This slight biography is little more than a film-by-film resume--starting after a few words about early years as poor N.Y. kid, traveling acrobat, and soldier. Lancaster arrived in Hollywood in 1946, after his very first stage role on Broadway at age 32 won him a screen-test with producer Hal Wallis. His career began promisingly with "The Killers," but from then on, the surprisingly bookish Lancaster pursued his 'obsession with the quality of stories.'...