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Star: How Warren Beatty Seduced America Audiobook
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(3.01) - 211 listener ratings
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Famously a playboy, Warren Beatty has also been one of the most ambitious and successful stars in Hollywood. Several Beatty films have passed the test of time, from Bonnie and Clyde (which confirmed for him the importance of controlling the projects he was involved in) to Shampoo, Heaven Can Wait, Reds (for which he won the best director Oscar), Bugsy, and Bulworth. Few filmgoers realize that along with Orson Welles, Beatty is the only person ever nominated for four Academy Awards for a single film—and unlike Welles, Beatty did it twice, with Heaven Can Wait and Reds. Peter Biskind shows how Beatty used star power, commercial success, savvy, and charm to bend Hollywood moguls to his will, establishing an unprecedented level of independence while still working within the studio system.
Beatty's private life has been the subject of gossip for decades, and Star confirms his status as Hollywood's leading man in the bedroom, describing his affairs with Joan Collins, Natalie Wood, Leslie Caron, Julie Christie, Michelle Phillips, Diane Keaton, and Madonna, among many others.
Throughout his career, Beatty has demonstrated a fascination for politics. He was influential in the 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns of Gary Hart. It was said of Hart and Beatty that each wanted to be the other, and Biskind shows that there was considerable truth in that wry observation. As recently as a few years ago, Beatty was speaking out about California politics and contemplating a run for governor.
Biskind explains how Beatty exercised unique control, often hiring screenwriters out of his own pocket (and frequently collaborating with them), producing, directing, and acting in his own films, becoming an auteur before anyone in Hollywood knew what the word meant. He was arguably one of the most successful and creative figures in Hollywood during the second half of the twentieth century, and in this fascinating biography, Warren Beatty comes to life—complete with excesses and achievements—as never before.
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"Like Oliver Stone, Peter Biskind is often attacked for his accuracy but like Stone he puts on one hell of a show. Biskind wrote Easy Riders and Raging Bulls as well as Down and Dirty Pictures, both of which I highly reccomend. Warren Beatty is famously vague, evasive and contradictory which makes this the perfect marriage of author and subject. Biskind spares us the tedium of Beatty's childhood and starts when he comes to Hollywood at about 20. What follows is a fascinating history of Hollywood studio politics and a ton of sex. Biskind contends Beatty had sex with over 12,000 women before he married Annette Bening. His relationships with women are fascinating because of the way he tried to control them (and usually did). I freely admit that the main reason this book is great is because of gossip. Sue me. You'll find out intimate things about celebrities you may not want to know, if they're true. But aside from that, we get an insider look into the making of movies like Bonnie & Clyde, Reds, Ishtar, Bugsy and Town and Country to name only a few. There are some incredible stories of Beatty's unbelievable behavior (not having to do with sex) that I won't dare spoil for you here. And on the whole, I'm inclined to believe every word because Beatty and Biskind's credibility balance each other out. This is the best biography I've read especially because it's not something I would've picked up if it were written by anyone else. Delicious!"
— Ed (5 out of 5 stars)
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A complicated portrait of a complicated man.
— Publishers Weekly Starred Review
Star Listener Reviews
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" Though Biskind has done his best to appraise the aging star, his inexplicable indifference to Beatty's early life and his overt refusal to explore Beatty's marriage to Annette Bening leave gaping holes in this biography. Of Beatty's sexual escapades, there is "plenty here to satisfy the most prurient readers," but "once all the anxious throat clearing is out of the way, Biskind settles down to a genuine investigation of Beatty's enigmatic personality" (San Francisco Chronicle) with mixed results. Biskind seems sycophantically determined to convince readers that Beatty is "one of the foremost filmmakers of his generation." Star may have regaled British critics, but their American counterparts, though entertained, remained for the most part unimpressed. It seems the final word has yet to be written. This is an excerpt from a review published in Bookmarks magazine. "
— Bookmarks, 2/14/2014 -
" lots of gossip, but that can't be avoided given the subject. interesting bio. "
— Nicholas, 2/11/2014 -
" My thoughts that Warren is a pompous ass were confirmed. Didn't get too far in the book! "
— Laura, 2/11/2014 -
