Synopses & Reviews
The highly entertaining biography of four charismatic and much-loved actors follows them through five decades of boozing, brawling and braggadocio.
“God put me on this earth to raise sheer hell.” Richard Burton
“I was a sinner. I slugged some people. I hurt many people. And its true, I never looked back to see the casualties.” Richard Harris
“Booze is the most outrageous of all drugs, which is why I chose it.” Peter OToole
“I dont have a drink problem. But if that was the case and doctors told me I had to stop, Id like to think I would be brave enough to drink myself into the grave.” Oliver Reed
This is the story of four of the greatest thespian boozers who ever walked — or staggered — off a film set into a pub. Its a story of drunken binges of near biblical proportions, parties and orgies, broken marriages, drugs, riots and wanton sexual conquests. And yet these piss-artists were seemingly immune from the law. They got away with it because of their extraordinary acting talent and because the public loved them. They were truly the last of a breed, the last of the movie hellraisers.
Synopsis
This highly entertaining biography of four charismatic and much loved actors follows them through five decades of boozing, brawling and braggadocio.
At their career peaks, these four controversial actors had the whole world at their feet and lived through some of the wildest exploits Hollywood has ever seen. But all that fame had a price; Richard Burtons liver was shot by the time he was 50, Richard Harriss film career stalled for over a decade. Peter OTooles drinking almost put him in the grave before his 43rd birthday, and Oliver Reed ended up dying prematurely.
This is the story of four of the greatest thespian boozers who ever walked or staggered off a film set into a pub. Its a story of drunken binges of near biblical proportions, parties and orgies, broken marriages, drugs, riots and wanton sexual conquests. And yet these piss-artists were seemingly immune from the law. They got away with it because of their extraordinary acting talent and because the public loved them. They were truly the last of a breed, the last of the movie hellraisers.
From the Hardcover edition.
Synopsis
'God put me on this earth to raise sheer hell.' Richard Burton
'I was a sinner. I slugged some people. I hurt many people. And it's true, I never looked back to see the casualties.' Richard Harris
'Booze is the most outrageous of all drugs, which is why I chose it.' Peter O'Toole
'I don't have a drink problem. But if that was the case and doctors told me I had to stop I'd like to think I would be brave enough to drink myself into the grave.' Oliver Reed
This is the story of four of the greatest thespian boozers who ever walked - or staggered - off a film set into a pub. It's a story of drunken binges of near biblical proportions, parties and orgies, broken marriages, drugs, riots and wanton sexual conquests. They got away with it because of their extraordinary acting talent and because the public loved them. They were truly the last of a breed, the last of the movie hellraisers.
About the Author
Robert Sellers is a former stand-up comedian and the author of biographies of Sting, Tom Cruise, two appreciations of the work of Sean Connery, and the definitive book on the
Pythons: Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. From the Hardcover edition.