Jack Lemmon Books

Jack Lemmon, his films and career (1986) remains the best and most complete book about Lemmons films written this far. Starting with a foreword by famous film critic Judith Crist, this richly illustrated volume contains a solid biography and offers insights and anecdotes about the private man and his film and stage career. The centerpiece of this book is, of course, the complete description of his films from "It should happen to you"(1953) to "That's Life"(1986), each one complete with plot, Joe Baltakes own review and critical reception by the most famous critics, like John Simon, Pauline Kael and Judith Crist. I can recommand this one!

I hope that you enjoyed Chris Lemmon's affectionate A TWIST OF LEMMON - a tribute to my father. If you want to know more about Jack Lemmon's early years Don Widener's biography (1975, updated 2000) is the book you need. Well-researched - Lemmon's first fifty years are extensively documented - perfectly honest ("That's the way Jack wanted it"), based on hundreds of hours of conversation it approaches an autobiography.

The only son of a party-loving society-girl and the Irish-catholic president of America's doughnut corporation was born in a Boston elevator on Feb.8 1925. ("It was impossible not to love the child. He was always kind and polite"). His wealthy parents spoiled him immoderately because he was so often sick. A youthful prank nearly killed his father, but nothing could bring him to spank his little sunshine. He bought him a pony and sent him to the finest schools: Andover, Harvard. His parents sustained their marriage solely for his sake. Their separate bedrooms and pst-not-before-the-child-attitude preyed upon his mind. As soon as he left for Harvard his father moved out and his mother began to drink.

He was so popular in Harvard that he was elected president of the hasty-pudding-club. Widener dedicates two pages to the loss of his virginity: "She was older, like twenty-two...Houdini could not make it in this car...she said: Wow, your're terrific" (The girl chased him for a year). The U.S Navy found him very serviceable: " Harvard, eh? Okay, you're the new communications officer". He prevented a collision, his captain sang his praises, he got "a cushy job in Washington in some kind if decoding section" and a transfer to Boston: "Ensign Lemmon - Jeeps and trucks".

His hungry-young-actor-years are a bonanza: he besieged producers and agents, played piano and his life bordered on vagrancy. Debutantes rarely shared his bathtub (=bed). Showgirls liked him though. In 1947 he met his first wife, Cynthia Stone. They jobbed as food-inspectors and made four tv-series together. Cynthia Stone describes her marriage as pleasant and free of conflict: "There was never ever a cross word before or after the wedding. But his mother had an alcohol-pills-gas-accident on his wedding day and soon his wife realized: "We were great friends, we loved each other, but it was all a performance" (She filed for divorce right after he won his first oscar).

It happened that Columbia's headhunter saw Lemmon's cigarette-spot when Judy Holiday needed a leading man. Cohn and Cukor were impressed but Judy thought he made her look fat (this explains his shoulder-pads). Plenty of behind-the-scenes-anecdotes: Shooting in Hawaii and Midway Island. Interviews with Cagney and Fonda. Shooting in Trinidad: Co-star Robert Mitchum's behavior infuriated the State Department and even Lemmon relapsed into his bachelor-habits (Chapter XIV is definitely X-rated). Glenn Ford's vodka convinced him to climb a horse - napkins eased the pain - and the steer-scene was one of his most dangerous stunts. Nobody's perfect: The SOME LIKE IT HOT and APARTMENT- chapters could have been more detailed.

In 1957 he fell in love with Felicia Farr ("I have never been hit like that"). They married in 1962 after his father's death ("A terrible ordeal"). He attended AA meetings when he made DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES ("I was greeted very warmly...they's looked like they'd been expecting me"). The first edition (I have not seen the updated version and Widener died one year after Lemmon) mirrors of course the couple's views during the mid-seventies. Their daughter Courtney was nine ("the apple of Jack's eye"), Carol Matthau was very grateful that he "sprung" her husband's career: "The most generous actor in the world" (I couldn't agree more) and his son Chris was - a teenager during the hippie-era: "Chris' slightest wish was Jack's command...the school-bus-episode...Dad said: "Chris - it's okay" - and forgave me. They still had their fishing-trips.

