Maureen O'Hara Pens New Autobiography

LOS ANGELES - In 1939, an Irish miss of 18 landed in Hollywood not knowing what to expect. Her education came swiftly as she was thrust into stardom with her first movie and became a pawn in the big-studio system.

With customary frankness, Maureen O'Hara recounts her life story in "'Tis Herself," written with John Nicoletti. She tells it all: her love-hate relationship with mentor John Ford ; her devotion — strictly platonic — to co-star John Wayne; the misbehavior of Errol Flynn; the rudeness of Rex Harrison; two failed marriages and a happy marriage that ended in tragedy; a phony scandal that helped put Confidential magazine out of business.

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Originally posted by Kevin@Apr 22 2004, 07:11 PM
Maureen O'Hara Pens New Autobiography

LOS ANGELES - In 1939, an Irish miss of 18 landed in Hollywood not knowing what to expect. Her education came swiftly as she was thrust into stardom with her first movie and became a pawn in the big-studio system.

With customary frankness, Maureen O'Hara recounts her life story in "'Tis Herself," written with John Nicoletti. She tells it all: her love-hate relationship with mentor John Ford ; her devotion — strictly platonic — to co-star John Wayne; the misbehavior of Errol Flynn; the rudeness of Rex Harrison; two failed marriages and a happy marriage that ended in tragedy; a phony scandal that helped put Confidential magazine out of business.

Read more at JWayne.com >> ([Only registered and activated users can see links])


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I was disappointed in Herself's book. For a lady who projects such a strong screen image, she sure had a helluva time telling certain male rats who turned up in her life "No".

I was also rather put off by some of the x-rated language she used. Though a military retiree and therefore no stranger to dirty language, I sure hate to hear such words out of the mouths of women, even in today's world of radical feminism.

Unfortunately, I've always had a tendency to put females on a pedestal (my grandpa's chivalrous influence) and when said females cuss like sailors, I'm always greatly shocked and disillusioned.

Hi.

I also read the book recently and thought it was a missed opportunity. I think that I agree with stumpy that it could have been longer and better, but gradually in various books the true character of John Ford is emerging.



Regards

Arthur

Originally posted by arthurarnell@Apr 24 2004, 09:29 AM
in various book the true character of John Ford is emerging.




Not a very flattering picture, is it? He was a helluva film director but his personality stunk.

You pick up the same sense about John Ford when you read John Wayne: American. It seems like he could really be a jerk. When Wayne was directing his The Alamo, Ford kept showing up on the set and being a real idiot, making it hard for Wayne to be polite to his mentor without telling him to get lost.

GSP

After reading the whole article about Maureen O'Hara on jwayne.com, by Bob Thomas of the Associated Press, there were a few things I found interesting -

:) Her third husband was an avid flyer and had his own small airline business in the Caribbean

:) She is now retired in Scottsdale, Arizona (but spends summers in Ireland)

:) She has fond memories and warm feelings for the Duke

:) She might be quite an asset in trying to build up a John Wayne museum

Hint, hint, hint . . . :rolleyes:

For those who may have missed it in previous posts on this board, here's a link to a fascinating web site about Maureen O'Hara (it's done by a member of our board, although she did the site long before she came here to join us - June Parker Beck, aka Juneface) - Maureen O'Hara Features Page ([Only registered and activated users can see links]).


Chester :newyear:

Chester ; I think I get the Hint, hint, hint! I just got back from Scottsdale over the Weekend for my 55 year, High School reunion at the old "Western Movie Town Rawhide" that was used in many Westerns for the town scenes and is just a few miles north of Scottsdale and is now open to the public. Chester If some of you people know how to get in touch with her let me know and I will fly down and talk to her about the "Duke Museum". She would be the one to talk to. If none of you know how to get ahold of her, I know some old time movie people that live down in Scottsdale and I will ask around. Chilibill :cowboy:

Back to the book, I am almost half way thru it and I will tell you this, it is a very good read. I have no problem with the language used like Stumpy had. Too me, the language is describing the times and if that is what was said I would rather have it straight then to sugar coat it at times.

And another note about the book, that 2nd husband of hers, Will Price, was quite the "jerk"(I did sugar coat that statement).

Originally posted by SXViper@Apr 26 2004, 10:46 AM
that 2nd husband of hers, Will Price, was quite the "jerk"(I did sugar coat that statement).


I wholeheartedly agree that Price was a sorry SOB. :lol: But why did she let him do her the way he did for ten long years. Since she was the one making the household a living, she should have booted his butt out the door ASAP.

The first one wasn't much better, IMO.

I just found a copy of this $25 book on eBay, got it for $9.95 and received it today. It is in mint condition, the person must never have read it. I'll assure you, that won't be the case with this owner...

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I read this book about a year ago, and agree with Stumpy in the fact about how she let men treat her in her private life. I was a bit shocked.

And the bomb she let drop about catching Ford trying out for the other team (sexually :wink_smile: ) was a shocker for me. I had never read that befor. Plus the way he almost seemed to be a stalker in her life at times was rather scary. A very complicated man to understand. It always seems that the geniuses are always the torchered ones.

I enjoyed the book, but I think it could have been alot better.

Mark

WOW... my wife loves those kinds of books. She has to read it and then tell me about what she reads. I can't read much anymore so I need someone to do it for me. Ford batting both ways... didn't know that but your right about geniuses and their eccentricities. I wonder who helped her write it, that may show why it wasn't as good. I know i's an autobiography but publishers can be buttheads and make you change things to make them juicy. Can't wait to hear the whole thing.

When I went to ebay, at first I couldn't find the book, so I went to Amazon, and ended up buying a used hardcover copy for $7.50, including shipping. I went back to ebay again, and found one on auction for a current bid of $4 plus shipping, and down at the bottom of the page, there was a link to a half.com for $1.14 for an "Acceptable Item" hardcover copy (plus shipping, of course). Here's that link -

[Only registered and activated users can see links] DGT:HALF:TOPRESULTS

So it's available out there, pretty reasonably priced.

Chester :newyear: