Julie Andrews: A Bio-Bibliography (Bio-Bibliographies in the Performing Arts)
by Les Spindle
Category: Language Arts & Disciplines

Spindle's reference chronicles the professional career of one of the world's most loved performers, Julie Andrews. An all-in-one resource, the volume presents a comprehensive and accurate profile of the people, projects, artistic highs and lows, and general influences that propelled the actress into the public eye beginning in the late 1950s. Spindle examines each of her 16 films and provides a detailed commentary on factors influencing her short reign as a box office superstar in the mid-1960s and the fact that she has retained her fame and celebrity status long after ceasing to be a Hollywood superstar. a very thorough as well as attractive record of her career in films, television, stage, and records. . . . The book will be a `must' for every Andrews fan, and it is an excellent reference source for its subject. Videomania For fans of Julie Andrews as well as students of the performing arts, Spindle's reference chronicles the professional career of one of the world's most loved performers. No other book provides such a wealth of detail on the career achievements of Julie Andrews or delineates all her professional activities so thoroughly. A complete, all-in-one resource, the volume presents a comprehensive and accurate profile of the people, projects, artistic highs and lows, and general influences that propelled the actress into the public eye beginning in the late 1950s. Starting with Andrews' first film, Mary Poppins, Spindle examines each of her 16 films including such classics as Sound of Music, Hawaii, Victor/Victoria, and ending with her latest film, Duet for One. He provides a detailed commentary on factors influencing her short reign as a box office superstar in the mid-1960s, for Andrews is an anomaly in that she has retained her fame and admired celebrity status long after ceasing to be a Hollywood superstar. Besides film work, all other aspects of Andrews' career (theatre, television, personal appearances, concerts, recordings, and even her fiction for children) are considered. An episode-by-episode summary in the Television Appearances chapter is the only published survey of the entire 1972-1973 ABC-TV variety series, The Julie Andrews Hour. In his preface, Spindle offers a lively discussion of the eclectic and highly individual career of a perennial trooper and star whose career he likens to a roller coaster. This is followed by a biography and chronology which summarizes events and landmarks in Andrews' life. The next four chapters scrutinize major professional achievements in-depth, including Filmography, Stage and Television Appearances, and Discography. All entries in the four sections correspond to a particular career achievement, and consecutive numbering facilitates both subject index use and cross referencing within chapters. Over 150 reference sources, including books, and magazine and news articles are listed in the comprehensive bibliography. The three appendices review awards and nominations, identify roles considered but not played, and describe the two children's books written by the actress. A readable and informative reference work for students and scholars of the performing arts and popular culture, as well as for fans of movie musicals, this volume should also find a place on the shelves of most libraries.