Widener's "snapshot" captures a star with the right attitude: he worked for minimum scale to make SAVE THE TIGER - a film in which he believed (his second oscar) and accepted the box-office-failure of some of his finest films - AVANTI, PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE - with grace. He began to safeguard his own interests more frequently because he had an outlook: his hit-play TRIBUTE, the films CHINA SYNDROME 1979 and MISSING 1982 were still to come. Widener rejoices in his final chapter: "there are people and businesses who will find the new Lemmon unsettling" but hints at dangers: "The inevitable division is beginning among his friends and associates. On the one side is a delighted cheering section; on the other the puzzled and frightened. An old friend commented over cocktails: "I liked the old Lemmon better, my drinking-buddy". Jack Lemmon's "definitive" biography has still to be written. In the meantime...

at the time of the making of this film debbie mc
gowan was my best friend. i never saw the movie but know enough about it by reading the book. i wasn't allowed to see the movie. i still haven't seen it . even though i have met the actors in real life. both jack lemmon and lee remmick were really alcoholic in real life. debbie and i were not treated so well by our parents. anyway i sure would like to see her again. they always choose redheads for parts, she was really lucky. .i am anxious to rent or buy the film and finally see it.it will probably bring back a lot of memories of being 7 again. they took a long time to finally destribute this film. it's not like today .sometimes produciton took 3 years.Days of Wine and Roses, Moon River and Other Academy Award Winners

Until The Days of Wine and Roses, Jack Lemmon was known by moviegoers as one of the great comic actors creating three of the greatest movie comedies of the late 50's and early 60's - Mister Roberts, Some Like it Hot and The Apartment. Director Blake Edwards was known for his brilliant comedies including Operation Petticoat and Breakfast at Tiffany's.

But when the two got together it was pure drama. Add to this, Lee Remick in her first mainstream starring role.

The Days of Wine and Roses was one of the first films to take on social alcoholism. Joe Clay is an up and coming public relations man in the early 60's when public relations meant getting party girls and drinking the client under the table. At one of these events he meets the straight laced Kirsten. He offends her by assuming she was one of the party girls. But there is something about him that she finds disarming.

Soon they are married and she is pulled into his world of social drinking. But it is worse for her because this was the era of stay at home mother. So she has no outlet and becomes dependant on alcohol to fill her drab day.

They both hit rock bottom. This scene is very scary. But it shows that not only do you have to hit rock bottom but also be ready to start climbing back up. (By the way, when you think they hit rock bottom is not rock bottom! They still have far to go!)

Until this film, most films on alcoholism are about one alcoholic and the girlfriend or spouse that try to save them. This film is more realistic than any before as both main characters slide into the abyss and only have themselves to get out.

Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick are both stunning and deserved their Oscar nominations. This was a turning point in both careers. Lemmon would easily slip from comedy to drama the rest of his career. While Remick would scorch both the big and little screen until her untimely death.

Also, this would be Edward's crowning achievement. He would create great comedies in the future but would never find another drama to surpass this.

And let's not forget Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer's Oscar winning song.

Cousin Larry and I saw this blueprint of how not to live. Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick become alcoholics and separate after having a child. Lemmon sobers up. Remick does not. I had a drinking problem in my 20s. I should have given this film more thought. Lemmon was a great actor, the average businessman struggling to make it in the city, funny and tragic at the same time. The title was taken from a poem by Ernest Dowson. "Vitae Summa Brevis" laments the brevity of life: "They are not long, the days of wine and roses. Out of a misty dream our path emerges for awhile, then closes within a dream."

This movie is right on the money - the best movie about alcoholism and recovery that I've ever seen. While Alcoholics Anonymous does maintain anonymity in mainstream media, I seem to recall that the General Service Offices of AA provided some consultation for this movie. It's the real deal. It is not a pink cloud story by any means - but it does show how people who have hit rock bottom, and can be completely honest about the mess they've made of their lives, can get better. And it's not always easy to get better. Having to let go of a loved one who can hurt or even ruin your recovery is awful, but often, it's the only way. The movie doesn't pull its punches in delivering that message.

