George Sanders (1) (1906–1972)
Author of Memoirs of a Professional Cad
For other authors named George Sanders, see the disambiguation page.
Works by George Sanders
Associated Works
3 Films by Roberto Rossellini Starring Ingrid Bergman (Stromboli / Europe '51 / Journey to Italy) (2013) — Actor — 15 copies
Moon and Sixpence [1942 film] 5 copies
The Rebel [1961 film] — Actor — 2 copies
The Son of Monte Cristo / Captain Kidd — Actor — 2 copies
The Saint Strikes Back — Actor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Sanders, George Henry
- Birthdate
- 1906-07-03
- Date of death
- 1972-04-25
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Manchester Technical College
Bedales School - Occupations
- actor
autobiographer - Awards and honors
- Academy Award (Best Supporting Actor, 1950)
- Relationships
- Hume, Benita (wife)
- Short biography
- George Sanders was born to English parents working in St. Petersburg, Russia, and had a privileged and cultured childhood. Following the Bolshevik Revolution, the family returned to England. Sanders attended the Bedales School, Brighton College, and Manchester Technical College. While working as an advertising copywriter, he decided to try show business. He made his stage debut in 1932, and had his first film role in 1934. His USA debut was as Lord Everett Stacy in Lloyd's of London (1936). With his upper-class baritone voice and suave, aristocratic manner, he was equally successful as villains, knights, and charmers in a career lasting 40 years. In the early 1940s, he made a number of movies as Simon Templar, "The Saint," and the dapper detective Gay Lawrence, "The Falcon." He also played nobility and royalty, such as Charles II in Forever Amber (1947), and Biblical characters such as Saran of Gaza in Samson and Delilah (1949). In 1950, he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor as theater critic Addison De Witt in All About Eve (1950). He hosted a TV series, The George Sanders Mystery Theater, in 1957. In 1960, he published his autobiography, Memoirs of a Professional Cad. He was found dead of a drug overdose at age 65, having left a suicide note.
Please note that the two novels published as by Sanders, Crime on my hands and Stranger at home, were ghostwritten by Craig Rice and Leigh Brackett respectively. - Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- St. Petersburg, Russia
- Place of death
- Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain
Members
Reviews
While readers might be tempted to dismiss this one as one of those lightweight novelty mysteries due to the cover and its “written by an old film star” origins, that would be a terrible mistake. First of all, though there is some hokum about George Sanders writing this, it has Craig Rice’s fingerprints all over it. While he may have “helped” with some movie-set ambiance and other details, there is no doubt in my mind after reading this breezy and incredibly entertaining murder show more mystery that Rice not only penned it, but she gave it the full monty in regard to her talent. While the grittier aspects of her delightful Malone series are softened a bit, the story and the surroundings, and the dialog all sparkle like champagne. Even more astounding is how perfectly Rice has captured George Sanders, from his voice to his keen wit and droll humor.
The murder mystery itself is well done, and nothing to sneeze at. Sanders, as himself, is finally getting a break from playing The Falcon and The Saint films by making a Western. Someone is shot during a scene, despite all the guns supposedly being loaded with blanks. When it’s quickly discovered it may have been Sanders’ gun that did the killing, he removes the evidence. He’s suspected anyway, yet can’t reveal what he’s done because it will only make him look more guilty. So Sanders must use everything he’s learned playing The Falcon and The Saint in order to find the real killer.
What transpires is a delicious mystery with a likable protagonist in the “real” George Sanders — just as you remember him from the movies. The supporting cast of personal assistants, actors, directors, producers and other movie-related people, and Sanders’ interaction with them as he seeks to ferret out a killer among them, make for an entertaining murder mystery. A missing piece of film comes into play for a while, and there are people attempting to cover for other people, even confessing at one point. There is tons of atmosphere in this humorous — yet slightly deadly — mystery; Sanders himself has more than one close call, and a couple more murders occur before our suave hero can figure it all out.
There is a completely different listing for Crime On My Hands under Craig Rice's name which is the same book, and it may eventually be merged with these editions. Rice and Sanders could easily have mailed this in way back when, but they did anything but, making it a breezy delight to read. Great fun! show less
The murder mystery itself is well done, and nothing to sneeze at. Sanders, as himself, is finally getting a break from playing The Falcon and The Saint films by making a Western. Someone is shot during a scene, despite all the guns supposedly being loaded with blanks. When it’s quickly discovered it may have been Sanders’ gun that did the killing, he removes the evidence. He’s suspected anyway, yet can’t reveal what he’s done because it will only make him look more guilty. So Sanders must use everything he’s learned playing The Falcon and The Saint in order to find the real killer.
