-
John Wayne
- The Life and Legend
- Narrated by: John McLain
- Length: 25 hrs and 58 mins
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed

pick 2 free titles with trial.
Buy for $34.75
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Publisher's summary
John Wayne was one of Hollywood's most famous and most successful actors, but he was more than that. He became a symbol of America itself. He epitomized the Western film, which for many people epitomized America. He identified with conservative political causes from the early 1930s to his death in 1979, making him a hero to one generation of Americans and a villain to another. But unlike fellow actor Ronald Reagan, Wayne had no interest in politics as a career. Like many stars, he altered his life story, claiming to have become an actor almost by accident when in fact he had studied drama and aspired to act for most of his youth. He married three times, all to Latina women, and conducted a lengthy affair with Marlene Dietrich, as unlikely a romantic partner as one could imagine for the Duke. Wayne projected dignity, integrity, and strength in all his films, even when his characters were flawed, and whatever character he played was always prepared to confront injustice in his own way. More than 30 years after his death, he remains the standard by which male stars are judged and an actor whose morally unambiguous films continue to attract sizeable audiences.
Scott Eyman interviewed Wayne, as well as many family members, and he has drawn on previously unpublished reminiscences from friends and associates of the Duke in this biography, as well as documents from his production company that shed light on Wayne's business affairs. He traces Wayne from his childhood to his stardom in Stagecoach and dozens of films after that. Eyman perceptively analyzes Wayne's relationship with John Ford, the director with whom he's most associated and who made some of Wayne's greatest films.
Wayne was self-aware. He once said, "I’ve played the kind of man I’d like to have been." It's that man and the real John Wayne who are brilliantly profiled in Scott Eyman's insightful biography of a true American legend.
More from the same
What listeners say about John Wayne
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jack Merritt
- 11-11-14
A long but interesting book
There are very few people that I would spend 26 hours listening about their life, however, John Wayne is one of them. The story talks about thousands of different conversations Wayne had in an attempt to let us know the real John Wayne. I was happy that it didn't pull punches about his faults. He was a bad husband and a bad investor, but a good father, great actor and loyal friend. The story points out mannerisms that we all know which I had thought where natural that were calculated. His political views were far to the right and often painfully blunt but I am not sure that they were not part of his persona. He played by a set of rules that he learned at a young age and was reluctant to move from them as he aged. He was, like many actors of his time, a big teenager, always living a very fast paced lifestyle of hard drinking and hard living. Yet I was very impressed that he found time for his children. He was cultured playing chess frequently and reading poetry but kept that under wraps to protect his image.
The book held my attention throughout and I still admired Wayne after I was finished.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
30 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Bert Byers
- 11-08-14
If you loved the "Duke," you'll love this book
Where does John Wayne rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
Is definitely one of the best. I know of and saw most of the movies. The author takes you back stage and tells you about the making of the blockbusters and those not so. Students of the film industry should be required to read this book. You are constantly being told how much a movie made ($) and the back stories about where it was made.
Who was your favorite character and why?
This is naturally all about John Wayne. From "Stagecoach" to the "Shootist" you learn so many things you did not know before you wonder if you should be taking notes for the inevitable quiz tomorrow.
What about John McLain’s performance did you like?
I think this is the first book I've listened to by McLain and he easily slips into a Wayne sounding voice without overdoing it. I wouldn't hesitate to listen to another book voiced by McLain.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
There were several such moments but I don't mean to give anything away, but John Wayne dies and Scott Eyman writes about that event like he was there. Throughout the book he writes like he was there at major events in the "Duke's" life.
Any additional comments?
Eyman does not write a love story. There are times you may dislike John Wayne for what he did or how he reacted to something but as you listen you sense what you are hearing is the truth. I cried when he died. I cried again when he died in his book, John Wayne: The Life and Legend.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
15 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Keith
- 07-31-18
Strong biography undone by the narrator
Eyman's biography is a well-written and thoroughly researched overview of Wayne's (née Morrison) life and career, balancing his personal life, acting craft, and politics. Eyman is invested in parts of Wayne's mythology, but he does not avoid his subject's shortcomings and contradictions. The book is effective in arguing for a serious consideration of Wayne as an actor (as opposed to simply a star) and strives to distance readings of his career from the actor's politics. Eyman's tendency to default to simple evaluations of his films (good or bad as opposed to developed analysis) and broad declarations about meaning (especially regarding masculinity and the American spirit) could be forgiven as an outgrowth of the popular film biography as a genre if it weren't for the author's dismissive comments about film scholarship. There is an unearned arrogance that Eyman sometimes displays, proving in the simplistic perspective of the author the very need for film studies as an academic discipline. In general, though, the book is informative and well organized.