Forget the fact that it's in B&W this film is one of the best ever made.
It's portrayal of the gradual slip into alcoholism of the main characters is brilliantly delt with. The slip is sensitively portrayed and a lesson to all. Forget the melodrama of the greenhouse search - shown in the film - a similar crisis awaits all heavy drinkers.

I have Jack's film "The Apartment" as my No1 film ever, this is No2.

at the time of the making of this film debbie mc
gowan was my best friend. i never saw the movie but know enough about it by reading the book. i wasn't allowed to see the movie. i still haven't seen it . even though i have met the actors in real life. both jack lemmon and lee remmick were really alcoholic in real life. debbie and i were not treated so well by our parents. anyway i sure would like to see her again. they always choose redheads for parts, she was really lucky. .i am anxious to rent or buy the film and finally see it.it will probably bring back a lot of memories of being 7 again. they took a long time to finally destribute this film. it's not like today .sometimes produciton took 3 years.Days of Wine and Roses, Moon River and Other Academy Award Winners

Until The Days of Wine and Roses, Jack Lemmon was known by moviegoers as one of the great comic actors creating three of the greatest movie comedies of the late 50's and early 60's - Mister Roberts, Some Like it Hot and The Apartment. Director Blake Edwards was known for his brilliant comedies including Operation Petticoat and Breakfast at Tiffany's.

But when the two got together it was pure drama. Add to this, Lee Remick in her first mainstream starring role.

The Days of Wine and Roses was one of the first films to take on social alcoholism. Joe Clay is an up and coming public relations man in the early 60's when public relations meant getting party girls and drinking the client under the table. At one of these events he meets the straight laced Kirsten. He offends her by assuming she was one of the party girls. But there is something about him that she finds disarming.

Soon they are married and she is pulled into his world of social drinking. But it is worse for her because this was the era of stay at home mother. So she has no outlet and becomes dependant on alcohol to fill her drab day.

They both hit rock bottom. This scene is very scary. But it shows that not only do you have to hit rock bottom but also be ready to start climbing back up. (By the way, when you think they hit rock bottom is not rock bottom! They still have far to go!)

Until this film, most films on alcoholism are about one alcoholic and the girlfriend or spouse that try to save them. This film is more realistic than any before as both main characters slide into the abyss and only have themselves to get out.

Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick are both stunning and deserved their Oscar nominations. This was a turning point in both careers. Lemmon would easily slip from comedy to drama the rest of his career. While Remick would scorch both the big and little screen until her untimely death.

Also, this would be Edward's crowning achievement. He would create great comedies in the future but would never find another drama to surpass this.

And let's not forget Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer's Oscar winning song.

Cousin Larry and I saw this blueprint of how not to live. Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick become alcoholics and separate after having a child. Lemmon sobers up. Remick does not. I had a drinking problem in my 20s. I should have given this film more thought. Lemmon was a great actor, the average businessman struggling to make it in the city, funny and tragic at the same time. The title was taken from a poem by Ernest Dowson. "Vitae Summa Brevis" laments the brevity of life: "They are not long, the days of wine and roses. Out of a misty dream our path emerges for awhile, then closes within a dream."

This movie is right on the money - the best movie about alcoholism and recovery that I've ever seen. While Alcoholics Anonymous does maintain anonymity in mainstream media, I seem to recall that the General Service Offices of AA provided some consultation for this movie. It's the real deal. It is not a pink cloud story by any means - but it does show how people who have hit rock bottom, and can be completely honest about the mess they've made of their lives, can get better. And it's not always easy to get better. Having to let go of a loved one who can hurt or even ruin your recovery is awful, but often, it's the only way. The movie doesn't pull its punches in delivering that message.

Forget the fact that it's in B&W this film is one of the best ever made.
It's portrayal of the gradual slip into alcoholism of the main characters is brilliantly delt with. The slip is sensitively portrayed and a lesson to all. Forget the melodrama of the greenhouse search - shown in the film - a similar crisis awaits all heavy drinkers.

I have Jack's film "The Apartment" as my No1 film ever, this is No2.