" 3.5 stars for the record. This is an odd book mostly because Beatty is a very odd subject (it turns out). Most people Biskind interviews seem to have a lot of negative things to say about Beatty and yet the bio is authorized and so Biskind also has to suck up to him. You end up with a weird mix of hearing a bunch of stories about how obsessive he is or how difficult to work with and then sweeping and incorrect comments from Biskind to wrap up the stories and make it better (like stating that Bugsy should have won the Oscar over Silence of the Lambs or that Bullworth is a really important movie). Still it is such a personal (sometimes too personal) look at such an odd person that it is a compelling read and offers some fun, anecdotal history about some movies and people that were important. "
— Betsy, 2/5/2014 -
" I'm a big fan of Biskind's work. And while this isn't "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls" or even "Down and Dirty Pictures," it's still very entertaining. I've always thought Beatty was one of the more overrated actors in Hollywood. I love that he cooperated with this book but Biskind is pretty darn hard on him (that's what she said). It didn't change my opinion of Beatty, but does explain why he hasn't done a movie since "Town & Country." "
— Paige, 1/28/2014 -
" This is a juicy read. Warren Beatty does not come off very well in the book, but it's fun reading about what a terrible human being he is (at least according to the author). "
— Melodie, 1/18/2014 -
" not enough about his current life. "
— Julie, 1/17/2014 -
" this book really made me dislike Warren Beatty! "
— Imasongbyrd, 1/16/2014 -
" Interesting book, very readable, but +500 pages is way to much Warren Beatty. "
— Paula, 1/14/2014 -
" To this day, Warren Beatty was one of the hottest men in Hollywood during his prime. I love reading biographies of the old Hollywood stars. Beatty was one-of-a-kind in that he literally slept with every single woman in Hollywood; I don't think anyone will outdo him for a long time. "
— Natasha, 12/24/2013 -
" Dire book about a vain man. "
— Rosie, 12/4/2013 -
" Everything you wanted to know about Warren Beatty - in great detail and in great length! "
— Jan, 11/19/2013 -
" I love what I'm learning about the movie business. WB seems like a very attractive jerk. Now that I've finished it that was a little harsh. The book was enjoyable but could have been shorter. "
— Gillian, 9/21/2013 -
" More about how he took complete creative control and how he can be such a d-bag to the people he works with. But really good. "
— Kevin, 9/4/2013 -
" A great companion to Easy Riders, Raging Bulls. The in-depth details of the making of bonnie and Clyd along with a theoretical analysis of the film will satisfy any movie lover. But around the time Beatty started making Reds, I stopped caring. "
— Jeff, 3/14/2013 -
" very enteraining read about a guy who just wasn't quite the superstar he should've been "
— James, 8/3/2012 -
" A fun read that pulls its punches when it comes to certain areas of its subject's life and times. "
— Chris, 2/25/2012 -
" Peter Biskind writes great books about Hollywood, and this is no exception. I never knew that much about Warren Beatty, and was a little dubious that a book about him might be that interesting, but Biskind's style is accessible and he keeps things moving along. "
— Aaron, 12/14/2011 -
" The king of narcissism procrastinates as he breaks hearts and promises. But a compelling story, and a cautionary tale, nonetheless. "
— George, 6/26/2011 -
" One third in and very good. Of course, for bios you have to be interested in the person to enjoy it, and I am. Good stories of movie production. More later. "
— Paul, 6/22/2011 -
" 200 pgs in le length may have been enough. Beatty was very particular in his work, editing, retakes. This point was definitively made over and over. "
— Esther, 3/11/2011 -
" One third in and very good. Of course, for bios you have to be interested in the person to enjoy it, and I am. Good stories of movie production. More later. "
— Paul, 2/18/2011 -
" very enteraining read about a guy who just wasn't quite the superstar he should've been "
— James, 2/16/2011 -
" Dire book about a vain man. "
— Rosie, 1/10/2011 -
" I love what I'm learning about the movie business. WB seems like a very attractive jerk. Now that I've finished it that was a little harsh. The book was enjoyable but could have been shorter. "
— Gillian, 12/13/2010 -
" More about how he took complete creative control and how he can be such a d-bag to the people he works with. But really good. "
— Kevin, 11/10/2010 -
" lots of gossip, but that can't be avoided given the subject. interesting bio. "
— Nicholas, 7/22/2010 -
" not enough about his current life. "
— Julie, 7/10/2010 -
" A fun read that pulls its punches when it comes to certain areas of its subject's life and times. "
— Chris, 4/25/2010
About Peter Biskind
Peter Biskind is the author of seven books, including the New York Times bestseller Down and Dirty Pictures: Miramax, Sundance, and the Rise of Independent Film. He is a contributor to Vanity Fair and was formerly the executive editor of Premiere magazine.
About David Drummond
David Drummond has made his living as an actor for over twenty-five years, appearing on stages large and small throughout the country and in Seattle, Washington, his hometown. He has narrated over thirty audiobooks, in genres ranging from current political commentary to historical nonfiction, fantasy, military, thrillers, and humor. He received an AudioFile Earphones Award for his first audiobook, Love ’Em or Lose ’Em: Getting Good People to Stay. When not narrating, he keeps busy writing plays and stories for children.