Search - :: Accidentally on Purpose

Funny and Humerous

Shakira Graham | 12/22/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I found Michael York's book to be funny and very humerous.He injects his English wit into his life story w/is a joy to read.He starts w/his birth and goes on form there.It is a funny documentation of his life,rise in the theater and everything in between.This book is a must for Michael York Fans."

A Time Life Among the Heathens.

Betty Burks | Knoxville, TN | 09/27/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"M. Y.'s experience with Shakespearean acting goes back to Bassanio in 'Merchant of Venice' in grammar school. His formal training took place with the Youth Theatre at Oxford. He appeared in 'Twelfth Night' while a student at Oxford Univesity.



He lived as extraordinary characters in an extraordinary world. Acting was in his blood early on as he'd posed in an Indian outfit, and photo of him mugging it with his swim trunks falling off. His amateru acting jobs rounded him into a professional actor who could play many diverse parts. He was a classically trained performer.



Other Shakespeare performances include appearing in the movie, 'The Taming of the Shrew,' with Richard Burton, the 1967 movie, 'Romeo and Juliet,' and 'Hamlet' in 1970. Zach wrote his Master's dissertation on the religious aspects of 'Hamlet' and used the word 'tainted' multiple times.



He appeared in Tennnessee Williams play, 'Out Cry;' he considered that prodigious playwright as a friend, as he did Cary Grant. On Broadway he was in 'Bent' in 1980 and played at the Palace with Jeanne Moreau. In 1981, he was Robinson Crusoe in 'Vendredi.' In Santa Fe, he was Cyrano de Bergerac in 1981.



His movies include 'The Three Musketeers' with Oliver Reed, 'The Four Musketeers' with Raquel Welch, 'The Master of Ballantrae' with Sir John Gielgud, 'The Secret of the Sahara,' with Andie McDowell, and 'The Long Shadow,' with Liv Ullmann. "My work is also my collection -- a portraait gallery of characters ... some modeled with truth and detail."



The photo sections speak louder than words. He married photographer Pat McCallum from Jamaica, who snapped a lot of the pictures in this book. He called himself "a traveling player" a la Shakespeare's time. Some big names such as William Holden, Peter O'Toole, Jennifer Jones, Michael Caine, Betty Pinchard, Robert E. Lee, Anthony Hopkins and Betty (Lauren) Bacall to whit your interest in their connections. It was a pleasure."