The Elephant to Hollywood

By: Michael Caine

Narrated by: Michael Caine

Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Charming, engaging, and surprisingly forthright, Michael Caine gives us his insider's view of Hollywood and the story of his brilliant second act.

When he was in his late 50s, Michael Caine believed his glamorous, rags-to-riches Hollywood career had come to an end. The scripts being sent his way were worse and worse. When one script really disappointed, he called the producer to complain about the part. The producer said, "No, no, we don't want you for the lover, we want you for the father."

Salvation came in the unlikely form of his old friend Jack Nicholson, who convinced him to give acting one more shot. What followed was not only an incredible personal transformation but also one of the most radical comebacks in film history. Learning to accept his new role both on camera and in his own life, Caine went on to win his second Oscar, be knighted by the queen, and deliver some of his best performances to date.

Now he shares the spectacular story of his life, from his humble upbringing in London's poverty-stricken Elephant and Castle, his military service, touching marriage and family life, and lively adventures with friends, to legendary meetings with fellow stars, forays as a restaurateur, and hilarious off-screen encounters from his glittering five-decade career. Caine brings his gift for storytelling and his insider's view to a tale that is funny, warm, and deeply honest.

©2010 Michael Caine Business (P)2010 Macmillan Audio

Seriously, just get it

Would you listen to The Elephant to Hollywood again? Why?

YES! I laughed so much. Great stories, and he has the best sense of humor. He is so endearing, just love him even more now!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Michael Caine!

Sir Michael is awesome

His story more or less from the beginning told by the man himself. It feels like he's chatting to you over tea or a drink. The story is mostly linear but jumps about here and there to address the topic at hand and wrap up a character while they are fresh in mind. Feels very conversational that way. The man lived a charmed life (after a very rough 30 year start) and seems to have a really nice outlook on the world.

He really never has a bad word to say about anyone. I'm sure in private he might, but he has the class to avoid that sort of thing so if you are looking for dirty laundry you won't find it here.

The Elephant of the title is the part of East London he came from. Didn't know it was called the Elephant and he never explains why.

Very nice.

Learned quite a great deal about someone I didn't know I needed to know anything about. Thank you for sharing a slice of your life with us.

Michael Caine fans will love this book.

Any additional comments?

It is great to hear Michael Caine telling his own story. He shares many stories about his now famous friends and talks about all my favorite Caine movies (The Man Who Would Be King, Death Trap, etc...). I love the story of how he met his wife and their ongoing love story. The anecdotes about being on location and the various parts he has played make me want to revisit each movie. And it doesn't hurt that Michael still has that sexy voice!

So lovely....

Would you consider the audio edition of The Elephant to Hollywood to be better than the print version?

Audio must be superior to print—though I didn't read the book, only listened to it—because Michael Caine himself narrates. You get to hear his gorgeous voice, and his laugh when he cracks himself up.

What did you like best about this story?

Caine is funny and self-deprecating. Great stories, incredibly inspiring.

Just brilliant

I love his voice and the stories but there's too much noise in the recording
#tagsgiving #sweepstakes #audible #listeningatwork #mybooks

A delightful time with a great personality.

This book is a delightful time with one of the legends of Hollywood from the past fifty years. I love the moments when he would stop in the middle of his reading and just laugh at the story he had just told. One feels that they are sharing the story rather than simply listening. His stories are honest and self-revelatory, without being melodramatic. He doesn’t bore with a litany of all of his films. There are just too many. He just chooses the tales that mean the most to him, as he relates his life, marriages, friends, and the wisdom he has gathered. Such a sense of humor, from one who never takes himself too seriously. This is the first Caine bio I’ve read, and I immediately downloaded his more recent memoir.

Never Make Friends With An Elephant Keeper...

Unless you have room for an Elephant. And this book was a delight, despite the fact that with his trademark voice, the elephant was always in the room. Michael Caine, has written and reads a delightful low key second autobiography. A totally unexpected treat. It has made me even rent some of the movies he talks about making, on Netflix. A boy from the Elephant who did well....and the sufi saying aside about caution entertaining elephant keepers, this one is a keeper. No mean spirited, revenge tell tales here, just a lot of really wonderful stories (Many of them Hollywood) about a really interesting guy who was able to tell the Queen a joke (she asked and you feel you are with him at the table as he also shares the joke! ) charming and entertaining, and often bittersweet. I couldn't wait to walk the dog in the park even in the dead of Chicago winter listening! His love story with his second wife out of a movie. His second career...and third...

Great listen and I loved that the author read it

What made the experience of listening to The Elephant to Hollywood the most enjoyable?

A great peek inside his life -not just breaking into Hollywood but relationships, growing up, etc.. And I love when he would make himself laugh throughout.

What other book might you compare The Elephant to Hollywood to and why?

Rob Lowe's autobiography - both were intriguing and entertaining and it makes it better when the author reads their own work.

What does Michael Caine bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Hearing him share his story is so much better than reading it.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommend this!

Like Having Tea with Michael Caine

So, I really stepped out of my usual reading with this audiobook but I heard an interview with Michael Caine talking about this memoir and he's just such a joy to listen to that I thought I'd give it a shot. It was definitely worth the credit. Caine is such an engaging person. He doesn't get mean or ugly with any person and I'm sure with as long as he's been in Hollywood, he could tell some stories that would make people look bad. He's a class act and exactly how I imagine a real knight would be in his elder years. On top of that, Caine does a wonderful job narrating the story. It's like you're sitting in his living room, drinking tea and eating scones and he's telling you stories. I loved it.