Laurence Olivier

A Biography

De: Donald Spoto

Narrado por: Frederick Davidson

Laurence Olivier was the most famous actor of his century, and one of the greatest of all time. His looks made him a matinee idol; his talent made him world renowned as an actor, director, and producer. From his stage roles as Hamlet and Archie Rice to his screen roles as Heathcliff and Henry V, his range was unparalleled. But beneath the glamorous image, Olivier was often lonely, confused, and plagued by self-doubts.

In this revealing account, Spoto tells for the first time the truth about Olivier's three marriages - to the diffident lesbian actress Jill Esmond, to the haunted and doomed Vivien Leigh, and to the young Joan Plowright. Spoto also discusses Olivier's relationships with Noel Coward and Danny Kaye, who loved him. Amid these personal dramas, Laurence Olivier's professional life encompassed the history of the theater in his time. Based on formidable international research, this is a rich, definitive biography.

©1992 Donald Spoto (P)1998 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"A magnificent, moving biography worthy of its protean subject, this resonant portrait defines an actor whose personal upheavals fueled his intense realism on stage and screen....Critical acumen matches psychological insight in this biography." (Publishers Weekly)
"The book meticulously covers Olivier's life in full, lurid, yet tasteful detail....Frederick Davidson's narration is flawless. Davidson maintains the brilliance of the biography with a superb performance that is every bit as wonderful as the book itself....The book glides along, keeping the listener wanting to hear more." (AudioFile)

Comprehensive Bio, Pompous Narration

I decided to read this book after reading a few stories about Olivier in Kirk Douglas' book about the making of Spartacus. This detailed biography was an eye opener. Having heard of his thespian accomplishments, the real man was far more complicated. His brilliance, arrogance and sexual proclivities notwithstanding, he was a tragic figure. The early death of his beloved mother, indifference by his father, the stage and performing were his life. His three marriages all failed and while he was magnificent at adapting characters, and his many friendships were mostly surface relationships. This was a comprehensive biography packed with a great deal of information. I read this book using immersion reading while listening to the audiobook. Narration sounded a bit pompous and condescending, not very listener friendly. Quotes and lines from plays attempted in his voice just sounded awful.

Olivier the man.

What makes a great actor tick? The engrossing biography provides a window into the personality of a remarkable man who was also most accomplished actor of the last century. It is a glittering panorama of the age and its personalities that is impossible to resist.

Nothing new...but enjoyable

What about Frederick Davidson’s performance did you like?

Frederick Davidson's accent makes the folks on "Downton Abbey" sound like they're from Flatbush. A bit too posh at times, but he does decent impersonations of Olivier, Gielgud, et al.

Olivier's History More Than His Life

I enjoyed this Audible biography of Laurence Olivier, but felt, and still feel, that there were some things missing or only alluded to in the narrative. Maybe Olivier didn't reveal some aspects of his life, thoughts, emotions or nature? True the facts are pretty fascinating in and of themselves, but I don't know if I have any insight into what made him tick. I would have liked to know more about his friendships, the people he disliked and perhaps his jealousies of other great actors of the age. These are mentioned but not gone into to any significant degree. The only emotionally complex aspect of the story was the contradictory, confusing and inconsistent "heart on his/her sleeve" symbiotic relationship that Olivier and poor Vivian Leigh had even after they divorced. She loved him but drove him crazy and vice versa. She was so keen to please him but felt so insecure that their "great love" was doomed to fail. I saw his second wife, Joan Plowright, as a woman of determination and ambition, but that was pretty much was my take on her. She obviously provided him with some good measure of normalcy and stability after his life with Vivian Leigh. That may have been a great relief to him. That was about it. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this book. There are details of his stage and film career that are new and revelatory, and leave one admiring him and his energy and drive even more. Fans of Olivier, who have already seen his movies, will gain a lot of details of the vast swath of his career. So will those interested in film and stage history. Despite what has been written elsewhere, I thoughts the narrator was fine.