Frank Langella’s “Dropped Names” is a different kind of memoir. He doesn't exclude himself from his own harsh criticism either -- a running theme through the book is his obsession with Arthur Miller's autobiographical play AFTER THE FALL, and the role of Quentin (Miller's standin) which he has played twice, fascinated with the question of the character's "guilt." He hints at affairs he's had in very high places--I'll leave that for you to discover--and never mentions the name of Whoopi Goldberg. Not many of his peers could write such an eloquently dishy book. Frank Langella oozes a sexualized charm that differs greatly from the fang-flashing vampire we’ve come to associate with the name Dracula. Probably Oldman at number three on the list. But Langella is not meanspirited, only an honest observer or participant, and through combinations of luck and timing, has spanned generations in his lifetime. I thought that many of his descriptions about the celebrities tied in very closely with everything else I had read about about them, but Frank m. I really enjoyed this. His first book, ‘Frank Langella’s Cyrano: An Adaptation of Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac,’ was published in 1999. I didn't know him as a writer until this. Frank Langella wrote Dropped Names: Famous Men and Women As I Knew Them, which can be purchased at a lower price at ThriftBooks.com. At the time of writing, all but one had passed and could not present their side of events. May 16, 2016 - Explore Phyllis Stabbe's board "Frank Langella" on Pinterest. Frank Langella's 'Dropped Names' is a juicy memoir Some actors are only good with other people's language, or too discreet to publicly indulge in deep-dish gossip. Langella is witty,articulate and quite a good writer. They are by turn funny, sad, inspiring, horrifying and salacious - but for me, always entertaining. Frank redeems the book when he talks about his deepest friendships and about loss. How he thinks he's greater than Paul Newman and Charlton Heston we'll never know, but he says they can't act (despite their Academy Awards). Captured forever in a unique memoir, Frank Langella's myriad encounters with some of the past century's most famous human beings are profoundly affecting, funny, wicked, sometimes shocking, and utterly irresistible. Books. It lived fully up to its billing as advertised recently in USA Today. Frank Langella's memoir referencing actors, celebrities, and noteworthy people as he has known and interacted with them over the years is compelling, introspective, and searing. What are U reading these days? ), I came to this book not as die-hard "fan" of Mr. Langella's work--I have liked some of his performances, and others not so much, he was never "the deciding factor" for me in seeing a film or play. Rita Hayworth dancing by candlelight in a small Mexican village; Elizabeth Taylor devouring homemade pasta and tenderly wrapping him in her pashmina scarf; streaking for Sir Laurence Olivier in a drafty English castle; terrifying a dozing Jackie Onassis; carrying an unconscious Montgomery Clift to safety on a dark New York City street. Frank Langella. Langella agreed to sign onto director John Badham's only Horror film, 1979's Dracula.His stipulations were that he wouldn't have to wear fangs, and he'd allowed to explore Dracula's soulfulness. I found this repetitive and therefore boring. Only 1 left in stock. Lawton. Langella is a bit of a sly fox, opening the curtain to reveal the truth about so many actors and theatrical luminaries he has known, all of them dead. That is not to say he takes the warts off,,, not even for himself. Dropped Names: Famous Men and Women As I Knew Them, The Declaration of Independence & The Constitution of the United States: An Unabridged Production, The Use and Training of the Human Voice: A Bio-Dynamic Approach to Vocal Life, The Declaration of Independence & the Constituion of the United States, The Sins of the Father: Joseph P. Kennedy and the Dynasty He Founded. There are 66 chapters, some quite brief, and the prose shimmers with humor, insight, and occasional testiness. I can't even remember how I happened to come across this book; it's unexpectedly interesting in the way that Langella gets to the heart of his encounters which he describes in a series of vignettes involving the rich and the famous. Frank Langella's voice sounds almost European, but he was raised in New Jersey. Directed by John Badham (War Games, Short Circuit, Saturday Night Fever), this version stars the silky-voiced Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon, Good Night and Good Luck) as Count Dracula. In fact, it provides a good entry point to this book, which is filled with his memories of time spent with other well-known folks in theatre, movies, literature and "high society." Irons is a more appropriate Humbert for the 21st Century; the actor somehow managing to create a tortured but slightly sympathetic character. Each famous person has a few pages as remembered by Frank Langella who reveals as much about himself as he does those whose names he drops. I hope he has enough for a sequel, or a backstage novel that's as much fun as his 1980 movie, "Those Lips, Those Eyes," which I just watched again with delight! See more ideas about franks, dracula, count dracula. Unfortunately, the book suffers, IMHO, from dwelling on his intimate relations with so many of the people profiled or mentioned. Los Angeles Times. He has met a LOT of famous people. Sold by Pritam Music Pvt. He seems candid and honest yet most of the book feels pretty shallow. This book is comprised of all the famous people the good and the bad. Currently unavailable. I don't usually read auto-biographies, and I have never before read anything autobiographical by any actor. Al Hunt; Taylor Branch; Frank Langella Entertainment, Books, History Air