which the only standing building among the rubble was a theater. There, the culture-starved residents emerged and, dressed in what was left of “their best,” sat in silence:
“… until finally the curtain fell and freed the audience. Howls of enthusiasm swept people to their feet. The applause lasted as long as the ballet had. Twenty minutes! For twenty minutes they stood on their feet and clapped to express their gratitude for the shared emotion, their release from the horrors of war, for the French ballet coming over to start civilization again.”
Unfortunately, such incandescent moments are very few. Without “dishing dirt,” she does talk about working with taskmaster, Gene Kelly, the usually gallant Fred Astaire, and the frequently changing moods of Cary Grant. She also talks about the inspiration she received from Jean Renoir and Christopher Isherwood.
The marriages and affairs are real rollercoaster rides. Although she states that she knew she would receive the most satisfaction from film work, her best times seem to be before a live audience. She also mentions on multiple occasions her dissatisfaction with being ignored by French filmmakers.
Now, to be fair, late in her life she experienced a debilitating breakdown which lasted off and on for five years. She mentions how even her family wanted to keep a distance from the outbreaks of hysteria. It is after that time when these memoirs were written, and they were certain to have darkened her perspective.
It is not my intent to suggest that THANK HEAVEN is not worth reading. It is. Just be prepared as the journey is likely much darker than you would have imagined.
This is not to suggest that I would rather have read fabrications or rosy interludes that would produce false feelings of living in “the best of all possible worlds.” Yet, there was a bitter undertone that took over after she left the ballet for Hollywood. Up until that point, there were stories that contained an energy and joy of performing. I was especially moved by the story of her ballet company arriving at a post-War ravaged town in which the only standing building among the rubble was a theater. There, the culture-starved residents emerged and, dressed in what was left of “their best,” sat in silence:
“… until finally the curtain fell and freed the audience. Howls of enthusiasm swept people to their feet. The applause lasted as long as the ballet had. Twenty minutes! For twenty minutes they stood on their feet and clapped to express their gratitude for the shared emotion, their release from the horrors of war, for the French ballet coming over to start civilization again.”
Unfortunately, such incandescent moments are very few. Without “dishing dirt,” she does talk about working with taskmaster, Gene Kelly, the usually gallant Fred Astaire, and the frequently changing moods of Cary Grant. She also talks about the inspiration she received from Jean Renoir and Christopher Isherwood.
The marriages and affairs are real rollercoaster rides. Although she states that she knew she would receive the most satisfaction from film work, her best times seem to be before a live audience. She also mentions on multiple occasions her dissatisfaction with being ignored by French filmmakers.
Now, to be fair, late in her life she experienced a debilitating breakdown which lasted off and on for five years. She mentions how even her family wanted to keep a distance from the outbreaks of hysteria. It is after that time when these memoirs were written, and they were certain to have darkened her perspective.
It is not my intent to suggest that THANK HEAVEN is not worth reading. It is. Just be prepared as the journey is likely much darker than you would have imagined.
August 1, 2012
Parts of this book were very enjoyable. I had very limited knowledge of Leslie Caron prior to reading her memoir, and I enjoyed learning about her childhood growing up in WWII-era France, her early career in ballet, and her very extensive acting career. The portions focusing on her life and career were interesting.
However, other portions of the book were very difficult to get through. She spent a lot of time describing every member of her glittering circle of talented, intellectual friends. This wouldn't be so bad if I knew who any of them were! I wish she had been more selective when choosing which friends and experiences to share.
However, other portions of the book were very difficult to get through. She spent a lot of time describing every member of her glittering circle of talented, intellectual friends. This wouldn't be so bad if I knew who any of them were! I wish she had been more selective when choosing which friends and experiences to share.
August 13, 2012
I really enjoyed reading about Leslie Caron and her life. Her movie Gigi is one of my all-time favorites and enjoys a spot on the classics shelf of my DVD collection. When you see her in film you have no idea what she is going through in life. What a rough life she has had and, like all of us, she has made decisions she regretted. I love her devotion to her children, her work ethic, and her appreciation and love of her peers and friends. I must admit that I didn't know what she was talking about half of the time. I have never been to Europe and didn't know where places were that she was talking about. I know where Paris is and that is about all. I felt the need for an atlas. And then, there are descriptions and terms that she uses that I don't think are accurately translated because it doesn't make sense. I don't really feel anything should have been omitted, but maybe more detail should have been added to help us understand what she was saying. One other distraction for me was that she jumps about with some of the stories. For example, first telling us that a person died and then telling all that the person did, or sometimes the death came in the middle of other stories she was telling about the person. In other parts, the writing was very good and kept me reading and wanting to know more. All in all, I would recommend this book to people who are fans of Leslie Caron.
