ldquo;The best goddamned actor Irsquo;ve ever seen!rdquo;mdash;George M. CohanHis full name was Spencer Bonaventure Tracy. He was called ldquo;The Gray Foxrdquo; by Frank Sinatra; other actors called him the ldquo;The Pope.rdquo;Spencer Tracyrsquo;s image on-screen was that of a self-reliant man whose sense of rectitude toward others was matched by his sense of humor toward himself. Whether he was Father Flanagan of Boys Town; Clarence Darrow of Inherit the Wind; or the crippled war veteran in Bad Day at Black Rock; Tracy was forever seen as a pillar of strength.In his several comedy roles opposite Katharine Hepburn (Woman of the Year and Adamrsquo;s Rib among them) or in Father of the Bride with Elizabeth Taylor; Tracy was the sort of regular American guy one could depend on.Now James Curtis; acclaimed biographer of Preston Sturges (ldquo;Definitiverdquo; mdash;Variety); James Whale; and W. C. Fields (ldquo;By far the fullest; fairest; and most touching account . . . we have yet had. Or are likely to haverdquo; mdash;Richard Schickel; The New York Times Book Review; cover review); gives us the life of one of the most revered screen actors of his generation.Curtis writes of Tracyrsquo;s distinguished career; his deep Catholicism; his devoted relationship to his wife; his drinking that got him into so much trouble; and his twenty-six-year-long bond with his partner on-screen and off; Katharine Hepburn. Drawing on Tracyrsquo;s personal papers and writing with the full cooperation of Tracyrsquo;s daughter; Curtis tells the rich story of the brilliant but haunted man at the heart of the legend. We see him from his boyhood in Milwaukee; given over to Dominican nuns (ldquo;They drill that religion in yourdquo;); his years struggling in regional shows and stock (Tracy had a photographic memory and an instinct for inhabiting a character from within); acting opposite his future wife; Louise Treadwell; marrying and having two children; their son; John; born deaf.We see Tracyrsquo;s success on Broadway; his turning out mostly forgettable programmers with the Fox Film Corporation; and going to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and getting the kinds of roles that had eluded him in the pastmdash;a streetwise priest opposite Clark Gable in San Francisco; a screwball comedy; Libeled Lady; Kiplingrsquo;s classic of the sea; Captains Courageous. Three years after arriving at MGM; Tracy became Americarsquo;s top male star.We see how Tracy embarked on a series of affairs with his costars . . . making Northwest Passage and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; which brought Ingrid Bergman into his life. By the time the unhappy shoot was over; Tracy; looking to do a comedy; made Woman of the Year. Its unlikely costar: Katharine Hepburn.We see Hepburn making Tracy her lifersquo;s projectmdash;protecting and sustaining him in the difficult job of being a top-tier movie star.And we see Tracyrsquo;s wife; Louise; devoting herself to studying how deaf children could be taught to communicate orally with the hearing and speaking world.Curtis writes that Tracy was ready to retire when producer-director Stanley Kramer recruited him for Inherit the Windmdash;a collaboration that led to Judgment at Nuremberg; Itrsquo;s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World; and Tracyrsquo;s final picture; Guess Whorsquo;s Coming to Dinner . . .
#662461 in eBooks 2010-10-01 2010-08-20File Name: B004HYFL40
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Truly the Best of the BestBy Scott HeywardThis is a fantastic collection of the best one-act plays from very talented and expressive American playwrights. Highlights include Joe Maruzzos wonderfully poignant "Bricklayers Poet." the witty and vulnerable "The Perfect Relationship" by Jill Elaine Hughes. and Cary Peppers challenging and confrontational "House of the Holy Moment." As good as all the plays are. the very best is Jay Hulings bombastic and laugh-out-loud funny "Elvis of Nazareth." Huling places his Elvis Presley in a biblical fantasy that manages to show both reverence and near-blasphamy in almost the same breath. Other impressive playwrights in this work include Murray Schisgal. who wrote the screenplay for the motion picture "Tootsie." Theodore Mann. who co-founded New Yorks famous Circle in the Square Theatre. and the often-produced and multi-award winning Laura Shaine. All of these plays -- from Jay Hulings "Elvis of Nazareth" to Jeni Mahoneys very witty "Light" would make an excellent evening of theatre that would entertain and inspire audiences. At the very least. its an enjoyable and easy read.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Highly Entertaining Plays That Are Easy to ProduceBy Glenn TylerEvery one of these short plays hits a homerun in their own way. And they all need only a small cast. have uncomplicated sets. and offer very good roles for men and women. Outstanding works by Adam Kraar. Michael Roderick. and Rick Pulos. "Elvis of Nazereth" by Jay Huling was very funny. and I got to meet Mr. Huling at the Tennessee Stage Company when they were producing one of his more well-known comedies. If you are looking for plays that are a quick read. offer a variety of comedy and drama. and have a freshness from the most cutting-edge voices in American theatre. this book is a great choice.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Buy this to read Ray Sawhill and Polly Frost!By Joy H."The Last Artist in NYC" was outstanding! Now I look for any writings by Ray Sawhill and Polly Frost. They are great!
