Frank Langella's DROPPED NAMES

[iluvtheatertrash]

Anyone reading it? I picked it up yesterday as Langella is my favorite stage actor and I have been excited for months. I am really enjoying it - wonderfully written stories that can be read in any order, though I'm reading it straight through cover to cover.

Some of his comments are a little rough and I wonder if he's crossed the line with some accusations, but for the most part it's a wonderful love letter to the people of show business.

[FindingNamo]

As Bart Simpson exclaimed after hearing Mr. Blackwell on TV: "What a bitch!"

[iluvtheatertrash]

I'll give you that, Namo. I will give you that. But man - can he act!

[Reginald Tresilian]

Someone sent me a copy just this morning! I intended to just have a quick look (since I'm at work).

An hour later . . .

[TxTwoStep]

is there much on his affair with Whoopi?

[Reginald Tresilian]

No, it's not really a memoir. Each chapter is on a different person (mostly actors) he's known, and I'm pretty sure he's only written about people who are dead.

[PalJoey]

The dead can't sue.

[TxTwoStep]

"and I. Can. Soo-yoo." (SITR, Jean Hagen)

[iluvtheatertrash]

It's very well-written. Curious to know if Frankie had a ghost-writer.

The chapter about Rita Hayworth is exquisite. Those he loved, he loved. Those he hated are lucky they're gone. He practically destroys Strasberg.

[Mr Roxy]

Just finished the JFK part

[wonkit]

This is very well written but it feels like a truly guilty pleasure since the subjects cannot correct his version. He is an intelligent man with an amazing set of friends and acquaintances but he is not at all kind in many instances.

[iluvtheatertrash]

No. He's incredibly unkind in a lot of these chapters. But a WONDERFUL storyteller.

[TulitaPepsi]

Several years ago, a theater writer I know was granted an interview with Langella. His publicist laid down the rule that "You will not ask Mr. Langella ANYTHING about his personal life!!" . He's known as being pathalogically secretive about his private life. Fine.

But he has no compunction in tossing dirt about the private life of his colleagues. Excuse me...his dead colleagues.

Turnaround is fair play. What's he hiding?

Who's his bf?

[iluvtheatertrash]

The book has left me wondering about Langella's sexuality, which I always questioned. Though he seems to be completely fine with admitting to a little bisexuality.

And yes, I agree, some of these stories are a little lacking in tact. But the book is Addictive with a capital A.

[AC126748]

I read it recently. The Elizabeth Taylor sections seemed unnecessarily mean and petty, but aside from that, I didn't think it was particularly over the top. He's obviously a talented writer (assuming he did, in fact, write it himself).

[iluvtheatertrash]

I really only get the chance to read on my subway rides, which aren't very long to work. So I haven't gotten there yet, but I can only imagine.

[AC126748]

I won't give anything specific away, but it comes off as just him making fun of and taking pot-shots at an obviously unwell woman.

Perhaps someone out there will return the favor and write something similarly scathing after Mr. Langella passes.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Yikes. I will agree that some of his remarks were off-putting, and he does come off quite snide. But I just love him so. What a queen, though! Reminds me of Arthur a bit...

[TxTwoStep]

the diff between Laurents and Langella may be that though Laurents projects EVERYONE loving his big...glimmer...reports are that Langella puts his money where his mouth is. Or something like that.

[Jane2]

Langella's gay, for anyone who's wondering.

[TxTwoStep]

that Whoopi could turn anyone.

[Jane2]

^ LOL!

[wonkit]

Langella is gay? I went to college with a woman who claimed to be his inammorata for several years in the late sixies and early seventies. Not that he can't play both sides of the street if he wants to...

[uncageg]

I just finished reading the sample on my nook which included the JFK chapter. Not sure if I will buy it. Part of me feels that not eveything in the book is accurate.

[henrikegerman]

It's a guilty pleasure. I'm actually enjoying his reflections on the many people he's had genuine affection for (Alan Bates, Dolores del Rio, Noel Coward, Coral Browne, Jill Clayburgh, Maureen Stapleton, Stella Adler, Mel Brooks (referred to in several sections, including the Anne Bancroft chapter which reads like a violation of trust, though not a completely unloving one)).

I have often have the sense he is not as trustworthy as the world almanac RE: the facts or his conclusions as to people. And that he himself might well be much more of a piece of work than those he trashes. But perhaps he would have the good sense to easily admit that.... under other circumstances.

The Colleen Dewhurst chapter is telling in that he admits that for many years she thought he was an asshole - and he admits she had reason (he had unfairly fired a mutual agent).

But she got over it. I have serious doubts whether Langella is as generous or forgiving.

Still it is a great trash read and I can't help loving some of his bitchynes, like that reserved for Strassberg, Brynner, and Burton.

As for his presumptive bisexuality, he's annoyingly coy about it, with his rejections of Coward relegated to his being too sexed out from everybody else he was doing, and his rejection of Perkins an intrigue of its own. Yet he mentions this and that girlfriend - not by name - constantly.

If there's any question it will likely be resolved for many in the episode where he has sex with Yvonne de Carlo (or rather he halfheartedly allows her to perform some unnamed act - likely a blowjob - on him) and then asks for her to sing "I'm Still Here" as an encore.

[Borstalboy]

Sounds like kitty scratch compared to the avalanche of petty vituperation Kathleen Turner let go of in her book.