Date 01/23/1998 Al Hunt on the allegations of Clinton’s sexual misconduct. If he had left out the fact that he slept with Ms/Mrs/Miss so and so, I would have much preferred the profiles. He's a guy you'll do your best to be careful around. (I could go on.) I thought Frank Langella wrote intelligently and with a lot of understanding and I think his love of language comes across clearly. Frank Langella generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Frank Langella had only one shot at portraying Dracula on film and he approached the role with the dedication of a method actor. Most are good encounters with a few bad in the mix { Like Rex Harrison}. With sharp wit and a perceptive eye, Mr. Langella takes us with him into the private worlds and privileged lives of movie stars, presidents, royalty, literary lions, the social elite, and the greats of the Broadway stage. I thought this book would be a little like listening to a grocery store tabloid but it wasn’t. The film is a triumph of performance, art direction and mood over materials that can lend themselves so easily to self-satire. We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock. As an actor on the stage in both the U.S. and London, he has known fascinating people from the entertainment business. Nationality: United States Executive summary: Dracula and Dave. Langella was a sex symbol. Manatee Educational Television METV 25,624 views. Rita Hayworth dancing by candlelight in a small Mexican village; Elizabeth Taylor devouring homemade pasta and tenderly wrapping him in her pashmina scarf; streaking for Sir Laurence Olivier in a drafty English castle; terrifying a dozing Jackie Onassis; carrying an unconscious Montgomery Clift to safety on a dark New York City street. The first personality is Marilyn Monroe, whom he “meets” in a fortuitous incident as a kid in which he exchanges waves with the woman as she enters a limousine. On working on the play with Miller, however, he discovered that Miller did not consider the character "guilty" at all, and refused to write a new speech for Quentin (as Langella requested) in which the character would confront his own selfishness and cruelty. … By placing an order for this product, … Langella is a bit of a sly fox, opening the curtain to reveal the truth about so many actors and theatrical luminaries he has known, all of them dead. I read the book. It's not faithful to the book, they'd complain, it's not scary, it's only made for the sake of middle-aged ladies who fancy Frank Langella, etc. An illustration of an open book. What more could one want in a Hollywood memoir? Frank Langella is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The first three anecdotes had me in tears and I was hooked. Title is accurate - you don't learn much about Frank except that he has a way of ingratiating himself with people and he likes to screw. Learn more. I can't even remember how I happened to come across this book; it's unexpectedly interesting in the way that Langella gets to the heart of his encounters which he describes in a series of vignettes involving the rich and the famous. Start by marking “Dropped Names: Famous Men and Women As I Knew Them” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Instead, this is the tale of a man damned by his own personal demons and desires. by Frank Langella ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 27, 2012 Stage and screen stalwart Langella recalls his encounters with celebrity, both in and out of the spotlight. Frank Langella's new memoir, DROPPED NAMES, is a fast-paced, juicy tell-all about the actor's relationships with many famous colleagues over the past 35 or so years. The book did not disappoint. 4.0 out of 5 stars 62 ratings. etc. This is one of the better celebrity memoirs that I have read. So we lea. This is not a biography of Frank Langella. He has played Dracula and Nixon, as well as Skeletor and Dog the Bad Pirate. Interview with Award-Winning Actor Frank Langella. His career has spanned five decades, which is impressive as a stand alone fact. HOWEVER Mr. Langella's book is a charming, funny, and touching series of memories and is a delight to read. Early on in this engaging memoir, the author notes his difficulty in conveying the “glory” of a chapter’s subject, Noel Coward, to a contemporary audience, “as wit, intelligence, and style have lost ground to stupid, vulgar, and loud.” If it was Christopher Lee who brought out the sensuality in Count Dracula, … At the time of writing, all but one had passed and could not present their side of events. There is a depth that comes with age, as he has outlived almost all of the people featured here. Langella gives a well written, insightful and sensitive voice to some great stories he shared with other famous people. In 2012, Langella published his second book Dropped Names: Famous Men and Women as I Knew Them, where he wrote about a good deal about his interactions with many famous people, mostly from the entertainment industry. If Frank Langella’s memoir simply did what its title promises, it would be deep-dish gossip. Fall Challenge 2012: Completed Tasks - DO NOT DELETE ANY POSTS IN THIS TOPIC. His writer/actor's eye spares no one; his observations may not always be flattering (even to himself), but neither are they cruel. This book is not yet featured on Listopia. The premise -- each chapter about his relationship/interaction with another famous person (mostly actors) -- is intriguing. Massively uninteresting and self-involved guy. There he allows himself to become a bit vulnerable and it can be touching, if just momentarily so. They should all follow this format, and they should all out every person they know as being gay, a monster, or unattractive. I made an exception with this book by Frank Langella, because he is someone I recently discovered and I felt intrigued