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helena_marie's review against another edition
4.0
Holy moly! This woman is an icon and a survivor. What a life!
bargainsleuth's review against another edition
5.0
I was first introduced to Rita Moreno’s incredible work in 1987, when I was in 9th grade, when we were studying Romeo and Juliet in English class. My teacher had us act out the play, then she let us watch Franco Zefferelli’s Romeo and Juliet starring the luminous Olivia Hussey, and then she had us watch West Side Story, the modern retelling of the story. At the time, I fell in love with Natalie Wood as Maria, even though she wasn’t a Latina, but I was absolutely floored by Anita as played by Rita Moreno. Then my teacher mentioned that Moreno was also on The Electric Company, which was my jam after I outgrew Sesame Street.
I just got done with the PBS documentary Just A Girl Who Decided To Go For It! and found that Moreno is a master storyteller. I was entranced by her story. At one point, there was some B-roll of Moreno signing copies of this book, which I had no idea existed until then, so I automatically went to Amazon and found it and bought it; I just had to know more about Moreno and her life and struggles and successes.
As a privileged white girl growing up in the American Midwest, I was worried that I couldn’t relate to Moreno’s odyssey, from Puerto Rican immigrant to an elite EGOT winner (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony). But the important thing to remember is that Ms. Moreno is a performer of the highest caliber and tells her story with expert strokes. There wasn’t a moment I wasn’t interested in her story. She really knows how to weave a tale.
Did you know Rita Moreno was in Singin’ in the Rain? Or The King and I? Neither did I. Moreno laments about her years at MGM playing “the ethnic girl”: anytime the studio needed someone who wasn’t white, they used Moreno, often applying thick dark makeup over her entire body, expertly applying face and hair makeup so she could look like a variety of ethnic persuasions. She hated every minute of it, but she also knew she needed the work, so she stuck with it.
When Moreno was cast in West Side Story, she was in her glory. Yet, despite winning the Academy Award for best supporting actress for the role, she didn’t work in film for another seven years because she didn’t want to play the ethnic girl anymore.
I did not know that Rita was in a relationship for about a decade with Marlon Brando. I’ve never been a Brando fan, but I get that he was a great actor in his prime. But he was a crappy human being, and the fact that Moreno stuck with him so long was a bit surprising. She’s such a strong human being now, but she wasn’t at the time. She was always looking for approval and love and stuck with him, even when he cheated on her. I’m glad that she finally became independent enough to give Brando the boot.
This memoir is raw and unflinching, and that’s just part of what makes it great. The other part is that Moreno just comes across as a super human being that you wish you knew. She’s real, despite being a “Hollywood” star. I’ve read plenty of celebrity memoirs, and I can tell you, that’s rare. And if you haven’t had a chance, watch Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, if only to see her performance.
I just got done with the PBS documentary Just A Girl Who Decided To Go For It! and found that Moreno is a master storyteller. I was entranced by her story. At one point, there was some B-roll of Moreno signing copies of this book, which I had no idea existed until then, so I automatically went to Amazon and found it and bought it; I just had to know more about Moreno and her life and struggles and successes.
As a privileged white girl growing up in the American Midwest, I was worried that I couldn’t relate to Moreno’s odyssey, from Puerto Rican immigrant to an elite EGOT winner (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony). But the important thing to remember is that Ms. Moreno is a performer of the highest caliber and tells her story with expert strokes. There wasn’t a moment I wasn’t interested in her story. She really knows how to weave a tale.
Did you know Rita Moreno was in Singin’ in the Rain? Or The King and I? Neither did I. Moreno laments about her years at MGM playing “the ethnic girl”: anytime the studio needed someone who wasn’t white, they used Moreno, often applying thick dark makeup over her entire body, expertly applying face and hair makeup so she could look like a variety of ethnic persuasions. She hated every minute of it, but she also knew she needed the work, so she stuck with it.
When Moreno was cast in West Side Story, she was in her glory. Yet, despite winning the Academy Award for best supporting actress for the role, she didn’t work in film for another seven years because she didn’t want to play the ethnic girl anymore.
I did not know that Rita was in a relationship for about a decade with Marlon Brando. I’ve never been a Brando fan, but I get that he was a great actor in his prime. But he was a crappy human being, and the fact that Moreno stuck with him so long was a bit surprising. She’s such a strong human being now, but she wasn’t at the time. She was always looking for approval and love and stuck with him, even when he cheated on her. I’m glad that she finally became independent enough to give Brando the boot.
