Frank Langella is one of my favorite Actors. And in my opinion, he's the greatest living Stage Actor working today. I have been fortunate to see him on Broadway in PRESENT LAUGHTER, FORTUNE'S FOOL, A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, and FROST/NIXON. Truly one of the great ones. So I greatly looked forward to reading his Memoir when I heard a year ago that he was writing one. It turns out that although it is being billed as a Memoir, it's not a straightforward autobiography. This book is made up of several chapters with titles like MARILYN MONROE, ANTHONY PERKINS, LEE STRASBERG, and TONY CURTIS. Langella has taken ONLY Celebrities who are no longer with us and basically has sliced and diced most of them. Some come out just fine and it is obvious that Langella has great admiration for many. But God help those who have either crossed him or been less than "worshipful" towards his craft....he serves them up on a platter in this dishy book. Whether calling Lee Strasberg "cruel and ridiculous", describing in detail the narcissism of Anne Bancroft, or confessing that upon meeting Anthony Perkins for the first time, Perkins asked Langella what the size of his "manhood" is, Langella holds NOTHING back. There are loving chapters dedicated to Roddy McDowell, Alan Bates, and Jill Clayburgh. One beautiful chapter devoted to Princess Diana is particularly moving. But you haven't lived until you read Langella's description of having racy phone conversations with Bette Davis...."not quite phone sex but certainly rife with foreplay." This book is a smorgasbord of gossip. I began reading it at 12:10am when it downloaded to my Kindle and 12 hours later, I need a long nap. Frank Langella should be at the top of all of our lists for the most wanted Dinner Guest!
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