September 23, 2016
I found this memoir quite interesting, the more so since Caron had an international career rather than merely a Hollywood one. Like so many people whose name is made in Hollywood (and particularly women, unfortunately), her greatest celebrity came very early in her life, and from her thirties onward, both her career and her personal life appear to have been spent searching for new identities, sometimes successfully sometimes not. Unusually, Caron had an extra string to her bow from the very beginning: her ballet career, which was associated primarily with the highly reputable Roland Petit company. Being picked out by Gene Kelly to co-star in one of the most celebrated Hollywood musicals of all time, An American in Paris, meant that she had many more opportunities than a dancer would normally have when the dancing legs failed, but she also identifies (with some frustration) the negative effect of that Hollywood association upon her acceptance within the continental European artistic communities. It is notable that the straight dramatic role that got her a Best Actress Oscar nomination, in "The L-shaped Room", was for a British film, not American or French. However, she did eventually work with Truffaut, whose ghost, she jokes, finds her parking spaces. In mid-career, she also appears to have become part of the Film Festival circuit, appearing on a number of major juries.
The chapters about American in Paris, Lili, Daddy Long Legs, and Gigi (the four roles instantly associated with her) I found the least interesting, possibly because we already know the principal characters so well. It's hardly news that Gene Kelly was a taskmaster and that he overrode the nominal director of American in Paris, Vincente Minnelli. We know that Fred Astaire was traumatized by the loss of his wife during "Daddy Long Legs" and nearly quit; it's nice to hear that he was able to genuinely lose the sadness for a moment as they filmed the Slue Foot number. On the other hand, I found the chapters about Caron's strong friendships with eccentric men like filmmaker Jean Renoir and author Christopher Isherwood to be new and illuminating. I was also completely unaware, until I read this memoir, that Caron was temporarily "Queen of Stratford", being married to Peter Hall of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Unfortunately, it appears that professional jealousy on his part greatly depressed her acting career: notably for this Canadian reader, he apparently put a stop to her projected appearance in two Shakespeare plays at the infant Shakespeare festival in Stratford, Ontario (where audiences, as she says carefully, would be "less doctrinaire" - read, unsophisticated). On her way out of that marriage, Caron had a lively affair with Warren Beatty.
Rudolf Nureyev pops up periodically in the narrative, which is always delightful - once, dancing a trio at a Met Gala with Caron and Baryshnikov; and then again teaching Caron Russian swear words for "On Your Toes", a return to a dancer's role that apparently was ill-conceived, given that she was in her fifties and had not danced seriously for decades.
There was another passing mention of a Canadian connection that intrigued me enough to do a little research - she mentions having signed on to do a "small Canadian movie", flying to Toronto, and then retreating - and presumably buying her way out of the contract - when she discovered the actors who were supposed to be teenagers were in their 20s. She gives the name of the movie as "Beginners Three", but it turns out that it was made as "The First Time", filmed chiefly in Niagara Falls, but a U.S. not a Canadian production. The lead was played by Jacqueline Bissett, and the whole thing looks entirely forgettable.
Although I think there are many episodes that didn't make the pages of this volume (one Goodreads reviewer points out the name of a lover in the 90s who is entirely omitted), Caron is nonetheless quite happy to be frank about people she didn't get along with, including David Niven, and both Kirk and Michael Douglas. Given the stories about how she breezed into a small town and imposed her will upon both bricks and mortar and the local townsfolk in creating and running an auberge, she doesn't seem overly worried about having rough edges herself. Certainly, losing the perks of a well-heeled childhood and surviving World War II in France, as she describes in the earliest chapters, must have made her into a rather tougher cookie than that shy little girl we think of dancing across from Kelly and Astaire. Given the length and variety of her career, it's good to have this record of how she saw her world.
