The Brief, Madcap Life of Kay Kendall - Hardcover

Golden, Eve

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0813122511 ISBN 13: 9780813122519

Publisher: University Press of Kentucky, 2002

Synopsis

Comedic film actress Kay Kendall, born to a theatrical family in Northern England, came of age in London during the Blitz. After starring in Britain's biggest cinematic disaster, she found stardom in 1953 with her brilliant performance in the low-budget film, Genevieve. She scored success after success with her light comic style in movies such as Doctor in the House, The Reluctant Debutante, and the Gene Kelly musical Les Girls. Kendall's private life was even more colorful than the plots of her films as she embarked on a series of affairs with minor royalty, costars, directors, producers, and married men. In 1954 she fell in love with her married Constant Husband costar Rex Harrison and accompanied him to New York, where he was starring on Broadway in My Fair Lady. It was there that Kendall was diagnosed with myelocytic leukemia. Her life took a romantic and tragic turn as Harrison divorced his wife and married Kendall. He agreed with their doctor that she was never to know of her diagnosis, and for the next two years the couple lived a hectic, glamorous life together as Kendall's health failed. She died in London at the age of 32, shortly after completing the filming of Once More with Feeling!, her husband by her side. The Brief, Madcap Life of Kay Kendall was written with the cooperation of Kendall's sister Kim and includes interviews with many of her costars, relatives and friends. A complete filmography and numerous rare photographs complete this first-ever biography of Britain's most glamorous comic star. Eve Golden is the author of several biographies of actresses, Anna Held and the Birth of Ziegfeld's Broadway, as well as a collection of essays on silent film stars.

About this title

About the Author:

Eve Golden is the author of five theater and film biographies, including Anna Held and the Birth of Ziegfeld's Broadway; The Brief, Madcap Life of Kay Kendall; and Vernon and Irene Castle's Ragtime Revolution.

From Library Journal:

British starlet Kay Kendall started in show business at the age of 11. Unfortunately, most of her films were box-office flops that received mixed reviews about her performance, a reality that did not deter Kendall from pursuing her desire to become a star. Kendall was likable, easily attracting friends and admirers; she had a longtime relationship with Charlie Chaplain's son Sydney and dated some minor royalty. Her scandalous affair and eventual marriage to Rex Harrison helped boost Kay's struggling career, but her untimely death from leukemia ended her dreams of stardom. Golden, author of biographies on Jean Harlow and Theda Bara, has joined with Kendall's sister to write the first biography of this beautiful, ambitious woman. Golden's writing style is concise and evenly paced, and she uses firsthand information from the actress's family and friends. Although American audiences may not be familiar with Kendall, this is an enjoyable read. Purchase where there is an interest in show-business biographies. Rosalind Dayen, Broward Cty. South Regional Lib., Pembroke Pines, FL
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: University Press of Kentucky
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0813122511
• ISBN 13: 9780813122519
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 208