San Antonio College Library

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.'...

This book is a competent run through of the sleepy-eyed film star's career--heavy on anecdotes about his brawling, boozing, rebellious ways. Raised by his determined, plucky widowed mother Ann, Bob was later sent--with sister Julie--to his grandfather's farm in Delaware, while his mother worked and remarried. Some of his family and friends feel these traumas produced a feeling of abandonment and loneliness that has haunted him all his life. Mitchum...