Reach for the Top

"Popular screen and stage star Laurence Harvey (1928-1973) is best remembered for his stellar performance in the film The Manchurian Candidate (1962) - a twentieth-century classic. Of his fifty films, Room at the Top (1959) not only brought sexual permissiveness to American and British screens and an Oscar nomination, but it also branded him a heartthrob sensation. This led the way to films with John Wayne and Elizabeth Taylor but, despite this period of great popularity, his career was in trouble by 1967, when his work became sporadic and remained so until his death from stomach cancer at age forty-five.". "For all his fame and fortune, Laurence Harvey's short life was riddled with controversy, demonized by critics, and fraught with tragedy. This gripping biography, as recounted by his sister-in-law Anne Sinai, takes the reader on an interesting journey of Harvey's life, offering a close-up view of his career, his three marriages, and his longtime homosexual affair with one of his producers. It also details his battle with cancer and his failure to acknowledge its seriousness.". "This first-ever personal account of one of film's most controversial stars clears up the many myths and misconceptions about his life, disclosing for the first time his real name. Packed with personal anecdotes, photographs, a filmography, and a detailed index, this book will fascinate film students, scholars, and enthusiasts."--BOOK JACKET.