Simone Signoret by David, Catherine; Sampson, Sally (Translator) - 1995

Woodstock, New York: Overlook Press. 1995. Softcover. Brand New; Marfree, acidfree fresh illus prtg; not marked-in, clearance or discard. Usually mails within 12 hours. ; 8.7 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches; 224 pages; From Publishers Weekly Actress Simone Signoret (1921-1985) , an important figure in French cinema and the author of several books, was known for her roles as femme fatale in a series of films including Macadam (1946) , La Ronde (1950) and Casque D'Or (1951) , until she achieved international fame and an Academy Award in 1958 for her portrayal of a rejected woman in Room at the Top. David, a Parisian journalist, provides little new insight into her subject's career or into the commitment to political activism Signoret shared with her husband, singer and film star Yves Montand. Claiming that she was stonewalled by Montand and Signoret's inner circle, David relies on information already provided in Signoret's 1973 autobiography, Nostalgia Isn't What It Used to Be , and sprinkles her text with conjecture regarding Signoret's childhood, marriage and her reaction to Montand's much publicized affair with Marilyn Monroe. David's personal ruminations regarding her obsession with Signoret's life further flaw this biography. Photos. Copyright 1993 Reed. From Library Journal She made only a handful of English-language films, but an Academy Award for Room at the Top (1960) and a lifelong marriage to celebrated entertainer Yves Montand made Simone Signoret world famous. She was arguably the finest French cinema actress of her generation. To create this portrait, Nouvel Observateur writer David draws on her own and other interviews and the actress's autobiography, Nostalgia Isn't What It Used To Be (1976. O. P. ) . David cogently analyzes Signoret's support for left-wing causes, and, after the revelations about Stalinism, her championship of the individual against whatever state infringed on one's rights, whether socialist, fascist, or republican. Also examined is Signoret's novel Adieu Volodia , the writing of which helped her trace the Jewish side of her family. Interested readers should be well versed in 20th-century French politics, history, and film to appreciate this volume. For large film collections. - Kim Holston, American Inst. For Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters, Malvern, Pa. Copyright 1993 Reed. .