Unfortunately, much of Eyman's hard work is undercut by the narration of the audiobook. All narrators are giving a performance, but McLain's voice is clearly and distractingly an affected put-on. More importantly, the narrator is unfamiliar with the subject (film history AND American history) and mangles too many pronunciations to count. On a few occasions he gives different pronunciations of the same name or word from one chapter to the next. More than just names, McLain struggles with pacing and pronouncing basic words (he says wander as wonder, for example). If you're interested in this book do yourself a favor and buy a printed copy. I'm 40 books into my Audible journey and this is by far the worst narration I've come across.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- John Miller
- 02-20-19
Foul Language
The author did not have to use so much foul language. John Wayne never did in his movies, so we did not need to here it in this book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- jack lichtenstein
- 12-15-15
The myth of John wayne
John Wayne was a great American movie actor. He was unique for the length of time he made movies and four the large number of movies he made. Over the 60 years he was in Hollywood he made over 200 movies, most of them were westerns. He cultivated the myth of John Wayne during this time. The myth was as important to him as the movies he made. John Wayne was unique since he would only make movies in which the characters he played were a consistent with that of his off screen image and his conservative moral beliefs. He had multiple infidelities and drank and smoked incessantly during the time he was making movies, Yet, he did not regard this behavior as fallibilities but rather consistent with the myth of John Wayne. The love of his life was Gail Russell, who died at age 38 of alcoholism. His second wife Chada was an alcoholic. His third wife Pillar was a Trophy wife. Only his first wife was responsible, but did not fulfill his emotional or sexual needs
He made poor choices in the women that he chose to marry and to have trysts with. He made poor financial decisions until his finances were assumed by his son Michael. He was one of the leaders in blacklisting left thinking Hollywood workers. And never had any regrets or second thoughts about his political beliefs or the people whose careers he destroyed.
He was a better actor than most people realized. He was recognized for such great films as Stagecoach, the Searchers, the Quiet Man, True Grit, and the Shootist. His best pictures were made under the direction of John Ford and Henry Hathaway.
The last 20 years of his life were marked by one medical problem after another related to his nonstop smoking and drinking. He developed lung cancer which was successfully resected, gastric cancer which caused his death and prostate difficulties. Yet, through it all he kept working. Through the failed marriages, financial setbacks and medical difficulties he never wavered in his professionalism in showing up to work and knowing his lines.
This book does a fabulous job of objectively portraying his life and his importance in the American culture. The book is well read.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Krackers1
- 10-24-14
My Hero!!
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
great stories about John Wayne's life and the lives of those who he worked with.
Who was your favorite character and why?
The Duke of course
Did John McLain do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?
Yes, he did a nice job of trying to sound like the Duke.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Most chapters were pretty long but I did manage to do whole chapters at a time.
Any additional comments?
I had trouble with the audio which was frustrating and detracted from the total enjoyment of the book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- John Fletcher
- 08-03-16
A must read for any level of John Wayne fans
If you could sum up John Wayne in three words, what would they be?
The real man
What did you like best about this story?
This is a story about a man we all want to be. But even John Wayne was not obtainable all the time by Duke Morrison. The Duke came the closest to anyone. Bottom-line you will learn the man was the myth and vice versa. But he was human, like us all. What he had was integrity.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I did both laugh and cry. My wish would have been to meet him in person.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Shannon schrey
- 11-30-20
A well researched and interesting book
the guy who reads the book does a fantastic job emulating the dukes unforgettable voice, and does a good job clearly stating everything without slurring his words. I like how the book doesn't shy away from the more controversial aspects of his life, showing that the books main focus is to paint an honest picture of this incredible man's life.