Actor Chris Lemmon,not as famous as his late movie star father Jack pays homage to the elder Lemmon in this book. The elder Lemmon has done quite a few films throughout his career with his late longtime friend Walter Matthau. Chris' mother divorced Jack when Chris was a toddler. Chris became a cast member of one of Fox's first sitcoms,Duet,which ran from April 1987 to August 1989. Duet was then spun off as Open House which ran for nearly a year. Chris' character Richard Phillips and his wife Linda,played by Alison LaPlaca, were respectively,a patio furniture salesman and an executive film producer. Richard quit the retail business and became a cocktail lounge pianist. On the spin-off Linda went into real estate. Post-Duet-OH,Chris has had a series of guest roles on various shows. Hundreds of people,including Michael Douglas and his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones,attended memorial services for Jack in 2001. Jack was 75 years old when he passed away. I dedicate this book to Jack's memory.

CL pays the ultimate tribute to his father in this classy portrayal of the supremely gifted father and the somewhat lonely but not lost son trying to sort out a complicated relationship made more complex amidst the mixed fortunes born of fame and celebrity and the tensions and heartaches that always come with divorce. This is a wonderful read that confirms much of the positive image that most people hold of the elder Lemmon while affirming the deep love that father and son were able to share in an environment that has split so many other families apart. Jack Lemmon was without doubt driven in terms of his career, but the measure of the man is that he reserved a part of himself for his son that was theirs and theirs alone.

Recommended: A Twist of Lemmon: a Tribute to My Father, by Chris Lemmon

Chris Lemmon writes as though chatting with a friend, about the father he loved. I was drawn in by the humanity of the man and the honesty of his son, the author. According to Chris, Jack Lemmon was like an ornery little boy, a little like my own father. Both father and son were aware of Jack's strengths and shortcomings (drinking, a temper, over-dedication to his career). I think Jack Lemmon is probably recognizable in some person in everyone's life. STAR is not the picture drawn here.

There is some language that a few sensitive folks may find offensive; I did say he was ornery didn't I? However,I believe if those folks read on, they will be glad they did. There's nothing really vulgar, but some humor is pretty worldly. Chris says that one of his father's favorite lines to the nurses, even near the end, was "Wanna take a peek at Stiffy?" Alternating from hospital room to scenes from Jack's life Chris Lemmon creates a complete picture of the man without ever going Hollywood neon.

depressing as each chapter starts with a final illness segment. Without that it would have been a MUCH better and more enjoyable book. It may have been cathartic and healing for Chris, but not so for me.

A twist of Lemmon is Chris Lemmon's literate, deeply-felt tribute to his father, the unique Jack Lemmon. CL wrote partly for his children, who must have liked his elk- and poodle-stories better than his golfer's yarn (but tell this to a golfer), partly because it helped him heal the big loss he felt.

An extraordinary insight into people's nature presented his highly-gifted father with a career that lasted half a century. Two oscars, eight nominations, best actor in Cannes (twice). There were times when he stood alone. His Billy-Wilder-films have no equal but he was proud of DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES 1962 and SAVE THE TIGER 1973 - he suffered creative agonies and was never happier. A committed democrat and environmentalist. "Experts" smiled at his breath-taking performance in THE CHINA SYNDROME 1979 - three weeks later fiction came true. No other film, except MISSING 1982 - about a father who searches for his son in Chilean morgues - made more headlines.

Many anecdotes revolve around "America's sweetheart" who wrecked jaguars and ferraris, did not make the cut at Pebble Beach and was chased by moose, eagles, bobcats and bears. He had great moral courage, though: The fact that he suffered painful operations during his childhood did not keep him from entering the navy (many heroes stayed in Hollywood) and make dangerous stunts. Too few films catch his "quirky, unpredictable, sweet devil side". He was one of Hollywood's most exciting stars.

A tribute is no platform for criticism and while CL drops many hints most of his concerns remain unspoken. Nobody could accuse CL of "nepotism". JL made it by himself and expected the same of his son. That he played small parts in his father's films is perfectly legitimate. It was a proud moment when his father was in the front row "applauding, whistling, wiping away a tear". Daddy's amazement that junior worked hard enough to buy a car is the book's comic highlight (the Paris-brothel-episode is not bad either). How I wish that CL could have protected his generous, trusting and compassionate father from all those well-meaning people who asked him favors and harmed his career (the man of flesh & blood belonged to his family but his reflexion on celluloid belongs to us). Neither could he influence his father's eating habits (cheeseburgers) despite a warning shot: CL lost his mother Cynthia Stone to cancer in 1988 (his book is of course a tribute to both parents who remained optimists to the end).