The chapters about American in Paris, Lili, Daddy Long Legs, and Gigi (the four roles instantly associated with her) I found the least interesting, possibly because we already know the principal characters so well. It's hardly news that Gene Kelly was a taskmaster and that he overrode the nominal director of American in Paris, Vincente Minnelli. We know that Fred Astaire was traumatized by the loss of his wife during "Daddy Long Legs" and nearly quit; it's nice to hear that he was able to genuinely lose the sadness for a moment as they filmed the Slue Foot number. On the other hand, I found the chapters about Caron's strong friendships with eccentric men like filmmaker Jean Renoir and author Christopher Isherwood to be new and illuminating. I was also completely unaware, until I read this memoir, that Caron was temporarily "Queen of Stratford", being married to Peter Hall of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Unfortunately, it appears that professional jealousy on his part greatly depressed her acting career: notably for this Canadian reader, he apparently put a stop to her projected appearance in two Shakespeare plays at the infant Shakespeare festival in Stratford, Ontario (where audiences, as she says carefully, would be "less doctrinaire" - read, unsophisticated). On her way out of that marriage, Caron had a lively affair with Warren Beatty.
Rudolf Nureyev pops up periodically in the narrative, which is always delightful - once, dancing a trio at a Met Gala with Caron and Baryshnikov; and then again teaching Caron Russian swear words for "On Your Toes", a return to a dancer's role that apparently was ill-conceived, given that she was in her fifties and had not danced seriously for decades.
There was another passing mention of a Canadian connection that intrigued me enough to do a little research - she mentions having signed on to do a "small Canadian movie", flying to Toronto, and then retreating - and presumably buying her way out of the contract - when she discovered the actors who were supposed to be teenagers were in their 20s. She gives the name of the movie as "Beginners Three", but it turns out that it was made as "The First Time", filmed chiefly in Niagara Falls, but a U.S. not a Canadian production. The lead was played by Jacqueline Bissett, and the whole thing looks entirely forgettable.
Although I think there are many episodes that didn't make the pages of this volume (one Goodreads reviewer points out the name of a lover in the 90s who is entirely omitted), Caron is nonetheless quite happy to be frank about people she didn't get along with, including David Niven, and both Kirk and Michael Douglas. Given the stories about how she breezed into a small town and imposed her will upon both bricks and mortar and the local townsfolk in creating and running an auberge, she doesn't seem overly worried about having rough edges herself. Certainly, losing the perks of a well-heeled childhood and surviving World War II in France, as she describes in the earliest chapters, must have made her into a rather tougher cookie than that shy little girl we think of dancing across from Kelly and Astaire. Given the length and variety of her career, it's good to have this record of how she saw her world.
December 13, 2009
In 1949 she subbed for the part of the cruel girl in 'Le Jeune Homme et la Mort'. A ballet designed by Jean Cocteau, choreographed by Roland Petit to the music of Bach's Passacaglia in C minor. (You can see Baryshnikov dance this at the beginning of the 'White Nights' movie, fascinating piece!). p 53
A year after appearing in 'Chocolat' (2000) she was in a movie 'The Last of the Blonde Bombshells' (2001) where she played 'an enormous Double Bass wearing a flaming red wig, - convinced that you have to be an eccentric to still play the double bass at the age of seventy' (Ahem) p 260
In 2006 she discovered she could get American citizenship, since her mother was born in Topeka, Kansas. A 1900 Census report lists her mother, Margaret Petit is number 83, her Grandmother Cora Petit is number 82, and her grandfather Harry petit is number 81. p 269
A year after appearing in 'Chocolat' (2000) she was in a movie 'The Last of the Blonde Bombshells' (2001) where she played 'an enormous Double Bass wearing a flaming red wig, - convinced that you have to be an eccentric to still play the double bass at the age of seventy' (Ahem) p 260
In 2006 she discovered she could get American citizenship, since her mother was born in Topeka, Kansas. A 1900 Census report lists her mother, Margaret Petit is number 83, her Grandmother Cora Petit is number 82, and her grandfather Harry petit is number 81. p 269
January 12, 2017
Leslie Caron weaves a funny and poignant story of her life in France, in the ballet, and in the movies. Caron's narrative presents a positive voice throughout every ordeal in life. I have read many stories of the German occupation of France during WWII, and Leslie Caron downplays that era of her life. She mentions long lines for food and a little hunger, but does not dwell on the terrible hardship of the French population. Then on her first job doing An American in Paris with Gene Kelly, Caron cuts her hair, and the film production is halted for 3 weeks for her hair to grow. My opinion of Leslie Caron plummeted at that point, but she continues her positive attitude and her enjoyment of her fellow workers throughout the book. The pictures included in the book illustrate Caron’s warmth and generosity.