about him and because I like the concept of his book: a collection of short chapters about the people, more or less well known, he has met during his life. We learn something, too, of Mr. Langella’s personal journey from … In Langella’s “Cast of Characters”—notable people he has known throughout his long acting career—he lists them in the order of their “disappearance” from the earth. Mr. Langella, who makes his home in Millerton, will hold a book-signing of his memoir on Saturday, May 5, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Hunter Bee in Millerton. Welcome back. A rattling good read for those who are not above a bit of gossip about celebrity and those affected by it. Frank Langella bypasses all of that by writing an episodic memoir composed solely of his interactions with the famous (some of whom he met fleetingly and a few not at all. One finds out who were jerks, who were really witty or fun, and a lot about how some of these people ended up in the last years of their lives. An illustration of two cells of a film strip. Frank Langella’s DROPPED NAMES is a different kind of memoir. Frank Langella (Actor), Laurence Olivier (Actor), John Badham (Director) & Rated: A (Adults Only) Format: DVD. I still think Mr. Langella is a fine actor, especially in Frost/Nixon, but I can't recommend this book enthusiastically as I can his roles on stage or in films. Langella on his adaptation of “Cyrano de Bergerac.” Dan Abrams; Frank Langella; Barbara Hershey Entertainment, Law Air Date 01/23/1997 Court TV’s Abrams on the O. J. Simpson civil trial. With Johnny Depp, Frank Langella, Lena Olin, Emmanuelle Seigner. Just feast your eyes upon all of these debut books to check out and emerging authors to... Rita Hayworth dancing by candlelight; Elizabeth Taylor tenderly wrapping him in her Pashmina scarf; streaking for Sir Laurence Olivier in a drafty English castle; terrifying a dozing Jackie Onassis; carrying an unconscious Montgomery Clift to safety on a dark New York street... To see what your friends thought of this book, Dropped Names: Famous Men and Women As I Knew Them, I generally am not much of a fan of celebrity memoirs. As he tells about his impr. Looking for a book by Frank Langella? The first three anecdotes had me in tears and I was hooked. Frank Langella chilled audiences by playing the vampiric Count Dracula on stage and screen. Not everyone from in his rich life in the theater and the elite of NYC society is featured, only those that have passed on. Though the book is receiving publicity for Langella's critical comments about fellow actors including Laurence Olivier, and his affairs with Rita Hayworth, Elizabeth Taylor, and possibly Jackie Kennedy just before she married Ari Onassis (their relationship remains unclear on the page), I was moved by Langella's accounts of three ai. The chapters are short and reading more than a few in a sitting can diminish the impact of any individual tale. The surprises were Anne Bancr. Not many people can come across as silmutaneously self-aggrandizing and self-effacing. Not many of his peers could write such an eloquently dishy book. Los Angeles Times. What a fun book to read. He has his favorites, too, like Raul Julia with whom he shared a long bromance, Jo Van Fleet, whom he admired and felt sorry for, and Maureen Stapleton, about whom I've. Video. From the linked article: “Langella’s Dracula is pointedly less scary than Skeletor [another role played by Frank Langella], and indeed, less scary than most dramatic Draculas. Langella started his acting career appearing in stage productions off-Broadway like The Immoralist, The Old Glory, Good Day, and The … Not everyone from in his rich life in the theater and the elite of NYC society is featured, only those that have passed on. Not only are his memories told in almost elegant prose but his narration is splendid, The greatest memoir ever written by an actor. Price: ₹ 199.00 Fulfilled FREE Delivery on orders over ₹ 499.00 . Frank A. Langella Jr. (/ l æ n ˈ dʒ ɛ l ə /; born January 1, 1938) is an American stage and film actor. Captured forever in a unique memoir, Frank Langella's myriad encounters with some of the past century's most famous human beings are profoundly affecting, funny. In fact, it provides a good entry point to this book, which is filled with his memories of time spent with other well-known folks in theatre, movi. He is downright mean at times. Follow Taylor on Twitter Join the conversation on The Daily Caller. This is the kind of book you read when you want your brain to veg a bit with some really useless gossip. It is a series of stories about famous people he has met or known in his life, from a quick encounter with Marilyn Monroe when he was a boy to lifelong friendships with actors and some members of high society. . Frank Langella is also an author of two books. An illustration of an audio speaker. Most of the book is about famous dead people, so there is no mention of Whoopi Goldberg, whom Langella dated from 1996 to 2001. Further in to the book Langella describes his relationship with John F. Kennedy. Read more … Taylor Branch, the author of "Pillar of Fire." Return Policy on this item. With sharp wit and a perceptive eye, Mr. Langella takes us with him into the… Votes: 165,377 | Gross: $18.66M With sharp wit and a perceptive eye, Mr. Langella takes us with him into the private worlds and privileged lives of movie stars, presidents, royalty, literary lions, the social elite, and the … It lived fully up to its billing as advertised recently in USA Today. Langella likes rich people and likes to hang out with them, especially if they are not as pretentious as he is. The surprises were Anne Bancroft, George C. Scott, and well let's face it they were all surprises. The writing comes across as the acting does. 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