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A fascinating portrait of the enigmatic actor, star of 'Scrooge', 'The Belle of St Trinian's' and many more. --The Guardian, December 2009
Product Description
Alastair Sim was an enigmatic character both on and off the screen. His idiosyncratic style of acting in films such as Scrooge,The Belles of St Trinian'sand many more; endeared him to a cinema-going audience desperate to escape the day-to-day dreariness of an invasive, bureaucratic post-war Britain. In private, he was a curiously contradictory character, prejudiced and yet tolerant, thoughtful but sometimes inconsiderate. To examine the life of this extraordinary man, this biography contains original contributions from around thirty actors and actresses, including Sir Ian McKellen and Ronnie Corbett. It is supported by extensive research, including interviews with the playright Christopher Fry, the television producer John Howard Davies and actors who apperared on stage with Alastair as far back as the 1940s. This book also explores Alastair's life outside of films, including his marriage to Naomi Sim (whom he first met when she was twelve), his career as an elocution teacher, his extensive work on stage(including his theatrical endeavours with James Bridie), his championship of youth and his stalwart refusal to sign autographs.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I, like countless others, have been - since about 1950 - a lifelong fan of Alastair SIM and this long overdue in-depth Biography is expertly researched and produced.
With the help and memories of many notable people who worked with and were personally attached to Mr Sim, it is a warmly felt story with a degree of sadness and triumph.
The author pulls no punches in personal views and it is, overall, an honest and fine memorial to a great artist.
I only finished the book two days back and was sad that it ended.
The Index of Alastair's acting career in both films and on the stage and in Television is comprehensive.
What a great career this gentle man had and what pleasure he gave - and will continue to give to so many people.
Even tho he would decline to warm his fans by signing their bits of paper with his autograph they still loved him.
And we do have his films to treasure, with repeated viewings.
This is one Biography you should not miss.
Thanks so much, MARK SIMPSON, a beautiful job.
With the help and memories of many notable people who worked with and were personally attached to Mr Sim, it is a warmly felt story with a degree of sadness and triumph.
The author pulls no punches in personal views and it is, overall, an honest and fine memorial to a great artist.
I only finished the book two days back and was sad that it ended.
The Index of Alastair's acting career in both films and on the stage and in Television is comprehensive.
What a great career this gentle man had and what pleasure he gave - and will continue to give to so many people.
Even tho he would decline to warm his fans by signing their bits of paper with his autograph they still loved him.
And we do have his films to treasure, with repeated viewings.
This is one Biography you should not miss.
Thanks so much, MARK SIMPSON, a beautiful job.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It is likely that most people today are familiar with Alastair Sim as the delightfully eccentric performer who brightens - indeed, dominates - many a classic British comedy of the 1950s, now to be enjoyed on television on the proverbial `wet Sunday afternoon'. This beautifully written book fleshes out an actor and director who achieved so much on the stage as well as on film, and gives as candid an insight as I would imagine possible into the background and domestic life of a very private man.
The ups and downs of Sim's career are clearly set out, his better and poorer films are identified (though this might be subject to one's opinion) and his human failings and virtues are honestly addressed. The question of his relationship with, and eventual marriage to, a girl whom he first met when he was 26 and she only 12 is discussed frankly but, as a fan of Sim's, I am pleased to say the reassurance offered by Simpson carries authority. Sim emerges from this literate, well-researched biography as an intelligent, principled, but occasionally distant person. I finished the book still believing that, when we see him in such wonderful movies as 'Green For Danger', 'School For Scoundrels' or 'The Green Man', we are seeing some part of the man himself behind the character he's playing.
All told, we are left with a well-rounded picture of Sim as a man and a theatrical professional.
Recommended.
The ups and downs of Sim's career are clearly set out, his better and poorer films are identified (though this might be subject to one's opinion) and his human failings and virtues are honestly addressed. The question of his relationship with, and eventual marriage to, a girl whom he first met when he was 26 and she only 12 is discussed frankly but, as a fan of Sim's, I am pleased to say the reassurance offered by Simpson carries authority. Sim emerges from this literate, well-researched biography as an intelligent, principled, but occasionally distant person. I finished the book still believing that, when we see him in such wonderful movies as 'Green For Danger', 'School For Scoundrels' or 'The Green Man', we are seeing some part of the man himself behind the character he's playing.
All told, we are left with a well-rounded picture of Sim as a man and a theatrical professional.
Recommended.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
With so many books about film stars and suchlike that are at most lightweight - or why did they bother in most cases - this shines with so much detail WITH reference sources detailed..
It reads well from his birth, his work and much more as any reader would gather from seeing his many films - sad I never ever saw him on the stage - that gives you an insight into this wonderful actor, who would wipe the board if he were about today as he WAS an actor and not the now accepted form of today where 'actor's' wander from scene to scene, film to film in the same stance or to put it in context, just play themselves..
Very worthy of five stars as the work that went into this book must have been great and you get the sense that this was a labour of love by the author, unlike a lot more supposed 'authors' in the same position who do it for the money - and it shows..
Nuff said! - order it now and get reading! - there is nowt on the telly or ever likely to be for some time, unless you like Ant and the Other One, who seem to be clogging the place up!
It reads well from his birth, his work and much more as any reader would gather from seeing his many films - sad I never ever saw him on the stage - that gives you an insight into this wonderful actor, who would wipe the board if he were about today as he WAS an actor and not the now accepted form of today where 'actor's' wander from scene to scene, film to film in the same stance or to put it in context, just play themselves..
Very worthy of five stars as the work that went into this book must have been great and you get the sense that this was a labour of love by the author, unlike a lot more supposed 'authors' in the same position who do it for the money - and it shows..
Nuff said! - order it now and get reading! - there is nowt on the telly or ever likely to be for some time, unless you like Ant and the Other One, who seem to be clogging the place up!
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