This memoir is raw and unflinching, and that’s just part of what makes it great. The other part is that Moreno just comes across as a super human being that you wish you knew. She’s real, despite being a “Hollywood” star. I’ve read plenty of celebrity memoirs, and I can tell you, that’s rare. And if you haven’t had a chance, watch Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, if only to see her performance.
vcastaneda12's review against another edition
5.0
I love old Hollywood. I enjoyed reading about Rita Moreno and all her struggles and achievements. It was really interesting to learn about the love affair she had with Marlon Brando that was news to me. They had such a passionate love affair, that even in the end of his life you could tell they were still connected.
bmpicc's review against another edition
2.0
As I finish this I am left feeling unsatisfied. Looking at the reviews I see I am in the minority in that respect. It started strong with her life in the rain forest, then the big boat to NY, living in the Heights. Then this incredible story turns into hours of namedropping and let's be honest, abuse. I know people are probably here to learn about her and Marlon Brando's relationship. Personally, I'd have rather heard about what she learned in therapy or lessons learned from her relationship with her own mother. Positive and/or negative, how did those lessons shape her into the mom she is with her daughter today?
I commend her for her honesty and I don't begrudge anyone who loved this book for what it was. I simply wish there had been a little something more.
I commend her for her honesty and I don't begrudge anyone who loved this book for what it was. I simply wish there had been a little something more.
mellabella's review against another edition
4.0
As someone who took dance for many years, Rita Moreno was an inspiration since I was a child. I'm younger. But my mom watching older movies like West Side Story introduced me to her. I found her story really interesting. I couldn't put this book down. She gives you gossip (which was fun to read). But not in a catty or petty way. I didn't know too much about her life. But it sounds like she really worked her way to where she is. She faced a lot of adversity. But comes out sounding grateful. Like she learned so much along the way.
honeygirly211's review against another edition
3.0
Lovely but deeply sad. Also suffers from the same fate most autobiographies do in that Moreno is not the best author. Overall glad I read it but probably won't revisit.
foiltheplot's review against another edition
5.0
Full Review at Foil the Plot
Most of us probably know of Rita Moreno from her role as Anita in West Side Story. Her trademark? Being the Latina "spitfire." She's the "Hispanic Elizabeth Taylor." If you know anything else about her, it's probably that she's the first Hispanic woman to win the Oscar. Or more notably, that she's one of the only performers to EVER receive an Oscar, a Grammy, a Tony and an Emmy. Well, now she can add best-selling author to that ever-growing list of talents. In her self-titled memoir, Moreno opens up about life on and off the screen, touching on family, love, loss and her tumultuous rise to fame. Quintessentially, she's the all-American dream.
Moreno's story is broken down into four parts, each one chronicling her evolution from humble little Rosita Dolores Alverio from Juncos into the sizzling songstress/screen siren, Rita Moreno. It's a tumultuous journey of insecurity, doubt, passion and self-discovery told in the most raw and honest of ways. In it, she describes the lush landscape of her native Puerto Rico, her struggle to break on to the Hollywood scene and her harrowing and debilitating relationship with bad boy, Marlon Brando. On the surface, Moreno's life seems so perfect but underneath it all it's one built atop broken promises --- by her mother and father, by Hollywood and by many lovers --- the strength she pulls from all these experiences though, that's what makes this book such an incredible one to read. Her story is as captivating as she herself is on screen.
You can really get a feel for Moreno's personality solely by looking at the way she tells her story --- it's exotic, wild, imaginative, vivid and rich with detail. As a reader, I became keenly aware of all of my senses and was atune to the world in an entirely new way. It's particularly evident in the first part where she relives her childhood. Moreno speaks of it as though she's still that child. You view the world through her young eyes and get to experience that sense of wonder and magic and blissful unawareness that comes with being an innocent, little kid. This book is packed with insight as Rita recounts her rise to fame and her experiences on the silver screen. I loved how she reviews her past performances in a more objective way. It's interesting to see what she's most critical about and what of those early performances she can really appreciate. Also, the black/white photographs don't hurt either!