Like for example I was worried the book was gonna ignore the "I believe in white supremacy" line but it actually goes over it in a very mature manner, not denying the worst parts of his character (he felt he had to protect his image almost to a fault) while also touching on his more positive traits (his willingless to work with anyone regardless of political beliefs along with his hard work and dedication to film.)
it's a long but very rewarding book, the only reason I'm not giving it a perfect score is because it spoiled some of the movies I hadn't seen yet but honestly that's a very minor complaint at the end of the day
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- David W Cochrane
- 07-16-18
Pulls no punches.
I wanted to read this because John Wayne was by far my dad's favorite actor. When I was at his house every movie which came out starring him was a necessity. I think I enjoyed dad enjoying these movies more than I enjoyed seeing them myself. But they were good escapism. Totally unbelievable to the extreme. This is the reason one wishes to watch movies. I think.
This is not a hero worshipping book. It is apparantly John Wayne warts and all. Also one finds out more regarding the actors surrounding him than one may want. No real surprise but I think dad would have not been amused.
At first I thought the narrator was irritating. But then he would quote the Duke. Then I realized why he was picked to read it. He did a great job of immitating the Duke. A long book like this takes dedication to go from beginning to the end. I think it was worth it. I was saddened to learn of how much he suffered at the end.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Eric J. Drysdale
- 05-30-18
TALL IN THE SADDLE
JOHN WAYNE: The Life and Legend
By Scott Eyman
Last year, out of 102 books read, the best non-fiction book was FOUNDATION: The History of England by Peter Ackroyd. This year, even though we are only 20 weeks into the year, I believe it will be Scott Eyman’s JOHN WAYNE: The Life and Legend. It would be difficult to be too generous with the superlatives. I have read over 5,000 books, been a movie buff all my life, and recorded and rated every book I read and every movie I saw since I was 15. Over several hundred of these books have been ‘movie-related’ – autobiographies, biographies and histories – this is the best of them.
I ‘read’ the Audible edition, narrated superbly by John McLain. The treatment is admiring without being sycophantic. In preparation Scott has interviewed numerous people on the inner and outer circles of John Wayne’s world and carried out a huge amount of research, which he has then formed into a finely honed, solid, entertaining and widely appealing work.
I have been a John Wayne fan for years. Norma and I watched THE QUIET MAN and THE SEARCHERS again last year, the tenth and sixth time respectively for me. I knew a reasonable amount about both the actor and the man, but Scott has filled in so many gaps and expanded both my knowledge and appreciation immeasurably.
My tastes, both in what I read and write, like General Adrian Marshall, the lead character in my novel THE PRICE TO PAY, are eclectic. For these reasons I feel this outstanding biography will appeal not only to the movie buff, or those who read a lot of autobiographies and biographies, but to anyone who appreciates the celebration of a life well lived. On another level it will appeal to anyone who will be touched by the honouring of a man, who, despite his faults, exemplified the qualities to which we should all aspire: love of family, reliability as a friend, staunch patriot, a clear-eyed focus on the goal, which was fuelled by vigorous ambition, and finally, courage to face the next day when the sunrise was in doubt.
Ultimately, Scott Eyman shows us that John Wayne was more than a ‘B actor’ who struggled up from the mire to emerge into the sunlight of fame, fortune and stature; he also epitomised both legend and myth, and became a figure even his detractors could admire and respect.
I cannot thank you enough, Scott, for providing me with 26 hours and 3 minutes of pleasure. This is an audio book to which I will return again and again, and which I will recommend enthusiastically.
What next? I will buy Hank and Jim, and look forward to another most enjoyable Scott Eyman outing.
My email address is: ericjdrysdale@gmail.com
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Brendamo
- 01-14-15
AMERICAN ICON
Would you consider the audio edition of John Wayne to be better than the print version?
I would imagine the audio book to be better as the narrator did a very reasonable impression of john wayne.
What other book might you compare John Wayne to, and why?
Cant really think of any other book to compare it with, as john wayne was a one off.
What does John McLain bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
He really did sound like John Wayne which i found made this book much more entertaining.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes I would have quite happily listened to the whole story all in one sitting as I really enjoyed it.
Any additional comments?
