Reach for the Top

The Turbulent Life of Laurence Harvey

By (author) Anne Sinai

Not available to order

Publication date:

09 February 2007

Length of book:

408 pages

Publisher

Scarecrow Press

ISBN-13: 9781461670766

The popular screen and stage star Laurence Harvey (1928-1973) is best remembered for his stellar performance in the film The Manchurian Candidate—a 20th century classic. Of his 50 films, Room At the Top not only brought sexual permissiveness to American and British screens and an Oscar nomination, but it also branded him a heartthrob sensation.

For all his fame and fortune, Harvey's short life was riddled with controversy, demonized by critics, and fraught with tragedy. In this revealing biography by Harvey's sister-in-law, readers are provided a close-up view of his career, his three marriages and his longtime sexual affair with one of his male producers. It also details his battle with cancer and his failure to acknowledge its seriousness.

Packed with personal anecdotes, more than twenty black and white photographs, and a filmography, Reach for the Top: The Turbulent Life of Laurence Harvey will fascinate film students, scholars, and fans of the actor.

Chapter 1 Acknowledgments
Chapter 2 1 A Lithuanian Childhood
Chapter 3 2 Growing Up White in South Africa
Chapter 4 3 The Youngest South African Soldier
Chapter 5 4 The Scorned Alien Learns His Craft in England
Chapter 6 5 Becoming Laurence Harvey: The First Films
Chapter 7 6 A Biting Tongue, Adoring Fans, and Trips to Paris
Chapter 8 7 Averting a Potential Scandal
Chapter 9 8 Enter Hermione Baddeley, "A Rather Splendid Old Girl"
Chapter 10 9 Enter James Woolf, and Fame, Fortune, and Friendship
Chapter 11 10 Shakespeare and Margaret Leighton
Chapter 12 11 Romeo and Juliet
Chapter 13 12 Coming Home to Mother—Briefly
Chapter 14 13 Marriage, but Not Togtherness
Chapter 15 14 Room at the Top Brings International Stardom
Chapter 16 15 The Alamo and Butterfield 8
Chapter 17 16 Scandal and Divorce
Chapter 18 17 The Manchurian Candidate
Chapter 19 18 "The Hottest Star in Town"
Chapter 20 19 The Death of James Woolf—Enter Paulene Stone
Chapter 21 20 Marriage to Joan
Chapter 22 21 Promises to Paulene, Married to Joan
Chapter 23 22 Aftermath
Chapter 24 Laurence Harvey's Films
Chapter 25 Bibliography
Chapter 26 Index
Chapter 27 About the Author

This is a paperbound reprint of a 2003 book. Popular screen and stage star Laurence Harvey (1928-1973) is best remembered for his performance in the film The Manchurian Candidate. This biography, written by Harvey's sister-in-law, details his career, his three marriages, and his homosexual relationship with one of his producers, and sheds light on his battle with cancer. B&w film stills and personal photos are included. Sinai was formerly editor of Middle East Review.