What transpires is a delicious mystery with a likable protagonist in the “real” George Sanders — just as you remember him from the movies. The supporting cast of personal assistants, actors, directors, producers and other movie-related people, and Sanders’ interaction with them as he seeks to ferret out a killer among them, make for an entertaining murder mystery. A missing piece of film comes into play for a while, and there are people attempting to cover for other people, even confessing at one point. There is tons of atmosphere in this humorous — yet slightly deadly — mystery; Sanders himself has more than one close call, and a couple more murders occur before our suave hero can figure it all out.
There is a completely different listing for Crime On My Hands under Craig Rice's name which is the same book, and it may eventually be merged with these editions. Rice and Sanders could easily have mailed this in way back when, but they did anything but, making it a breezy delight to read. Great fun! show less
Well written autobiography by actor George Sanders who normally played a cynic or cad in films such as All About Eve, Rebecca, Ivanhoe, and so many others. He maintains his cynical attitude in his writing with stories such as he got rid of his house as having it meant he had to entertain people. His views on woman and marriage match the attitudes he portrayed in many films. The most interesting portions were his reminiscences of working with Tyrone Power on Power's last film, Solomon and show more Sheba, and Power's tragic death and funeral, as well as his portrayal of wife Zsa Zsa Gabor always being under a hair dryer. His thoughts on the overpopulation of the earth are interesting. This is a man who committed suicide because he was "bored" and the book seems to reflect his attitude of not being excited about anything. A way to get some insight into this great character actor. show less
Real Rating: 3.5* of five
There is nothing new under the sun. The George Sanders of this book is an actor playing a part; the author George Sanders is that actor in real life, writing with ghostwriter [Craig Rice], thus proving that speaking words written by others is a powerful draw to actors.
Ms. Rice had quite a career in Golden Age Hollywood. Sanders did, too. Many excellent movies; many dreary ones too. No career is without low points. But the Sanders of this novel isn't low, he's rising show more in a rare starring turn. That's what he has longed for while he racked up thousands of hours playing detectives in popular but unrewarding serials (today he'd be a TV star). So now he's got it, what happens but there's a murder commited in front of him! And it's not the last!
How "Sanders" solves the crime is nice and twisty, thanks to Craig Rice. It was a pleasant read, it felt warmly nostalgic in its tone (Sanders-the-narrator giving a behind the scenes tour of a location shoot), and the proceedings are wrapped up with a resounding bang.
Rainy weekend? Here's you a pacey, twisty, attention-holding read. show less
There is nothing new under the sun. The George Sanders of this book is an actor playing a part; the author George Sanders is that actor in real life, writing with ghostwriter [Craig Rice], thus proving that speaking words written by others is a powerful draw to actors.
Ms. Rice had quite a career in Golden Age Hollywood. Sanders did, too. Many excellent movies; many dreary ones too. No career is without low points. But the Sanders of this novel isn't low, he's rising show more in a rare starring turn. That's what he has longed for while he racked up thousands of hours playing detectives in popular but unrewarding serials (today he'd be a TV star). So now he's got it, what happens but there's a murder commited in front of him! And it's not the last!
How "Sanders" solves the crime is nice and twisty, thanks to Craig Rice. It was a pleasant read, it felt warmly nostalgic in its tone (Sanders-the-narrator giving a behind the scenes tour of a location shoot), and the proceedings are wrapped up with a resounding bang.
Rainy weekend? Here's you a pacey, twisty, attention-holding read. show less
This book perfectly captures the incomparable character-actor whom we have savoured insuch diverse (and occasional perverse) flicks as FOREVER AMBER, THE GHOST AND MRS MUIR, and VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED. He completed exactly one hundred films, mostly as a super-slick masher. How ironic that his last role should be a drag-act. Anyway, his life was goofy, perhaps inevitably so. Read about his Uncle Jack shooting flies off the ceiling and contemplate the mysterious ways of genetics.
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 3
- Also by
- 62
- Members
- 145
- Popularity
- #142,478
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 7
- ISBNs
- 29
- Languages
- 2