The Bruce Willis story,hummmmmm (Bruce Willis: The Unauthorised Biography - John Parker)

Member Name:

Product:	Bruce Willis: The Unauthorised Biography - John Parker
Date:	26/05/01 (26 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Not many, So so

Disadvantages: Bit boring in parts, Not a llot to him

I have to admit that my reading and biography taste are pretty lightweight these days. I do love films and the movie biz so I tend to read up on known stars, with little known stories. Bruce Willis is probably big news in America, but not to little old me here in the UK.

Ok I got it out from a library because the other nine books I wanted weren’t available,but it still had just enough in it to keep me mildly interested and keen.I have traveled a bit in the States and met the guy briefly opening a Planet Hollywood in Dallas ,Texas.

Hers a brief backbone for you to get you interested in a very easy 250 page big printer.
Born Walter Willis in the roughest part of blue collar, Penns Grove New Jersey, not far from where the Deer Hunter was filmed up in the rugged hills of Delaware, he was dragged up and got into trouble at school, drank some beer and kissed some girls.

He was destined to follow his family and friends into the industrial grind as he inherited his friend’s job in the local factory after a nasty industrial accident. Not the most encouraging career move.

But Bruce as he now renamed himself and had no intention of going down the sh****r like his dad and mates set of for the big wide world to make his fortune. Three weeks later he returned broke and if it wasn’t for one of Americas more astute teachers (some say), he would still be there now (see what I mean).

Although the teen Willis had a stutter, one of his tutors recommended a scholarship to an arty college in Montclair where he had a tiny chance of escaping his grim birthright.
He took the chance and headed out of State to try out in the performing arts. Amazingly he took to it and started to get jobs in local theatres and shows. But Bruce was eyeing the big picture and was back on the road seeking the stars.

Bruce pitched up in New York and quickly got bar work and rat infested apartment. Friends remember him as a roller ska
ting poser who chatted up girls instead of serving drinks. He then dug into the local showbiz scene and picked up his first TV parts.
Being an arrogant poser and a ladies man he managed to secure his biggest breaks by sleeping with women in the business to get the breaks.
His first film was First Deadly followed by The Verdict with Paul Newman, although the parts were smaller than his wedding tackle.
But like most of his early efforts,as quickly as he got the girls on the cutting floor,his parts to ended there with his dreams.

His big break came when he was introduced to the producer of Moonlighting starring the sexy Sybil Shepherd by the women he was knobbing, Sherry Rivera.This was a persistent and affective tactic in Willis career which some say has got him to where he is now.
His detractors in the business said he was a man off” modest training and a slender CV” in acting circles.

TV commercials and a mammoth run on the show made him very marketable as the show got big ratings on prime time TV.But Bruno, as is close friends called him was ready for the big time in the movies. He nearly got a chunky part in Sinatra’s last film.
But luck would have it as Blind Date the movie came along and made Willis serious box office after his joint success in Moonlighting.But the popular cult show came to an end as the two-abrasive egos clashed as they out grew the partnership.

Die-Hard took Willis through the stratosphere and the rest is history, some of it grim in the movie Striking Force and of course the dire Hudson Hawk.
Drink, drugs and wild parties hit the news over the pond as the notorious star battled to keep up with his addictions and exhibitionism.

The book is as much about his beautiful wife Demi and how she blossomed from showy trailer park trash to the world’s most bankable female star. She like the way Willis had used others, rose to the top on the back of his fame. New tits
and surgery she over took the up and down star in grosses and stature.

Today the celebrity couple are bigger expanding their enormous egos bye buying towns in the sticks and picking up minimal fees to work with cool directors. Pulp Fiction helped to get back some credibility for a star had picked some real lame ducks.
The Planet Hollywood chain goes from strength to strength as the two again disappear into the celluloid blackness. Willis last movies like Breakfast for Champions and Life have again knocked back his good work from The Sixth Sense and the one on the train crash which I cant remember.

Its an ok read for film buffs and time to burn alike, although I cant say it will appeal to most. John Parker is a hardcore biography writer and his nose up Mr showbiz elephant’s ass.
Plenty of gossip and info about one of Hollywood’s glamorous and richest couples as well as the usual little stories and suprises.I deal for the film and media studies student,but little else im afraid.

Summary: