Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The man was a king, 19 Sep 2005
This excellent biography of Yul Brynner, written by his son Rock, is a must-read for all of the King's many fans. It clarifies the often-conflicting stories of Yul Brynner's birth, describes his childhood in Paris, where he performed in gypsy night clubs, and his memorable stint on Broadway in "The King and I" in the 1950s. His film successes, such as "The King and I" and "The Ten Commandments," and his many screen flops are discussed, but it is Yul, the family man, who is at the center of the book.
When Rock was young, Yul doted on him, but when his son failed to achieved success as a young adult, Yul summarily cut off all ties with him. In the 1980s, Yul began an eight-year tour revival of "The King and I" which was hugely successful, but contributed to his unbridled megalomania and sometimes boundless emotional cruelty. He kept doing eight shows a week even after he was diagnosed with lung cancer, dying just weeks after his 4,633rd performance as the King. He had risen from poverty to international fame, yet had isolated himself from many of the people closest to him.
This is a real page-turner; Rock Brynner paints a brutally honest picture of both his father and himself. He adored Yul, but never felt he was good enough to please him. This is a riveting biography about a fascinating man.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting (but a bit boring), 28 Sep 2003
Could not wait to read this book - I'm a great Yul Bryner fan, and just loved The King & I. However, I found the book quite boring in places, and was amazed at how different Yul Bryner was in real life to how I percieved him to be. I wanted him to be a really nice man, but he came across as, in a way, not caring very much at all for everyone around him. I wanted to read more about The King & I / Magnificent Seven. The book was well written, and I loved the parts where Rock kept saying etcetera etcetera - a nice touch. Some great names mentioned in the book - I was surprised to find he had "been with" Liza Minelli. Even though it was boring in places, still pleased I read it!
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by Eli Wallach
