Self-portraitWyden Books : trade distribution by Simon and Schuster, 1979 - Biography & Autobiography - 264 pages 'I had no trouble playing any kind of a role, ' Gene Tierney writes. 'My problems began when I had to be myself.' In Hollywood's golden age, everyone knew the starring roles Miss Tierney played in her 36 films: the unwashed Ellie May in 'Tobacco Road, ' the demure Martha in 'Heaven can Wait;' her appearances opposite Clark Gable, Tyrone Power, Rex Harrison, Humphrey Bogart, Henry Fonda, and, best remmebered of all, as the haunting -- murdered? --beauty of the portrait painting in 'Laura, ' one of the most televised films ever. Her rollercoaster marriage to fashion designer Oleg Cassini and her globe-trotting affair with Prince Aly Khan were public property. Word of her dates with billionaire Howard huges and a lighthearted ex - naval officer named Jack Kennedy circulated over the years. But the inside story of her greatest, most heart-wrenching role -- herself -- has never been told until right now. Outwardly living every woman's fantasies, she became an emotional invalid. Her marriage collapsed. Her romances failed. Her father became a cruel disappointment. Her first daughter was born deaf, blind, hopelessly retarded, At the crest of her career, Gene Tierny attempted suicide, suffered a nervous breakdown, and spent the next seven years in and out of sanatoriums. With candor, humor, and sometimes with anger, but never with self-pity or self-indulgence, she tells of her meteoric career, her long, slow, uneven recovery from 'the black tunnel of mental illness'; the struggles with her doctors, her treatments, her escape from confinement, her depressions, her mad impulses, herself, always herself ... and finally on to a happy remarriage and tranquillity. |
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Page 17
... walked over to his coffee table , opened a copy of The Saturday Evening Post , handed it to me , and said , " Read this in an Irish brogue . " I had a quick ear and often walked around the house imi- tating whatever actress I had seen ...
... walked over to his coffee table , opened a copy of The Saturday Evening Post , handed it to me , and said , " Read this in an Irish brogue . " I had a quick ear and often walked around the house imi- tating whatever actress I had seen ...
Page 31
... walked into the apartment after telling Howard good - night , my mother asked how things were going . She was practically dry - washing her hands . " Not very well , " I said , a little let down . She didn't under- stand , and I made no ...
... walked into the apartment after telling Howard good - night , my mother asked how things were going . She was practically dry - washing her hands . " Not very well , " I said , a little let down . She didn't under- stand , and I made no ...
Page 145
... walked up to him and said evenly , " I want to talk to you , Howard . Let's step outside . " " Look , I don't want any problem with you . " Howard tried to wave him away . " It's not a question of your wanting to or not . We're having ...
... walked up to him and said evenly , " I want to talk to you , Howard . Let's step outside . " " Look , I don't want any problem with you . " Howard tried to wave him away . " It's not a question of your wanting to or not . We're having ...
Contents
The View Below | 18 |
The Elusive Mr Hughes | 28 |
Twice Around | 35 |
Copyright | |
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actors actress Alfred Newman Aly Khan art directors asked began Broadway brother Butch called camera career cast child Clifton Webb Connecticut Dana Andrews Daria Darryl Darryl F daughter dinner divorce doctor dressed editor eyes face father feel felt film Fonda Gene Tierney George George Abbott girl going gone heard Henry Fonda Hollywood Howard Hughes Howard Lee husband Jack Kennedy John Johnny Mercer knew lady later laughed Laura learned lived looked Louis Loeffler lunch Lyle Wheeler marriage married mental mind Miss months mother movie needed never night Oleg Cassini once Otto Otto Preminger party picture play Preminger problem Producer remember returned role scene screenplay someone star stay story studio Sylvia talk tell things thought Tina told took trying turned Tyrone Power walked wanted weeks wife woman York young Zanuck