Description
"Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me. Aren't you?" These famous lines from The Graduate (1967) would forever link Anne Bancroft (1931--2005) to the groundbreaking film and confirm her status as a movie icon. Along with her portrayal of Annie Sullivan in the stage and film drama The Miracle Worker, this role was a highlight of a career that spanned a half-century and brought Bancroft an Oscar, two Tonys, and two Emmy awards.
In the first biography to cover the entire scope of Bancroft's life and career, Douglass K. Daniel brings together interviews with dozens of her friends and colleagues, never-before-published family photos, and material from film and theater archives to present a portrait of an artist who raised the standards of acting for all those who followed. Daniel reveals how, from a young age, Bancroft was committed to challenging herself and strengthening her craft. Her talent (and good timing) led to a breakthrough role in Two for the Seesaw, which made her a Broadway star overnight. The role of Helen Keller's devoted teacher in the stage version of The Miracle Worker would follow, and Bancroft also starred in the movie adaption of the play, which earned her an Academy Award. She went on to appear in dozens of film, theater, and television productions, including several movies directed or produced by her husband, Mel Brooks. Anne Bancroft: A Life offers new insights into the life and career of a determined actress who left an indelible mark on the film industry while remaining true to her art.
About the Author
Douglass K. Daniel is a journalist and biographer. His previous books are Tough as Nails: The Life and Films of Richard Brooks; Harry Reasoner: A Life in the News; and Lou Grant: The Making of TV's Top Newspaper Drama. He is an editor and writer with the Washington, DC, bureau of the Associated Press.
Reviews
As the only full-length biography of Bancroft, this book fills a notable gap and appeals to a broad audience of film enthusiasts and others interested in popular culture. In telling the story of a woman legendary for her portrayal of Mrs. Robinson, Daniel helps us understand a formidable actress who, with grace and talent, handled the changing roles available to women."" - Tracy Lucht, author of Sylvia Porter: America's Original Personal Finance Columnist
""[A]bsorbing reading... general readers, scholars, and students of acting should find the book useful and enjoyable."" - David Ehrenstein, journalist and film critic
Book Information
ISBN 9780813169682
Author Douglass K. Daniel
Format Hardback
Page Count 406
Imprint The University Press of Kentucky
Publisher The University Press of Kentucky
In the first biography to cover the entire scope of Bancroft's life and career, Douglass K. Daniel brings together interviews with dozens of her friends and colleagues, never-before-published family photos, and material from film and theater archives to present a portrait of an artist who raised the standards of acting for all those who followed. Daniel reveals how, from a young age, Bancroft was committed to challenging herself and strengthening her craft. Her talent (and good timing) led to a breakthrough role in Two for the Seesaw, which made her a Broadway star overnight. The role of Helen Keller's devoted teacher in the stage version of The Miracle Worker would follow, and Bancroft also starred in the movie adaption of the play, which earned her an Academy Award. She went on to appear in dozens of film, theater, and television productions, including several movies directed or produced by her husband, Mel Brooks. Anne Bancroft: A Life offers new insights into the life and career of a determined actress who left an indelible mark on the film industry while remaining true to her art.
About the Author
Douglass K. Daniel is a journalist and biographer. His previous books are Tough as Nails: The Life and Films of Richard Brooks; Harry Reasoner: A Life in the News; and Lou Grant: The Making of TV's Top Newspaper Drama. He is an editor and writer with the Washington, DC, bureau of the Associated Press.
Reviews
As the only full-length biography of Bancroft, this book fills a notable gap and appeals to a broad audience of film enthusiasts and others interested in popular culture. In telling the story of a woman legendary for her portrayal of Mrs. Robinson, Daniel helps us understand a formidable actress who, with grace and talent, handled the changing roles available to women."" - Tracy Lucht, author of Sylvia Porter: America's Original Personal Finance Columnist
""[A]bsorbing reading... general readers, scholars, and students of acting should find the book useful and enjoyable."" - David Ehrenstein, journalist and film critic
Book Information
ISBN 9780813169682
Author Douglass K. Daniel
Format Hardback
Page Count 406
Imprint The University Press of Kentucky
Publisher The University Press of Kentucky
