Achieving universal appeal in Hollywood is no easy thing, but Diane Keaton did just that. Amidst the seeming-perfection of innumerable Hollywood stars, hers is a beacon of unconventional beauty that men are drawn to and women, remarkably, seem not
Achieving universal appeal in Hollywood is no easy thing, but Diane Keaton did just that. Amidst the seeming-perfection of innumerable Hollywood stars, hers is a beacon of unconventional beauty that men are drawn to and women, remarkably, seem not to envy.
Her charm is as clear today as in those first Godfather performances and in 2011 it was our beloved Bret Easton Ellis who went all a-twitter claiming that she was his “favorite American modern screen actress ever”. Yet according to her recent autobiography Then Again, Keaton attributes much of this popularity to the teachings of her mother. Punctuating her own memoirs with those of the late Dorothy Hall, she conveys a sense of guilt towards the disparity that existed between them as a result of her own meteoric rise to fame.
Talk of this book must surely begin by congratulating Fourth Estate on creating a thing of great, physical beauty: the monochrome fly-sleeve and Dorothy’s sepia collages transform the book into a work of art, whilst photographic ornaments document Keaton’s enviable list of love-interests. The big three: Allen, Beatty and Pacino. After the poignant accounts of her mother, it is recollections of these landmark romances that set Then Again apart: meals with Woody at the Frankie and Johnny steakhouse and treading the red carpet with Warren in high-heels and socks. On top of which, and unlike many celeb autobiographies, the kooky, Annie-Hall delivery prevents it from ever being self-aggrandising or excessively sentimental: "I met Al Pacino at O’Neal’s bar near Lincoln Centre. He had been named the Most Promising New Broadway Star… We were told to get to know each other before we auditioned for The Godfather. I was nervous. The first thing I noticed about Al was his nose. It was long like a cucumber."
"The first thing I noticed about Al Pacino was his nose. It was long like a cucumber."
Then proceeds an in-depth account of how all events – professional, romantic and otherwise – culminated in Keaton’s eventual discovery of contentment and the joys of parenthood. Along the way we encounter eating disorders, family crises and repeated heartache, but nothing reaches us quite so forcibly as her father’s death and the discovery of her mother’s journals. Woven into the fabric of a happy home-life, Dorothy Hall felt frustration towards her unrealised ambitions and expressed it with more conviction than her daughter had ever thought possible. Yet by relaying her own achievements in the context of Dorothy’s sacrifices, Keaton goes some way to rectifying the differences between them and fulfilling many of her mother’s dreams.
Then Again: Another chance to showcase the talents of Dorothy Hall and AnOther must-read for fans of this all-time, Hollywood Great.
Here’s three more you’ll like if you like this one:
Just Kids by Patti Smith – Patti and Robert Mapplethorpe’s tale of love and friendship does not quite rival Keaton’s memoir. Nevertheless, a well-written account, achieving moments of greatness that has captured the imagination of many.
Bossypants by Tina Fey – Fey didn’t just resuscitate the cult of the kook, but brought it to the fore of popular culture. The 30 Rock star’s first, full literary offering is a total triumph that will keep sharp-witted readers laughing for sure.
Mere Anarchy by Woody Allen – The most recent work from the best of Keaton’s exes. Witty observations and comic timing are a given, but the Yeatsian title is what really merits praise here.
Then Again is published by Fourth Estate and is available from all major bookshops and retailers.