Was'nt too sure about buying this book as I was'nt a huge fan of his but I am glad i did! I really enjoyed listening to John Mclains narration.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall

- Mr. Ronald Baird
- 04-16-15
Superb story of the great American Actor John Wayn
Written with great clarity, the Life of a john Wayne will resound, down through the ages. His humanity and kindness will endure.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Toadjuggler
- 07-03-23
A great biography of a great man.
Very nicely written, thoroughly researched biography. Well worth a listen if you are a fan of the Duke's and interesting even if you aren't as a history of Old Hollywood and the golden age of cowboy movies.
Special note about the reader, he does a superb job. He even manages to read Wayne's words with the Duke's very particular cadences and pronunciation but without ever sounding like someone doing a John Wayne impression. Impressive stuff.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Dianne Wager
- 05-29-23
True story
I’ve watched John Wayne from a child as my father is a big fan. I now understand why my Dad is the way he is. Loved every part of this book
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- The Viking Celt
- 04-02-23
The Duke , Nuff sed
I really enjoyed this biography about an Actor I've grown up with. He was a complex man , constantly trying to live up to the image he created for himself. A man of principles that very quickly became out of step with the country he loved so much. I really enjoyed the anecdotes and the insight into Dukes family life. There will never be anyone quite like John Wayne. He was definitely one of a kind. The narrator did a brilliant job of keeping the story flowing and his impression of Duke was spot on. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to know more about this iconic actor.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- SIMON JAMES
- 10-06-22
Looked forward to this!
Disappointed.Narrator mono tone and grates on the ear particularly on such a long listen.One for the die hard John Wayne fan.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Purchaser
- 05-23-22
really great book, what a character...
excellent book. very glad purchased it
.micely narrated. Good book whether Johhn Wayne fan or not..
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- MAGGS
- 12-21-18
John Wayne Life and Legend - loved this book
John Wayne Life and Legend - loved this book
Being a John Wayne fan I loved this book.
Book was full of surprised about his early life, his education and about his politics.
Great narration
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- J G Belam
- 04-12-18
Scott Eyman is a talented detailed Biographer
Scott Eyman’s biography of John Wayne is detailed and interestingly written
The best John Wayne biography I have read
John McLain is a talented narrator
Great book great listen
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- steve
- 10-24-17
Hero worship
John Wayne, my favourite actor all my life, man and boy. Never will be equalled
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 01-31-19
great read
throughly enjoyed this book, narrator sounded like John Wayne, would recommend if a Duke fan
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
American Titan
- Searching for John Wayne
- By: Marc Eliot
- Narrated by: Pete Larkin
- Length: 12 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As he did in his bestselling biographies of Jimmy Stewart and Clint Eastwood, acclaimed Hollywood biographer Marc Eliot digs deep beneath the myth in this revealing look at the most legendary Western film hero of all time; the man with the distinctive voice, walk, and demeanor who was an inspiration to many and a symbol of American masculinity, power, and patriotism.
-
-
Perspective of Duke
- By Mr W. on 07-11-18
By: Marc Eliot
-
Cary Grant
- A Brilliant Disguise
- By: Scott Eyman
- Narrated by: Angelo Di Loreto
- Length: 17 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Film historian and acclaimed New York Times best-selling biographer Scott Eyman has written the definitive, “captivating” (Associated Press) biography of Hollywood legend Cary Grant, one of the most accomplished — and beloved — actors of his generation, who remains as popular as ever today.
-
-
Disappointing...
- By Amazon Customer on 11-02-20
By: Scott Eyman
-
Hope
- Entertainer of the Century
- By: Richard Zoglin
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 17 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Born in 1903, and until his death in 2003, Bob Hope was the only entertainer to achieve top-rated success in every major mass-entertainment medium, from vaudeville to television and everything in between. He virtually invented modern stand-up comedy. His tours to entertain US troops and patriotic radio broadcasts, along with his all-American, brash-but-cowardly movie character, helped to ease the nation's jitters during the stressful days of World War II.
