Don't Tell Dad: A Memoir

Rating:
Summary: Where's the dirt, Peter?
Review: A nicely written book about Fonda's life, although I found it strange that, having dedicated the book to his sister, there is very little about her and how their adult lives crossed. Far, far too much information about his yachts and their voyages. The story of Easy Rider was well told but overall I felt I gained more insight into Fonda from Peter Biskind's book: Easy Riders and Raging Bulls.

Rating:
Summary: Life in Hollywood in the Good Old Days.
Review: Because of this book, I was looking forward to the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation in which Peter Fonda was featured. I don't know whether it was the character he was playing, or if he is sick, but it was difficult to watch. Maybe he thinks that's how a college professor acts. I was married to one and have two sons, one with a PhD, who are college teachers, and none were as stiff as he appeared. It must have been the character, or directing, as he won an award for "Ulee's Gold.'

He is best known for the movie, 'Easy Rider,' which he co-wrote with Dennis Hopper in the 1960s. I was shocked to see the year he was born which means we were growing up at the same time, in the most disparate ways life could be. Here I was in this backward town of Knoxville, TN, enjoying a short singing career on radio, t.v. local talent shows, and stage -- as innocent as a baby.

There he was pretending to be James Dean on a motorcycle (he was the 'wild thing') hobnobbing with Marlon Brando in Rome (on location?), 'hanging out' with Salvador Dali, taking drugs with the British singing group, the Beatles, and suffering through the suicides of his friend, Bridget Hayward (after whom he named his daughter, the actress) and his best friend, Stormy.

He speaks freely of his drug use as if it were the thing to do -- no apologies -- as he watched others "fall into the abyss of abuse" and be pushed "over the edge," explaining that he survived because he didn't have an 'addictive personality.'

In this fascinating memoir, he relates how he'd promised his sister, Jane, that he'd never tell of their growing-up escapades and coming of age exploits (also of their living through child abuse, as did so many of the children of movie stars of that time, example MOMMIE DEAREST about Joan Crawford and the pain of Bing Crosby's older sons as they lived with a harsh, cold father.) Now, Dean Martin's daughter is claiming a similar life in her new book.

Thus, the title 'Don't tell Dad.' I can just hear them telling each other that during their teen years. There were several suicides in his life, the hardest to bear was that of his mother. He tells how the family tried to hide it as if it were a 'taint' on them.

His mother, Frances Seymour, had been born in Ontario, Canada. He traces his heritage on her side of the family to Richard Seymour who settled in this country in 1639 and his link to Lady Jane Seymour, King Henry VIII's third wife. Could be that is where his sister Jane got her name, as her nickname was Lady Jane. Frances had been married to George Brokaw (who'd just divorced Clare Booth Luce), an alcoholic from Old Money and into sailing when he died. Thus, a link in ancestry with Tom Brokaw on NBC. Her father, Eugene Ford Seymour, a superior court judge, had also been an alcoholic. Guess he could say that his tendency to try drugs was in the genes.

His father, Henry Fonda, has a heritage going back to 13th century Italy, then 200 years in the Netherlands before leaving Amsterdam for America in 1651. Peter's parents had met on a luxury liner bound for England, she on vacation while he was on his way to a movie set and were married in 1939, after which he had a wartime stint in the Pacific in 1943.

"Few things have been perfect in my life, but there is no way I'd desire to 'do it over.' I would prefer to never again think of the dark parts of my past." Wouldn't we all!

Peter was born in New York City but lived with his dad in Brentwood (L. A.) in a mansion near his grandmother's house. His step-grandfather was Oscar Hammerstein. There are some similarities between his life in California and that of Chuck Southcott (he's six months younger than Peter), who is my soul and inspiration on the radio. Just this afternoon, he played Michael Feinstein's version of WISH YOU WERE HERE. Thanks, Chuck!

The photo section is fantastic, full of what I call the 'beautiful people.' Peter was a cute little boy and looked like my youngest son, Justin (who also played soccer as a youth). I was pleased to learn that he named his son Justin. Though I've never known him, there is that connection.

Though he lived the 'high life' to which he was born and, my goodness, he led an interesting life and learned his acting in New York. He didn't just 'follow in his father's footsteps.' He made some of his own in many films including 'The Rounders,' 'Race With the Devil,' 'The Wild Angels,' 'Hawkens Breed,' 'Futureworld,' 'Blue Water Hunters,' and 'Tammy and the Doctor'(with Sandra Dee).

In the end, he learned that "it is all about forgiveness and, most importantly, I have learned to forgive myself." That makes him a big man. He was able to forgive all those who hurt him 'deep in his heart,' he said. That's something I cannot do.

I hope he will forgive me for the criticism at the beginning of this review. What do I know about acting anyway? At a recent one-man performance about Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth in a tiny "box" theater, the actor said after the play, "I enjoyed playing off you." I'd emphathized with both roles throughout his credible acting and kept my eyes on him. I've seen many plays and an enormous number of movies, but I have never acted.

His ending leaves the reader feeling that Jane was the 'chip off the old block' with her stern reprimands and orders to her younger brother, even as adults, and her entreaty, "Don't Tell Dad."

I do believe he had a love affair with the motorcycle. In the photo on the back jacket cover, he could be Evil Kenevil. He was a handsome lad. His mother, had she survived, would be so proud of her son and his achievements.

Rating:
Summary: What he doesn't say tells the best story
Review: I enjoyed this book and found it to be a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the rich and famous Fonda family. I agree that Peter contradicts himself often in this book by telling us the things he resents about his relationship with his father, then turning around and doing the same things to his own family. This is precisely _what_ makes this book interesting. Abused becomes abuser. Therapists will tell you that happens all the time. Here we get to see it spelled out in gory detail. Fascinating reading.

Rating:
Summary: THE MANY SIDED PETER
Review: I liked the writing, and more important, liked Peter. I read the Customer reviews and agree there could be less yachting, but as one reviewer said,"it's his book." Peter is a charmer, and his obvious love and sensitivity toward women is well-written and described. Nowadays, he would be called a "hyper-active" child, no doubt suffering from ADD. A gradually disappearing mother and a cold, stern father were devastating to such a sensitive child. As a reader, I tried to be empathetic with Peter always resorting to tears. (In my family, you die before you cry!)

Remember all the times you have been humiliated and later you think "what I shoulda said--" The Germans call this "the wit of the stairway" meaning your swift retorts when it is long over. I think Peter recalled many incidents the way he'd have LIKED them to turn out, but the truth might be a little different. But hey, it's his book. I don't doubt for a minute, he is very impulsive, feisty, loud and belligerent when the mood, the drugs, the drink, whatever are upon him. I remember I heard Peter had taken to roaring past his sister's home on his motorcycle after she married Tom Hayden, screaming what a worthless hanger on Hayden was; who couldn't afford breakfast unless Jane bought it for him, etc., etc. I don't know whether this is true or not, but after reading the book, I certainly believe Peter is capable of such behavior.

I was surprised he never mentioned his father's last film "On Golden Pond" which his sister Jane worked so hard to put together and Henry won an Academy Award. I don't know if Jane exercised a heavy editorial hand on his writing, or Peter didn't want her overshadowing him. I doubt the last because with all Peter's problems, low self-esteem does not seem a part of him. And it shouldn't be. He is a brilliant man and writer. It is definitely wrong to say he was gypped in family brains dept. He was not as visible as sis and dad, but he is strictly A-list.

Rating:
Summary: THE MANY SIDED PETER
Review: I liked the writing, and more important, liked Peter. I read the Customer reviews and agree there could be less yachting, but as one reviewer said,"it's his book." Peter is a charmer, and his obvious love and sensitivity toward women is well-written and described. Nowadays, he would be called a "hyper-active" child, no doubt suffering from ADD. A gradually disappearing mother and a cold, stern father were devastating to such a sensitive child. As a reader, I tried to be empathetic with Peter always resorting to tears. (In my family, you die before you cry!)

Remember all the times you have been humiliated and later you think "what I shoulda said--" The Germans call this "the wit of the stairway" meaning your swift retorts when it is long over. I think Peter recalled many incidents the way he'd have LIKED them to turn out, but the truth might be a little different. But hey, it's his book. I don't doubt for a minute, he is very impulsive, feisty, loud and belligerent when the mood, the drugs, the drink, whatever are upon him. I remember I heard Peter had taken to roaring past his sister's home on his motorcycle after she married Tom Hayden, screaming what a worthless hanger on Hayden was; who couldn't afford breakfast unless Jane bought it for him, etc., etc. I don't know whether this is true or not, but after reading the book, I certainly believe Peter is capable of such behavior.

I was surprised he never mentioned his father's last film "On Golden Pond" which his sister Jane worked so hard to put together and Henry won an Academy Award. I don't know if Jane exercised a heavy editorial hand on his writing, or Peter didn't want her overshadowing him. I doubt the last because with all Peter's problems, low self-esteem does not seem a part of him. And it shouldn't be. He is a brilliant man and writer. It is definitely wrong to say he was gypped in family brains dept. He was not as visible as sis and dad, but he is strictly A-list.

Rating:
Summary: Where's the dirt, Peter?
Review: Of course, the early years & the making of Easy Rider are more interesting than his sailboats. After awhile, you hear a little voice in your head saying, "Go for the gusto!" I wish Peter had opened himself up a little more. But that said, this is a good celebrity autobiography & essential reading for students of the Sixties.

Rating:
Summary: Its An Interesting Ride
Review: Opinions are pretty useless. So I'll write a review. :) That could set the tone for this book. Peter is a good writer. I found the books continuity got screwed up a little, (names given before introduced) but, not much. So as a writer, he's good. And hell, he has some stories to tell. I found his descriptions vivid. He paints a picture with words and he should be commended on that. As far as his approach to telling his story how can that be picked on, it's his frigging story. Is he a whiner, I don't think so, he had Henry Fonda as a Dad! Unfortunately, I can relate to the mother thing. Just one thing Peter, in the book you score $500,000 and a few pages later it's gone and you're making $90.00 a week. What the ..... Also, I would have thought Lennon would have liked you...go figure.