The Wall of Life

November 1, 2024
A worldly life journey candidly reflected in photos and captions. Throughout her illustrious career, from her 1950s star-making Broadway debut as an understudy inPajama Game to leading roles in acclaimed films likeSome Came Running andThe Apartment, Shirley MacLaine has diligently chronicled her life's journey. Her bestselling memoirs, beginning withDon't Fall Off the Mountain (1970) and includingOut on a Limb (1983), have documented her professional ascent and approach to living a fully independent, well-traveled life as a modern woman. Now in her 90s, MacLaine revisits her experiences through a collection of personal photographs and extended captions, serving as a visual narrative thread. In mostly laudatory terms, her memoir showcases MacLaine's connections with luminaries from various spheres of her personal, political, spiritual, and show business life. Such reflections include her long, unconventional marriage to businessman Steve Parker, her Rat Pack associations (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr.), and her encounters with U.S. presidents and controversial political figures like Nikita Khrushchev and Fidel Castro. Of the latter, she notes, "Castro and I had two days together. He was open, funny, and curious, especially about the Kennedys, and did not come on to me as Barbara Walters suggested he would." On the flip side, MacLaine occasionally dishes a few subtle asides: Jerry Lewis was "overpowering and controlling, and I didn't think he was funny," director Herbert Ross "was an arrogant guy, very full of himself," and of herTerms of Endearment co-star she simply comments, "I did not enjoy Debra Winger." MacLaine's images and captions cumulatively reflect an enviable, well-lived existence, offering glimpses into her world travels, family, friends, and various love affairs. An engaging but lightly written exploration, the scant narrative may appeal primarily to her devoted fans. A glossy retrospective of MacLaine's remarkable life and career, visually captivating yet offering more breadth than depth.

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Starred review from October 18, 2024

This unique memoir captures the essence of legendary actress/dancer/author MacLaine in a blend of eloquent words and dozens of well-chosen images. There are vintage childhood snapshots with parents, brother Warren Beatty, and early dance teachers, as well as those with friends, husband, and daughter Sachi. Numerous selections trace her award-winning and eclectic career from Broadway to Hollywood and beyond--including on the set of The Apartment with Billy Wilder and Jack Lemmon, onstage in her one-woman show If They Could See Me Now, and in character on an episode of Only Murders in the Building. Most of the photos are of candid moments with scores of well-known names such as Hitchcock, Elizabeth Taylor, Sinatra, and Baryshnikov. Individuals representing her many non-theatrical pursuits abound--from past presidents and local politicians to Stephen Hawking and the Dalai Lama. An avid traveler and adventurer, MacLaine is shown walking Spain's 500-mile Camino de Santiago alone when she turned 60. Each image radiates joy, energy, and a more profound sense of MacLaine's multifaceted persona. Her accompanying narratives are interspersed throughout--charming and informative--yet uncompromisingly honest. VERDICT A must for MacLaine's fans and entertainment buffs.--Carol J. Binkowski

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