Overview

From the landmark films of Tony Richardson to the untimely death of Natasha Richardson this is the saga of one of the greatest dynasties in British film and theatre. In 1937, at the end of a production of Hamlet at the Old Vic, Laurence Olivier strode to the front of the stage to hush the audience and announced, pointing at his co-star Michael Redgrave, 'Tonight a great actress has been born. Laertes has a daughter.' He meant Vanessa Redgrave. That is where this dramatic book's story begins. It concludes in 2009, with the sudden and tragic death in a skiing accident of Vanessa's daughter Natasha Richardson and further family sorrow soon to follow with the deaths of both Corin and Lynn Redgrave. The story of this amazing family is explosive throughout - from the tangled private life of Tony Richardson, Natasha's father, who directed major films such as Look Back in Anger, to Vanessa and Corin's complicated involvement with the Workers Revolutionary Party, to the emergence of a fourth generation of fine actors with Natasha and Joely.
 There is truly never a dull moment but plenty of scandal, melodrama, tragedy and intrigue in the story of this remarkable dynasty, whose contribution to British drama and film has been immense.

Full Product Details

9781845136239

Table of Contents

Reviews

Adler's compulsively readable account is no hatchet job. It is well-written and extensively researched -- Christopher Hart Sunday Times

'A devastatingly funny portrait of our leading dynasty of uber-luvies.' -- Christopher Hart Sunday Times: Pick of the Paperbacks 'Adler's compulsively readable account is no hatchet job. It is well-written and extensively researched' -- Christopher Hart Sunday Times 'A dazzling and at times poignant chronicle of a brilliant yet benighted family.' -- Michael Simkins Mail on Sunday 'Of interest to Redgrave fans, theatrical historians and lovers of gossip.' Daily Telegraph, 5 stars 'Fascinating ... shrewdly observed' Sunday Independent 'Highly readable' West End Extra

Author Information

TIM ADLER'S previous books are Hollywood and the Mob and The Producers: Money, Movies and Who Really Calls the Shots. He has written for the Daily Telegraph, the Financial Times and The Times.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available