The Contender

By: William J. Mann

Narrated by: Will Damron

Based on new and revelatory material from Brando’s own private archives, an award-winning film biographer presents a deeply-textured, ambitious, and definitive portrait of the greatest movie actor of the twentieth century, the elusive Marlon Brando, bringing his extraordinarily complex life into view as never before.

The most influential movie actor of his era, Marlon Brando changed the way other actors perceived their craft. His approach was natural, honest, and deeply personal, resulting in performances—most notably in A Streetcar Named Desire and On the Waterfront—that are without parallel. Brando was heralded as the American Hamlet—the Yank who surpassed British stage royalty Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, and Ralph Richardson as the standard of greatness in the mid-twentieth century.

Brando’s impact on American culture matches his professional significance; he both challenged and codified our ideas of masculinity and sexuality. Brando was also one of the first stars to use his fame as a platform to address social, political, and moral issues, courageously calling out America’s deeply rooted racism.

William Mann’s brilliant biography of the Hollywood legend illuminates this culture icon for a new age. Mann astutely argues that Brando was not only a great actor but also a cultural soothsayer, a Cassandra warning us about the challenges to come. Brando’s admonitions against the monetization of nearly every aspect of the culture were prescient. His public protests against racial segregation and discrimination at the height of the Civil Rights movement—getting himself arrested at least once—were criticized as being needlessly provocative. Yet those actions of fifty years ago have become a model many actors follow today.

Psychologically astute and masterfully researched, based on new and revelatory material, The Contender explores the star and the man in full, including the childhood traumas that reverberated through his professional and personal life. It is a dazzling biography of our nation’s greatest actor that is sure to become an instant classic.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Great read

I love Brando. Despite his atrocious behavior towards women (surprise: lady reviewer here), I am an ardent admirer of the man on screen. This book only deepens my admiration as well as enlightens my knowledge of him as a human being. It's well written, well researched, and well edited. If William Mann truly captures the spirit of Marlon, i believe Brando himself would approve.

stunning

this is by far the best biography I have encountered on any topic and also the best rendition on audible. this is how all life stories should be told, rigorously and with compassion. the level of empathy extended to understand the motivation of the man is astonishing and a good benchmark for others. this takes the man on his own terms and judges him against the criteria he laid out for himself, which is about as much as anyone could hope for in an assessment of a life. beautifully read with pathos and patience.

best book on Brando

anyone who wants to learn about Marlon Brando the man, separated from the myth, needs to read this.

Excellent biography

Thoughtful and relevant, as was its subject.

They want eight more words, but that says it.

Paul Weitz

Five Stars

The Best biography of Marlon Brando ever . I recommended this book to his fans and especially to journalists, bloggers, you-YouTubers always spread wrong, deformed stories about Marlon. With this book they shall know the truth