| When Bill Royce met Cary in 1973, he was the 25 year old editor of Rona Barrett's Hollywood, a popular fan magazine, and the retired star was almost 70. These two men from different generations forged a friendship that would last until Cary's death. As the years went by they discovered they both had impoverished, brutal childhoods. With uncommon frankness, they challenged each other to strip away the layers each had built in order to survive. To draw out the truth from Bill about past abuse, Cary spared no detail about his own equally painful childhood.
Among glimpses into Cary's hidden world are: • details of Cary's English childhood including his alcoholic father, mentally disturbed mother, and the half brother he never knew • his fascinating early years in New York where Cole Porter, Noel Coward, and other celebrities helped groom an awkward young Englishman into a worldly matinee idol • the inside story of Cary's five marriages––including an unforgettable visit to an ailing Barbara Hutton––and his secret fears for his beloved daughter • the shocking, hilarious lowdown on the leading ladies Cary loved, and those he didn't • a day at Disneyland that ends with Cary being attacked by an amorous “Minnie Mouse” • a backstage episode with Elvis Presley in Las Vegas in which “The King” tells Cary about aliens | ||
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Plot & Themes Job/profession/poverty story Yes Story of entertainer? - TV Drama Actor Period of greatest activity? - 1950+ Subject of Biography Gender - Male Profession/status: Ethnicity - White Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 5 () Century: - 1960's-1970's Writing Style Book makes you feel? - encouraged - like laughing Pictures/Illustrations? - A ton 16-20 B&W How much dialogue in bio? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 26-50% of book |
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