In the Moment: My Life as an Actor

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Summary: ACTING WELL AND BEHAVING BADLY
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When you're a septuagenarian looking back on a life marked by intoxicating highs and terrifying lows, you have a story to tell. Noted actor Ben Gazzara certainly has a story - and he tells it well. There aren't any ruffles and flourishes in this showbiz bio but rather a candid, straight forward account by a man who, as they say, has been there, done that.

The son of Sicilian parents, Gazzara grew up on New York's Lower East Side where he lived with his mother, Angela, and his father, Antonio, who never learned English and yearned to return to his native land. Older brother, Tony, is gay. Remember this was a time when being gay was unacceptable and, if you were gay, the Lower East Side wasn't any place to be.

Describing himself as a lonely child, Gazarra found company and inspiration in movie houses. He was an altar boy, and came upon acting quite by chance at the Madison Square Boys Club. From there he made a giant leap to the Actor's Studio in the 1950's where he trained with Marlon Brando and Marilyn Monroe. His big moment arrived when Elia Kazan tapped him to play the role of Brick in the original production of "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof."

Otto Preminger's "Anatomy of Murder" marked his Hollywood debut, and along with it came recognition that here was a major talent. For the next twenty years Gazzara worked with most of Hollywood's luminaries. He also married actress Janice Rule, which proved to be a disaster for both. During that time the actor is frank about his one-night stands and affairs with Audrey Hepburn, Eva Gabor, and Elaine Stritch.

The film "Bloodline" (1979) brought Hepburn and Gazzara together. Of their first meeting on the set he writes, "My jaw dropped. She seemed to have appeared in close-up. Her large glistening eyes, set in that exquisite one-of-a-kind face, set me back on my heels." The pair romanced their way across the world. But, it ended when he met and fell in love with his future wife, Elke. "She (Hepburn) was so kind and sweet," he writes. "Amazing. And I hurt her."

There was more hurt to come as Gazzara became clinically depressed following the death of his best friend, John Cassavetes, in 1989. Next, he was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1999. Following radiation and a lengthy recovery period, it was back to what he loves to do - act.

The heart of Gazzara's story for this reader is his obvious love for his craft, a profession he honors. There are many reminiscences about working with the greats - Elia Kazan, Edward Albee, Peter Bogdanovich, his idol, Jimmy Stewart.

He didn't take home an Oscar or quite become a super star. Of this, he writes, "...I was never jealous of another actor, `cause I was really pleased with myself, with my talent. I knew I had the goods."

He does, indeed, have the goods.

- Gail Cooke

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating but faulty autobiography
Review: I like Ben Gazzaa's acting very much and his writing style is amazing. The autobio of his has a a wonderfully old fashioned feeling to it. Although there are 21st century references in it it does look and feel more like a book written decades ago. Now for the downside. BG admits to having one night stands! He's also too frank in his discussing his sexual habits while a married man. He did such a charming and clean job of telling his story from a poor boy in NYC to tv and movie star it's a shame the book had to sleaze up in these parts.

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Summary: He LIVED the GOLDEN AGE and tells his story!
Review: I saw Ben Gazzara in the new movie, "Broadway: The Golden Age" and really liked him. It inspired me to get this book and I certainly don't regret it. It is fascinating to hear his first hand stories of growing up in NYC and becoming part of the golden age of Broadway and then his first hand stories of making films with John Cassavettes and everyone else under the sun. I also really appreciated his honesty about his battle with depression. He does a great service by telling the truth - and helps many who suffer from the disease. An inspiring and moving book!

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Summary: He said-she said
Review: Interesting book if interested in author. His claim to have Hepburn at his beck and call until he found someone "better" sounds a bit self serving in light of the fact Hepburn never mentioned the supposed affair to any of her friends according to Barry Paris' book on Audrey. Could it be that Ben is a legend in his own mind?