My Life in Three Acts
by Helen Hayes
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Description
Helen Hayes had been on stage, screen, and television for more than fifty years. In that time she moved among the world's most famous and talented people. She speaks with wit, wisdom, and candor on topics both public and private, offering behind-the-scenes portraits of great personalities, telling of the advice older actors gave her and how she in turn gave advice. She treats us to delightful anecdotes about Ethel Barrymore, John Ford, and Al Capone, at the same time reflecting more show more seriously on the painful parts of her life. Written just three years before her death and narrated by her son, James MacArthur, this is an engrossing account of a rich, productive life. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
A gentle little autobiography, low on drama and backstage gossip but high on the value of family and sacrifices for true love. Hayes doesn't really reveal much, but then again, she was a tremendously ladylike actress - very old school.
okay autobiog. of 90 year old actress, some amusing anecdotes
Helen Hayes has been on stage, screen and television for more than fifty years. In that time she moved among the world's most famous and talented people. She speaks with wit, wisdom, and candor on topics both public and private, offering behind-the-sceens portraits of great personalities, telling of the advice older actors gave her and how she in turn gave advice. She treats us to delightful anecdotes about Ethel Barrymore, John Ford, Al Capone. At the same time she reflects more seriously on the painful parts of her life. And, finally, she expresses her strong views on what is wrong with the American theatre today and what has always been wrong with Hollywood.
Helen Hayes has been on stage, screen and television for more than fifty years. In that time she moved among the world's most famous and talented people. She speaks with wit, wisdom, and candor on topics both public and private, offering behind-the-sceens portraits of great personalities, telling of the advice older actors gave her and how she in turn gave advice. She treats us to delightful anecdotes about Ethel Barrymore, John Ford, Al Capone. At the same time she reflects more seriously on the painful parts of her life. And, finally, she expresses her strong views on what is wrong with the American theatre today and what has always been wrong with Hollywood.
Between 234 and 245, a blank card: "Sending Happy Little Thoughts"
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Author Information
17+ Works 479 Members
Awards and Honors
Distinctions
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1990
- Dedication
- For my son, James MacArthur
- First words
- It seems only natural to me to see my life, a life in the theatre, in theatrical terms.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)I would like those eyes to go on giving joy to someone else.
Classifications
- Genres
- Biography & Memoir, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 792.028 — Arts & recreation Recreation, sports, and performing arts Theater: Plays, Ballet, Opera modified standard subdivisions Techniques, procedures, apparatus, equipment, materials, miscellany Acting and Performance
- LCC
- PN2287 .H35 .A3 — Language and Literature Literature (General) Literature (General) Drama Dramatic representation. The theater Special regions or countries
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 131
- Popularity
- 248,562
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (4.11)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 12
- ASINs
- 3
