Silver Screen Book Club discussion

Our spring read is The Moon’s a Balloon by David Niven. How appropriate that we begin this book on his birthday!

What do you hope to learn from this book?

Well, I hope to enjoy it this time as much as I did in 2018, when I first read it. It really is a wonderful star's autobiography.

Samantha, I’m looking forward to learning about David Niven’s personal life. He always struck me as a witty man—I loved his comment at the Academy Awards one year when he was a presenter and the “streaker” ran on stage—and I have the feeling this will be a warm, interesting, account of his life on and off the stage, with just the right and appropriate amounts of humor.

What was his comment? I never heard about that incident.

I read his book Bring on the Empty Horses (taken from a Goldwyn-ism) and enjoyed it a lot, so I’m sure I’ll like this one too.

Samantha wrote: "What was his comment? I never heard about that incident.

I read his book Bring on the Empty Horses (taken from a Goldwyn-ism) and enjoyed it a lot, so I’m sure I’ll like this one too."

It was something like "That poor man, revealing his shortcomings..."
I am not sure it is in this book or the other one but millions of Americans heard him say it on television.

TCM has several David Niven films scheduled in the coming months:

March 13 1:45 p.m. The Charge of the Light Brigade
March 17 6:00 p.m. Tonight's the Night
April 2 6:00 p.m. Wuthering Heights
April 4 6:00 a.m. Bachelor Mother
April 13 2:30 a.m. Soldiers Three
April 15 2:00 a.m. A Matter of Life and Death
April 16 9:15 a.m. Lady L
April 18 8:00 p.m. Raffles
May 22 4:45 a.m. Lady L

My copy arrived today. I'm looking forward to his recollections of working with Errol Flynn--and Sam Goldwyn. Also the sad story of his wife's accidental death.

I began reading it today.

For our group watch, which would you prefer to see and discuss: A Matter of Life and Death or Raffles?

Samantha wrote: "For our group watch, which would you prefer to see and discuss: A Matter of Life and Death or Raffles?"

Either would be good, but I'd choose RAFFLES as it was part of his Hollywood studio days.

I finished the book this afternoon and posted my review.

I'm listening to Gilbert Gottfried's podcast and the episode with Robert Wagner has a great, bawdy story about David Niven. It is worth a listen for anyone here since he knew so many great people from old Hollywood (since he is one himself)!
https://www.earwolf.com/episode/rober...

Samantha wrote: "I'm listening to Gilbert Gottfried's podcast and the episode with Robert Wagner has a great, bawdy story about David Niven. It is worth a listen for anyone here since he knew so many great people f..."

Thanks for the heads up--a very interesting podcast with names dropping everywhere. Have to admit I was not as amused by the Niven story (cringe) as Gilbert was.

I liked David Niven's second book,Bring on the Empty Horses,even more than this one.Not that,it's a bad book.Has his trademark humour,and a fair bit of sadness.He also seems to have used material from this book,for his novel,Go Slowly,Come Back Quickly.