THE WIND AT MY BACK: The Life and Times of Pat O'Brien by Himself

by Pat O'Brien ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 16, 1964

Pat O'Brien is the actor whose movies roles of the '30's and '40's left an untold number of fans with the idea that he really was a priest with a football team. His autobiography is long on sentiment and short on insight or new anecdote. He looks like a nice guy and nothing in his book contradicts the impression. As the title indicates, his rise from a working class Milwaukee, Wisconsin background was not always easy but, as he tells it, free from tragic trauma. He joined Howard Hugnes' movie production of Front Page as Hildy Johnson in 1931. This role and that Kaute Rookne he considers his best roles. His memories of Hollywood during his heyday are limited to personal anecdotes and brief encounters with fellow stars; he was a convivial man, but a family man, a few removes from the sources of scandal. Hollywood ran out of roles in the '50's and, bewildered but game, he took to the nightclub and straw hat circuit. This is not in the same league as Chaplin's autobiography, but everywhere that there are still Irish-Americans (that must take in everywhere) Pat O'Brien's book will find a warm, admiring readership.

Pub Date: Oct. 16, 1964

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1964

Categories: NONFICTION