His parents divorced when he was three, both remarried and he commuted between two patchwork-families with younger sisters. He and his father had fishing-trips to Alaska ("it was only during those times that I felt he really belonged to me"), jam-sessions, golf. He excuses his father's "inadvertent irresponsibility" - he woke his father up with a triple-martini when he was six - but is still haunted by "that empty chair at dinner-table" and felt "in the doghouse" when separated from his father. He did not grow up in his father's household and survival was difficult for a son-of-the-first-marriage who was a teenager during the hippie-era. JL's second family was part of his everyday life and "the only person I think he ever did commit to totally was Felicia" - his second wife. "Pop and Felicia had been partying hard the night before...an airborne ashtray had sliced pop's forehead". JL's private life is still terra incognita (or "treasure island" for biographers).

His moving description of his father's last fight ("I never heard him complain once...his only concern during the final days was for us, his family") and his desperate attempts to tell the dying father what he did not say to the living one are the highest points in CL's book. Chemotherapy; radiation; the reprieve; devastating surgeries; colostomy; morphine; the respirator. But CL also writes: "He had too much pride to let us know if he was suffering". Memories of his fater who held him after his mother's burial counterpoint his account. He makes also an alarming confession: "I remember feeling hurt that no one had told him...that I'd been out there with him through those many weeks he's been unconscious" although he admits: "We'd all remained in a state of utter denial".

CL holds out to the end and his real, great merit is that he does without rose-colored-glasses because he understands that his father, about whom Kevin Spacey said that his humanity was even bigger than his talent, deserves the truth. I hope this book becomes a best-seller!

This book was great i read every one of his adventures. I got realy mad when i heard some librarys were banning the book. :(

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is an exciting novel. It begins with the narrator (Huckleberry Finn) explaining that he and some friends (along with Tom Sawyer) are in a "Robber's Gang." Huck wishes to remain a part of this new gang but Tom Sawyer, who is a life long friend forces him to be respectable and stay in school in order to stay in the gang.
The Novel is set in St. Petersburg, Missouri. All is well, Huck Finn has money saved in the bank from treasures he and his friend Tom found. Unfortunately, Huck's father, who is a money hungry drunk, comes back to town and demands Huck's money. Huck was adopted by a lady named Widow Douglas. Huck's dad tries to fight for custody once he comes back to town but fails in his attempts. He then hangs around town and harrasses his son. Finally he kidnaps Huckand takes him to his cabin. In this part of the story the reader feels for Huck. His father locks him in their cabin when he leaves and when he returns home drunk, he beats him. The reader wants to see Huck stand up to his father and do something. Then, the reader gets what they want. Huck escapes from his father by faking his own death. He then sneaks off to an island in the Mississippi while the townspeople search the river for his body.
While he's living on the island he encounters another boy. His name is Jim. Huck and Jim become friends and live on the island together. Unfortunately, some townspeople saw smoke coming from the island so the boys are forced to leave. The novel goes on to follow Huckleberry Finn in his wild journey's across the Mississippi.
I thought that the book was a wonderful exciting tale of companionship and adventure. I would not hesitate to read this book again. Although the time period and the setting set me off from reading this novel before, when I finally read it I was pleasently suprised. I really liked how Huck Finn tells the story and the humor that is put into it. Mark Twain does a great job of making you feel like you are a part of the story as well. However, Mark Twain sometimes used racism that could be offensive to some. In my opinion, this book wouldn't have a clear setting of time period if he had left it out.
My favorite thing about this novel is that it is a story about a young boy and what he overcomes in life. I loved the friend ships and the childhood fasination of the outdoors. I would recommend this book to anyone who read the novel preceding it, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and also to anyone who enjoys a good adventure themselves.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is an adventure book written by Mark Twain. Huck Finn sails down the Mississippi River on a raft. Huckleberry Finn shows his bravery by trying to escape from his father. In order to live Huck Finn has to try to run away or escape from his abusive father. To find out if he escapes from his father be sure to read this book.
This is a must read! The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn will make reader feel like your Huck Finn. The reader will realize how hard it actually is for Huck Finn to live with his father and how hard it is to escape. This book is a book the reader just can't put down. The book takes a long time to get into so don't put this book down until you finish.
Mark twain is famous to most children my age. Twain was born in 1835 and died in1910 so he was 75 when he died. Mark Twain has written many books such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Samuel Clemens is considered one of the greatest American writers. When the reader reads this book they will feel Huckleberry Finn's pain.

