Things I've Said, but Probably Shouldn't Have: An Unrepentant Memoir

by Bruce Dern

Bruce Dern has worked with practically every iconic actor and director in the last fifty years, and he’s not afraid to say what he thinks about all of them. His career has run the gamut from B movies to Z movies to becoming an Oscar nominee, and he’s created some of the most indelible performances in modern cinema. Now, in this uniquely funny memoir, he looks back over his amazing career, telling one memorable story after another and giving key insights into how placing artistic challenge over career development has kept one of Hollywood’s greatest actors from also being one of its most rich and famous. People love reading about red carpet regulars, and Dern doesn’t disappoint. He writes candidly and unforgettably about working with Alfred Hitchcock, John Frankenheimer, Claude Chabrol, Jack Nicholson, Paul Newman, Bob Dylan, Matt Damon, Charlize Theron, Jane Fonda, John Wayne, and many more. Readers will discover why he turned down potentially career-making roles in The Godfather , Marathon Man , and Gandhi ; why his prestigious family disowned him over a typo in the New York Times ; and why, after he was already famous, he agreed to star in The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant , the second best two-headed transplant movie of 1971. As Dern’s career moves full steam ahead in the HBO series Big Love and Astronaut Farmer (his forthcoming film with Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton), Things I’ve Said, but Probably Shouldn’t Have is the book not just Dern fans and Hollywood enthusiasts will be talking about this season.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Film, Biography

298 pages, Hardcover

First published April 20, 2007

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bruce Dern is one of the most unique character actors in cinema and his memoir is highly entertaining and packed with anecdotes, but I still can't get that Mickey Rooney episode out of my mind. If it's really true then my opinion of Judy Garland has been enhanced forever!

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bruce Dern's got attitude to spare. He's a deeply devoted actor who spares himself nothing in trying to give a good performance. And he's an odd duck who says what he thinks, no matter whom it might offend. His autobiography is well titled. It's also a great read. I would have loved it at twice its length. For one thing, Dern knows that readers like to know something about the films an actor has made, about the process of making them and the people encountered in the making, and that people like details. He doesn't tell enough stories, but the ones he does are rich. I met him once, when we both were working on "Big Love," and I found him not the warmest person I'd ever met, but rather a driven man who seemed always dissatisfied with himself. He comes off very much the same way in the book, though it's clear that the people close to him adore him. I wish I'd had scenes with him, because I've always admired him. I'm very happy to have read his delightful and sometimes outrageous book.

[Kit Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah Brucie, such a crazy fucker. He speaks his own language and doesn't really care what anyone else thinks...about almost anything. He calls sex "humpers." When he was hosting Saturday Night Live, he called Eddie Murphy "the black guy" to his face. He isn't afraid to refer to Coppola as a "fat guido"--though he does eventually compliment his films. He says Oliver Platt "bores the shit out of him." Dern was naturally still coy about the whole Maud Adams sex scandal, but let's face it, he's been in some incredible films and he's still around and kicking, so Brucie's totally earned the right to talk some shit. And he ain't afraid to do so.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great memoir. I’ve learned more about Bruce and enjoyed his memories from his past shows and movies and his life.

[Cindy Marabito]

Totally awesome..I always have written a part in every script I've written for Bruce Dern. The greatest! The Audie Murphy part of this book is worth the whole read!

[David Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable memoir of an incredible actor.

[Jim Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, that book went fast

Just came back from searching Dern on my DirecTV so I can watch some of the movies that he talked about in this great book. I'd like to see more pictures but I still give it a five out of five, as well as I wish he had written chapters to bring it up today here in 2015.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A surprisingly good-natured and amusing "as told to" autobiography from an actor who knows his way around the business.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining. Dern's attitude comes across in the book. Listen to his interview with Bob Edwards on XMPR too.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my favorite actors writes a very readable book

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic! love Dern.