March 24, 2010
As a lover of 50s movie musicals (ahhh for the golden years of Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire), I had to pick up this delightful memoir by Leslie Caron, as she describes her journey through the horrors of WWII on to the glamour and insanity of Hollywood, and a career that has spanned continents and artistic genres. Her writing was at times formal, as if she was creating a history book, but the gems of humor and devilish wit sparkled, set off as well by descriptions of beloved stars (and some not-so-beloved ones). A touching homage to an era in the arts, and a lovely memoir for a classy woman. I would love to stay in her auberge someday.
June 29, 2017
Seeing Leslie Caron in a recent BBC series, "The Durrells," led me to this book. It was interesting to read as all I ever knew about Caron was in regard to her roles in a few long-ago popular films - "An American in Paris," "Gigi," and "Lili." She did so much more, both in films and onstage, plus built a French inn almost by herself. She writes well, with warmth and humor.
Want to Read
October 7, 2009I can't wait for this book to come out. I love the movies "Gigi" and "An American in Paris" (if you haven't seen them, go rent them!) more than I can tell, and I'm sure Caron will have some interesting stories from making them (particularly from getting to know her co-stars).
April 8, 2018
I totally enjoyed this book! I have been a fan of Leslie Caron since I was a girl... so I may be biased. I loved all the stories about Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Tennessee Williams, and Warren Beatty! It is not the best written memoir but I loved it!
June 16, 2026
I read a lot of biographies and autobiographies. Some bore me to pieces. Others are fun and insightful. This, thankfully, was the latter. Leslie Caron writes very well although a little disjointed at times, and I must say, she is quite the name dropper. 😬 I enjoyed learning about her life and career. I always enjoyed her work.
June 16, 2010
I always enjoy reading autobiographies & memoirs of Hollywood stars who were active back in the heyday of what we now call classic movies. I love hearing their descriptions & impressions of people that they worked with and the films they made. In this respect, Leslie Caron's memoir "Thank Heaven" did not disappoint. I always knew of the well-known films that she starred in, but after reading her book, there are quite a few of the lesser known, non-musical movies that I'm interested in seeing. I very much enjoyed the first part of the book describing Ms. Caron's childhood & adolescence in France. However, I would have liked to see more of a balance of personal life and career. It felt like once she got to Hollywood, the vast majority of the rest of the book was strictly about her career, with occasional mentions of her personal life sprinkled throughout. I was, however, impressed by her candor when sharing what she did of her personal life, including a few incredibly loving descriptions of dear friends. Overall, an enjoyable look at this beautiful actress's life thus far.
May 24, 2017
I've long been fascinated by & enjoyed the work of Leslie Caron. For that, I didn't realize the scope of the films she's been in nor her brief returns to dance through the years. I nabbed this while thrifting on impulse and glad I did. She's a good, strong narrator of her own story, filled with interesting observations, examinations of her choices and experiences, and lyrical turns of phrase.
Gossipy enough to please without being tell-all gossip only. Introspective & revealing enough it didn't feel like reading a bloated Vanity Fair profile. There was more going on than I expected--in her recounting, in her honesty, and her character--and I found myself pausing for reflection while reading. She's an unreliable narrator of course (memoirs can only be this), but it felt brave & true as she understands it and that works for me.
It's a bit jumpy with timelines: broken into experiences and people rather than a progressing calendar, which fine, but I got lost a few places.
Gossipy enough to please without being tell-all gossip only. Introspective & revealing enough it didn't feel like reading a bloated Vanity Fair profile. There was more going on than I expected--in her recounting, in her honesty, and her character--and I found myself pausing for reflection while reading. She's an unreliable narrator of course (memoirs can only be this), but it felt brave & true as she understands it and that works for me.
It's a bit jumpy with timelines: broken into experiences and people rather than a progressing calendar, which fine, but I got lost a few places.
August 27, 2013
Leslie Caron is a very good writer. She paints a fascinating picture of her years growing up in Paris with her privileged family, the war years, and joining the ballet. But when she gets to Hollywood, all hell quietly, slowly breaks loose. Loved all the anecdotes about the stars, but she seemed to lose herself after awhile, and there's scant mention of her parents and brother who figured so prominently in her earlier life. She chooses the wrong men, including Warren Beatty, and goes over the edge when she hits middle age; she's no longer able to command good roles, and is all but ignored in her native France. Not surprised that she suffered a nervous breakdown and has a drinking problem; she also hints at a time of estrangement from her own children. The curse of Hollywood.