I bought the original work of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn for my 8-year-old and while he reads on a very elevated level, the original had language too difficult to decipher. However, he was interested in the story so I bought this abridged version and he loved it.

Jack Lemon takes a rare and wonderful turn at narrating in Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This adaptation of the Twain classic seems crisper, capturing the feel of youth. It has never sounded better. The spry Mr. Lemon breathes life into this worn classic. This is a keeper for all ages.

"Jack Lemmon" by Will Holtzman (1977) is one of the best volumes of the PYRAMID seríes about the history of the movies. It contains at the same time a fine biography as well as a solid description of Lemmons films from "It should happen to you" to "Airport 77". Richly illustrated on nearly every page with portraits, film and private photos, this volume contains many anecdotes and citations as well. In short: this book offers everything that can be expected of a paperback with 155 pages. Still entertaining and informative.
(Recommandations: The most thorough biography about Lemmon is by Don Widener, and the most detailed book about his films is by Joe Baltake. Michael Freedmans biography is superficial, and his latest update, 2002, is a sheer insult for every fan of Lemmon. Avoid if you can).

"Hommage" (Berlin, 1996) is a german book published by the Berlin international film festival (Berlinale) 1996 on the occasion of Jack Lemmon being honored with a retrospective of his films and receiveing the "Silver Bear" (The german life achievement award).

The book contains, on 119 pages, a brief biographic survey and twenty essays from different authors about the films selected for this festival. The most interesting aspect may be, that the views of the german contributors often differ from the standpoint of american critics. For this reason, the book seems to me a valuable addition to my other books about Lemmon. It is richly illustrated and contains a complete filmography (ending with "Grumpier old men" which was released here soon after the festival). Almost alone among all other Lemmon filmographies, this volume contains the exact dates of release (in the US and Germany) of all his films: Valuable information for a biographer who wants to check out critic's voices or newspaper articles of this time. Contains also a bibliography where many interviews and newspaper articles are mentioned and a complete list of Lemmons tv-work until 1996.

Warning: My copy is in GERMAN LANGUAGE. I don't know if it has been translated in english.

In the early eighties, this book was an agreeable addition to the more complete but older Lemmon biographies by Don Widener and Will Holtzman. It was entertaining, informative and filled the gaps between the mid-seventies (where the other biographies ended) and the early eighties when Lemmon had added films like "The China Syndrome" and "Missing" to his name. I could recommand this volume if it weren't for the fact, that Michael Freedland updated it this year ("Some like it cool"). It took this author twenty years to write a small, not very incisive chapter about the chemistry of Lemmon & Matthau and a few sentences about Lemmons alcohol problems, his face lift and his death. Don't expect any more details from his book. I have read very detailed and intimate star biographies lately, like Clark Gables biography by Warren G. Harris, or Burt Lancasters by Cate Buford. Those authors took their time. They interviewed friends and family. They looked over old newspaper articles and other sources. They did thorough research about the stars they wrote about. In short, thy did all the things that Michael Freedland should have done - but didn't.

The book was very interesting and informative. It also had great pictures! However, as a teacher wanting to use this book in the classroom, I was disturbed to find misinformation in it. On page 58 it states that Martha Jane Canary (Calamity Jane) is buried next to Wild Bill Hickok in Deadwood, Arizona. Well, I've visited Calamitiy Jane's buriel sight (beside Wild Bill Hickok's) in my hometown of Deadwood, SOUTH DAKOTA.