-
-
A thoroughly engaging biography
- By John on 12-29-14
By: Richard Zoglin
-
20th Century-Fox
- Darryl F. Zanuck and the Creation of the Modern Film Studio
- By: Scott Eyman
- Narrated by: Suehyla El-Attar
- Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
March 20, 2019 marked the end of an era - Disney took ownership of the movie empire that was Fox. For almost a century before that historic date, Twentieth Century-Fox was one of the preeminent producers of films, stars, and filmmakers. Its unique identity in the industry and place in movie history is unparalleled - and one of the greatest stories to come out of Hollywood.
-
-
Our media world is unlike anything we’ve ever known
- By Amy Evans on 12-04-21
By: Scott Eyman
-
The Searchers
- The Making of an American Legend
- By: Glenn Frankel
- Narrated by: John McLain
- Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1836 in East Texas, nine-year-old Cynthia Ann Parker was kidnapped by Comanches. She was raised by the tribe and eventually became the wife of a warrior. Twenty-four years after her capture, she was reclaimed by the U.S. cavalry and Texas Rangers and restored to her white family, to die in misery and obscurity. Cynthia Ann's story has been told and re-told over generations to become a foundational American tale.
-
-
Enjoyable, but not entirely cohesive
- By Buretto on 07-16-17
By: Glenn Frankel
-
Cary Grant: The Making of a Hollywood Legend
- By: Mark Glancy
- Narrated by: Daniel Henning
- Length: 18 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Cary Grant: The Making of a Hollywood Legend tells the incredible story of how a sad, neglected boy became the suave, glamorous star many know and idolize. The first biography to be based on Grant's own personal papers, this book takes us on a fascinating journey from the actor's difficult childhood through years of struggle in music halls and vaudeville, a hit-and-miss career in Broadway musicals, and three decades of film stardom during Hollywood's golden age.
-
-
A HIDDEN GEM!
- By Eugenia on 07-23-21
By: Mark Glancy
-
American Titan
- Searching for John Wayne
- By: Marc Eliot
- Narrated by: Pete Larkin
- Length: 12 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As he did in his bestselling biographies of Jimmy Stewart and Clint Eastwood, acclaimed Hollywood biographer Marc Eliot digs deep beneath the myth in this revealing look at the most legendary Western film hero of all time; the man with the distinctive voice, walk, and demeanor who was an inspiration to many and a symbol of American masculinity, power, and patriotism.
-
-
Perspective of Duke
- By Mr W. on 07-11-18
By: Marc Eliot
-
Cary Grant
- A Brilliant Disguise
- By: Scott Eyman
- Narrated by: Angelo Di Loreto
- Length: 17 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Film historian and acclaimed New York Times best-selling biographer Scott Eyman has written the definitive, “captivating” (Associated Press) biography of Hollywood legend Cary Grant, one of the most accomplished — and beloved — actors of his generation, who remains as popular as ever today.
-
-
Disappointing...
- By Amazon Customer on 11-02-20
By: Scott Eyman
-
Hope
- Entertainer of the Century
- By: Richard Zoglin
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 17 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Born in 1903, and until his death in 2003, Bob Hope was the only entertainer to achieve top-rated success in every major mass-entertainment medium, from vaudeville to television and everything in between. He virtually invented modern stand-up comedy. His tours to entertain US troops and patriotic radio broadcasts, along with his all-American, brash-but-cowardly movie character, helped to ease the nation's jitters during the stressful days of World War II.
-
-
A thoroughly engaging biography
- By John on 12-29-14
By: Richard Zoglin
-
20th Century-Fox
- Darryl F. Zanuck and the Creation of the Modern Film Studio
- By: Scott Eyman
- Narrated by: Suehyla El-Attar
- Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
March 20, 2019 marked the end of an era - Disney took ownership of the movie empire that was Fox. For almost a century before that historic date, Twentieth Century-Fox was one of the preeminent producers of films, stars, and filmmakers. Its unique identity in the industry and place in movie history is unparalleled - and one of the greatest stories to come out of Hollywood.
-
-
Our media world is unlike anything we’ve ever known
- By Amy Evans on 12-04-21
By: Scott Eyman
-
The Searchers
- The Making of an American Legend
- By: Glenn Frankel
- Narrated by: John McLain
- Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1836 in East Texas, nine-year-old Cynthia Ann Parker was kidnapped by Comanches. She was raised by the tribe and eventually became the wife of a warrior. Twenty-four years after her capture, she was reclaimed by the U.S. cavalry and Texas Rangers and restored to her white family, to die in misery and obscurity. Cynthia Ann's story has been told and re-told over generations to become a foundational American tale.