December 26, 2009
I heard about this book on NPR. Leslie Caron tells the story of her youth in France during WWII, her ballet career, her Hollywood years, and her depression and alcoholism as she aged. It's a chatty and relatively honest book, and although I wish that she had dealt more fuly with her last decade and tried to understand why her relationships with her family are so barren, it is a wonderful window on the film industry of the 1950's until today. Lauren and I are going to watch some of her early work - Gigi, Lili, An American in Paris.
February 20, 2010
Nice little memoir that I quickly flicked through last night. Caron's mother was from Topeka, kansas. She spent some summers in Vezelay (near St. Andeux, France), and one of her closest friends her ex-brother-in-law, Jim Hormel, who was the first openly gay US ambassador and former RJ neighbor in SF. It is weird to read books and say, hey I know that person and that obscure little town was where I spent my birthday--and she's from Kansas?!
Oh and there is ettiquette too, apparently men must not kiss the hands of unmarried ladies. ??
Oh and there is ettiquette too, apparently men must not kiss the hands of unmarried ladies. ??
Read
March 15, 2010An above-average Hollywood memoir, with priceless stories of dancing with Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. Her memories of life in wartime Paris are fascinating. I enjoyed the first half much more than the second half. When Warren Beatty comes into her life--and, despite being much younger than her, basically starts controlling her life--her story became somewhat less fascinating. But if you enjoy the stories behind the MGM musicals I definitely recommend Caron's book.
March 9, 2011
One thing I can say about Leslie is that for a French women she's got a strong grasp of the English language. No wonder she turned to writing after her acting career stalled. After having seen her in An American In Paris, Gigi, and much later Chocolat, I had a desire to pick up her book once I saw it on display. For the most part I enjoyed her memoir, though I thought the chapters regarding her early and latter parts of her life were kind of dry.
March 17, 2010
If you don't know who Maurice Chevalier, Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire is, this book is not for you. Leslie name drops a lot and talks about many directors and writers who probably are not well known to anyone under her age group. The book does get a bit more interesting when she talks about her relationship with Warren Beatty.
April 7, 2015
Leslie Caron has long been one of my favorite actresses, and her memoir is utterly delightful. It strikes an excellent balance between juicy details about her film and stage career and the sometimes less exciting (but certainly no less engaging) stories from her personal life. One of my favorite reads so far this year and absolutely among my favorites in the genre.
April 10, 2016
Now that “An American in Paris” is opening on Broadway, there’s no better time to delve into this comprehensive autobiography. There’s plenty of dish about Hollywood and the movie studios during the 1950s and 60s, but don’t expect to see Rob Wolders’ name within the pages. Anyone who loved “Gigi” (or the story of this former ballerina’s movie career) will enjoy this book.
January 13, 2010
I didn't really enjoy this book. I find her writing style awkward....she just reported dates and movie titles while sprinkling in complimentary references to herself. I didn't find her very likeable.
March 12, 2010
As a long-time fan of movie musicals, I've always been an admirer of Leslie Caron. However, until I read this memoir, I had no idea how many straight parts she's played, how many different professional roles she's take on, and, especially, what a terrific writer she is.
Read
April 19, 2010A lot of history in this book. Sometimes goes on a bit about people and events that seem needless, but I wouldn't put it down for that. Ms. Caron has lead a fascinating life, met incredible people and done some courageous things.
October 1, 2010
Yet another biography from the thrift store. I've always been interested in Leslie Caron because of her name. Interesting read, especially about her battle with depression. Would love to stay at her inn someday.
March 13, 2013
My guilty pleasure is an old Hollywood biography. I've always admired Leslie Caron and it was a real joy to read about her life and her perspective on things. She has a lot of integrity and an impressive talent for writing clear, interesting prose.
February 22, 2016
I adore Leslie Caron. I read the book because I was preparing to meet her.
Little did I know that this elegant and fascinating woman led such a life. It was an honor to meet her....and to read her story.
Little did I know that this elegant and fascinating woman led such a life. It was an honor to meet her....and to read her story.
October 12, 2009
can't waite for it to be in US!
January 5, 2010
A very good movie star bio. Caron, with all her foibles, comes across as a very warm-hearted and tolerant person.
January 8, 2010
Charmingly, intelligently written.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews