LIFE IS A BANQUET: ROSALIND RUSSELL

LIFE IS A BANQUET: ROSALIND RUSSELL. Rosalind Russell with Chris Chase. Random House; 1977.

Published posthumously, Rosalind Russell's autobiography, very well-written by Chris Chase, has an affecting introduction by her widower, the producer Frederick Brisson. Russell writes of her comparatively privileged upbringing, her two sisters (one of whom was to remind her of Auntie Mame), her first stabs at acting, her long-lived marriage to Brisson, and her many famous roles, especially Mame, which she played both on Broadway and in the film adaptation. Her other notable film roles included Sister Kenny, Gypsy, Craig's Wife,  along with a few stinkers, such as What a Woman, which she declines to even mention. She does not relate that many backstage or behind-the-scenes stories, and is generally kind to her co-stars, although she does excoriate some unnamed film directors who have no idea of what they're doing and can not work with actors at all. Russell reveals that Hayley Mills was extremely unpleasant to work with when she appeared in The Trouble with Angels, as well as the fact that Russell and her husband were close, lifelong friends with Frank Sinatra, who took over and completely handled what sounds like an incredible 25th anniversary party for the couple. Russell indulges in some perfectly understandable name-dropping along the way, including people who were not in the film business. In later years, she worked hard to help people who suffered from arthritis, as she did. Russell always felt that she was not quite "of" Hollywood, that she wasn't one of those stars who was so devoted to her career and so obsessed with becoming a top-ranked star that she neglected everything else in her life, and it sounds like she was all the better for it. Russell insists that she was not dubbed at all for her singing in Gypsy, but it's very clear in the movie that she begins to sing a number until Lisa Kirk takes over; Russell never mentions her and seems to have a delusion about her true vocal contribution. Russell gives an excellent performance in the movie, however.

Verdict: Excellent film memoir is engaging and well-written, although not very "dishy." ***1/2.