-
-
Enjoyable, but not entirely cohesive
- By Buretto on 07-16-17
By: Glenn Frankel
-
Cary Grant: The Making of a Hollywood Legend
- By: Mark Glancy
- Narrated by: Daniel Henning
- Length: 18 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Cary Grant: The Making of a Hollywood Legend tells the incredible story of how a sad, neglected boy became the suave, glamorous star many know and idolize. The first biography to be based on Grant's own personal papers, this book takes us on a fascinating journey from the actor's difficult childhood through years of struggle in music halls and vaudeville, a hit-and-miss career in Broadway musicals, and three decades of film stardom during Hollywood's golden age.
-
-
A HIDDEN GEM!
- By Eugenia on 07-23-21
By: Mark Glancy
-
Johnny Carson
- By: Henry Bushkin
- Narrated by: Dick Hill
- Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From 1962 until 1992, Johnny Carson hosted The Tonight Show and permeated the American consciousness. In the ’70s and ’80s he was the country’s highest-paid entertainer and its most enigmatic. He was notoriously inscrutable, as mercurial (and sometimes cruel) off-camera as he was charming and hilarious onstage. During the apex of his reign, Carson’s longtime lawyer and best friend was Henry Bushkin, who now shows us Johnny Carson with a breathtaking clarity and depth that nobody else could.
-
-
Not for the uninitiated
- By Pi on 10-21-13
By: Henry Bushkin
-
Cary Grant
- A Biography
- By: Marc Eliot
- Narrated by: Marc Eliot
- Length: 15 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bringing up Baby. The Philadelphia Story. North by Northwest. An Affair to Remember. When Cary Grant passed away at age 82, fans from every generation mourned. Nearly 20 years later his star shines just as brightly from television and revival-house screens; his name remains synonymous with effortless charm.
-
-
Very Entertaining
- By David on 01-29-05
By: Marc Eliot
-
Hank and Jim
- The Fifty-Year Friendship of Henry Fonda and James Stewart
- By: Scott Eyman
- Narrated by: David Colacci
- Length: 12 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Henry Fonda and James Stewart were two of the biggest stars in Hollywood for 40 years. They became friends and then roommates as stage actors in New York, and when they began making films in Hollywood, they roomed together again. Between them they made such memorable films as The Grapes of Wrath, Mister Roberts, Twelve Angry Men, and On Golden Pond; and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Destry Rides Again, The Philadelphia Story, It's a Wonderful Life, Vertigo, and Rear Window.
-
-
Fascinating look into these two actors' lives
- By MPAMIN on 06-25-18
By: Scott Eyman
-
Andy and Don
- The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show
- By: Daniel de Visé
- Narrated by: George Newbern
- Length: 9 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Andy Griffith and Don Knotts met on Broadway in the 1950s. When Andy went to Hollywood to film a TV pilot about a small-town sheriff, Don called to ask if the sheriff could use a deputy. The comedic synergy between Sheriff Andy Taylor and Deputy Barney Fife ignited The Andy Griffith Show, elevating a folksy sitcom into a timeless study of human friendship, as potent off the screen as on.
-
-
A Moving Tribute
- By Brian Harms on 12-28-15
By: Daniel de Visé
-
American Rebel
- The Life of Clint Eastwood
- By: Marc Eliot
- Narrated by: Marc Eliot
- Length: 12 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the New York Times best-selling author Marc Eliot comes the definitive biography of one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful actors, producers, and directors in the history of American motion pictures. Marc Eliot examines the ever-exciting, often tumultuous arc of Eastwood's life and career, from his days as a disaffected college dropout, to his rise to fame as the archetypal loner, to his acceptance into the pantheon of the Academy as a multiple Oscar Award winner.
-
-
I learned the hard way.
- By Ty Pritchard on 07-23-10
By: Marc Eliot
-
You Must Remember This
- Life and Style in Hollywood's Golden Age
- By: Robert J. Wagner, Scott Eyman
- Narrated by: Robert J. Wagner
- Length: 6 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A New York Times best seller and a “charming tribute” (Kirkus) to Hollywood’s most beloved era film and television star Robert Wagner has been delighting audiences for more than 60 years, and his many fans flocked to bookstores when he began to record his memories on the page. In his second New York Times best seller, Wagner shares stories of Hollywood life behind the scenes from the 1930s through the 1950s. As poignant as it is revealing You Must Remember This is Wagner’s tender farewell to a legendary era.
-
-
For the true LA/Hollywood affectionado!
- By Sheila on 06-09-14
By: Robert J. Wagner, and others
-
My Autobiography
- By: Charles Chaplin, David Robinson - introduction
- Narrated by: Steve John Shepherd
- Length: 19 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Take an unforgettable journey with the man George Bernard Shaw called "the only genius to come out of the movie industry" as he moves from his impoverished South London childhood to the heights of Hollywood wealth and fame; from the McCarthy-era investigations to his founding of United Artists to his "reverse migration" back to Europe.
-
-
Finally Chaplin’s auto is available!
- By Ryan Baumbach on 04-28-22
By: Charles Chaplin, and others
-
Hank
- The Short Life and Long Country Road of Hank Williams
- By: Mark Ribowsky
- Narrated by: Tom Perkins
- Length: 16 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After he died in the backseat of a Cadillac at the age of 29, Hank Williams - a frail, flawed man who had become country music's first real star - instantly morphed into its first tragic martyr. Having hit the heights with simple songs of despair, depression, and tainted love, he would, with that outlaw swagger, become in death a template for the rock generation to follow.
-
-
The REAL story behind a true legend
- By Riverboy on 02-27-19
By: Mark Ribowsky
-
Robert Redford
- The Biography
- By: Michael Feeney Callan
- Narrated by: Mark Deakins
- Length: 17 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Among the most widely admired Hollywood stars of his generation, Redford has appeared onstage and on-screen, in front of and behind the camera, earning Academy, Golden Globe, and a multitude of other awards and nominations for acting, directing, and producing, and for his contributions to the arts.
-
-
disappointed
- By John on 02-29-12
-
The War That Made America
- A Short History of the French and Indian War
- By: Fred Anderson
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 7 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Apart from The Last of the Mohicans, most Americans know little of the French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years' War, and yet it remains one of the most fascinating periods in our history. In January 2006, PBS will air The War That Made America, a four-part documentary about this epic conflict. Fred Anderson, the award-winning and critically acclaimed historian, has written the official tie-in to this exciting television event.
-
-
A thorough and absorbing history
- By Michael on 03-15-10
By: Fred Anderson
-
Buster Keaton
- A Filmmaker's Life
- By: James Curtis
- Narrated by: David Pittu
- Length: 31 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It was James Agee who christened Buster Keaton “The Great Stone Face.” Keaton’s face, Agee wrote, "ranked almost with Lincoln’s as an early American archetype; it was haunting, handsome, almost beautiful, yet it was also irreducibly funny. Keaton was the only major comedian who kept sentiment almost entirely out of his work and . . . he brought pure physical comedy to its greatest heights.”
-
-
A well-researched, entertaining expose
- By Ed Pegg Jr on 02-17-22
By: James Curtis
-
Paul McCartney
- The Life
- By: Philip Norman
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 30 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Since the age of 21, Paul McCartney has lived one of the ultimate rock 'n' roll lives, played out on the most public of stages. Now Paul's story is told by rock music's foremost biographer, with McCartney's consent and access to family members and close friends who have never spoken on the record before.
-
-
Better than average McCartney bio
- By tru britty on 05-14-16
By: Philip Norman
Related to this topic
-
Pieces of My Heart
- A Life
- By: Robert J. Wagner
- Narrated by: Robert J. Wagner
- Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Robert J. Wagner has starred in more than 100 films and television series over the past 50 years. In this deeply personal story, he recalls his rise to stardom. He talks candidly about his relationships with some of the greatest stars of the 20th century, including Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Barbara Stanwyck, and, for the first time, he shares the details of his two marriages to Natalie Wood. Wagner also offers a fascinating look at Hollywood during the last half of the 20th century.
-
-
Wagner's life, told in a gracious manner
- By Chris on 12-18-08
By: Robert J. Wagner
-
Steve McQueen
- A Biography
- By: Marc Eliot
- Narrated by: Marc Eliot
- Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the top box-office draws of the 1960s and '70s with now-classics such as The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, The Thomas Crown Affair, and Bullit, Steve McQueen is renowned as one of the most exciting actors ever to come out of Hollywood. Now, in Steve McQueen: A Biography, best-selling author Marc Eliot gives unique insight into McQueen's life, from his films to his three marriages, many affairs, and struggles with addictions.
-
-
Snooze
- By Cill on 10-27-11
By: Marc Eliot
-
Robert Altman
- The Oral Biography
- By: Mitchell Zuckoff
- Narrated by: Robert Altman, Warren Beatty, Cher, and others
- Length: 18 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Robert Altman - visionary director, hard-partying hedonist, eccentric family man, Hollywood legend - comes roaring to life in this rollicking cinematic biography, told in a chorus of voices that can only be called Altmanesque.
-
-
Enthralling!
- By Wise & Careful Shopper on 10-17-10
By: Mitchell Zuckoff
-
The Garner Files
- A Memoir
- By: James Garner, Jon Winokur
- Narrated by: Michael Kramer
- Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After suffering physical abuse at the hands of his stepmother, James Garner left home at fourteen. He became Oklahoma's first draftee of the Korean War and was awarded with two Purple Hearts before returning to the United States and settling in Los Angeles to become an actor. Working alongside some of the most renowned celebrities, including Julie Andrews, Marlon Brando, and Clint Eastwood, Garner became a star in his own right, despite struggles with stage fright and depression.
-
-
What a disappointment.
- By Linda on 11-14-11
By: James Garner, and others
-
Pictures at a Revolution
- Five Movies and the Birth of the New Hollywood
- By: Mark Harris
- Narrated by: Lloyd James
- Length: 17 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Here is the epic human drama behind the making of the five movies nominated for Best Picture in 1967 - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, The Graduate, In the Heat of the Night, Doctor Dolittle, and Bonnie and Clyde - and through them, the larger story of the cultural revolution that transformed Hollywood and America forever.
-
-
Would It Be Too Much To Ask?
- By Casey Keller on 12-31-08
By: Mark Harris
-
Starmaker
- Life as a Hollywood Publicist with Farrah, The Rat Pack, & 600 More Stars Who Fired Me
- By: Jay Bernstein
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 12 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Revealingly candid, this Hollywood memoir is the story of Jay Bernstein, an entertainment industry fixture who helped launch and sustain the careers of many celebrities including Farrah Fawcett and Suzanne Somers. From his childhood in Oklahoma City and his first job in a Hollywood mail room to the ownership of his own public relations firm and his work as a television producer, Bernstein’s life is chronicled in his own words.
-
-
Very Entertaining
- By patrick on 09-27-15
By: Jay Bernstein
-
Pieces of My Heart
- A Life
- By: Robert J. Wagner
- Narrated by: Robert J. Wagner
- Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Robert J. Wagner has starred in more than 100 films and television series over the past 50 years. In this deeply personal story, he recalls his rise to stardom. He talks candidly about his relationships with some of the greatest stars of the 20th century, including Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Barbara Stanwyck, and, for the first time, he shares the details of his two marriages to Natalie Wood. Wagner also offers a fascinating look at Hollywood during the last half of the 20th century.
-
-
Wagner's life, told in a gracious manner
- By Chris on 12-18-08
By: Robert J. Wagner
-
Steve McQueen
- A Biography
- By: Marc Eliot
- Narrated by: Marc Eliot
- Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the top box-office draws of the 1960s and '70s with now-classics such as The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, The Thomas Crown Affair, and Bullit, Steve McQueen is renowned as one of the most exciting actors ever to come out of Hollywood. Now, in Steve McQueen: A Biography, best-selling author Marc Eliot gives unique insight into McQueen's life, from his films to his three marriages, many affairs, and struggles with addictions.
-
-
Snooze
- By Cill on 10-27-11
By: Marc Eliot
-
Robert Altman