Rita goes into detail on how much the film industry has changed since the 50's and 60's. Back then, stereotyping was common practice and she was viewed as the "universal ethnic girl." She's worked hard to break way from the trade-marked Latina "spit-fire" image that was portrayed of her, instead vying for roles that cast her as a genuine, realistic person. I was really excited to read about her time on the West Side Story set, but much to my dismay, this chapter of her life is somewhat glossed over. What I did love was how Moreno touches on fond and not-so-fond memories of the more well-known contemporaries of her time (Gene Kelly, Joan Crawford, Natalie Wood, Elvis --- to name a few) which acts as a tribute to them, in a way. Ultimately though, this book isn't about Hollywood, it's about her and appropriately so. Each intricate detail and every little story chronicles some important facet of her amazing life and incredible journey.
One of the most evident things she talks about are the hardships she's endured. The issues in her working life are nothing compared to the ones she endures in her love life though. Her tumultuous relationship with Marlon Brando coupled with constant abuse led her to attempt suicide, but it's her inner strength and determination that pulls her through it. And this is why she's so admirable. She's got the fortitude and gusto to walk away having learned something. Moreno's journey is a tragic one, but unlike many of the Hollywood greats, hers has a happier ending than the Judy Garland's and Mario Lanza's of her day. Rita is a woman who did what she had to do to survive and become successful. She's a woman who never loses sight of the end goal. She is admirable and brave. In the end, Moreno is shaped less by the characters she played and more by the experiences behind them.
Moreno is a multi-faceted woman --- she's strong, passionate, vivacious, demure and incredibly self-concious. Despite wearing a tough and sexy visage, like many of her contemporaries, she's more than just another pretty face. This book is her personal narrative on how she conqured the world and, if anything, it's one of the most authentic books I've ever read. She's had quite the journey and even though it wasn't alwasy the easiest, it was certainly an incredible one.
Most of us probably know of Rita Moreno from her role as Anita in West Side Story. Her trademark? Being the Latina "spitfire." She's the "Hispanic Elizabeth Taylor." If you know anything else about her, it's probably that she's the first Hispanic woman to win the Oscar. Or more notably, that she's one of the only performers to EVER receive an Oscar, a Grammy, a Tony and an Emmy. Well, now she can add best-selling author to that ever-growing list of talents. In her self-titled memoir, Moreno opens up about life on and off the screen, touching on family, love, loss and her tumultuous rise to fame. Quintessentially, she's the all-American dream.
Moreno's story is broken down into four parts, each one chronicling her evolution from humble little Rosita Dolores Alverio from Juncos into the sizzling songstress/screen siren, Rita Moreno. It's a tumultuous journey of insecurity, doubt, passion and self-discovery told in the most raw and honest of ways. In it, she describes the lush landscape of her native Puerto Rico, her struggle to break on to the Hollywood scene and her harrowing and debilitating relationship with bad boy, Marlon Brando. On the surface, Moreno's life seems so perfect but underneath it all it's one built atop broken promises --- by her mother and father, by Hollywood and by many lovers --- the strength she pulls from all these experiences though, that's what makes this book such an incredible one to read. Her story is as captivating as she herself is on screen.
You can really get a feel for Moreno's personality solely by looking at the way she tells her story --- it's exotic, wild, imaginative, vivid and rich with detail. As a reader, I became keenly aware of all of my senses and was atune to the world in an entirely new way. It's particularly evident in the first part where she relives her childhood. Moreno speaks of it as though she's still that child. You view the world through her young eyes and get to experience that sense of wonder and magic and blissful unawareness that comes with being an innocent, little kid. This book is packed with insight as Rita recounts her rise to fame and her experiences on the silver screen. I loved how she reviews her past performances in a more objective way. It's interesting to see what she's most critical about and what of those early performances she can really appreciate. Also, the black/white photographs don't hurt either!
Rita goes into detail on how much the film industry has changed since the 50's and 60's. Back then, stereotyping was common practice and she was viewed as the "universal ethnic girl." She's worked hard to break way from the trade-marked Latina "spit-fire" image that was portrayed of her, instead vying for roles that cast her as a genuine, realistic person. I was really excited to read about her time on the West Side Story set, but much to my dismay, this chapter of her life is somewhat glossed over. What I did love was how Moreno touches on fond and not-so-fond memories of the more well-known contemporaries of her time (Gene Kelly, Joan Crawford, Natalie Wood, Elvis --- to name a few) which acts as a tribute to them, in a way. Ultimately though, this book isn't about Hollywood, it's about her and appropriately so. Each intricate detail and every little story chronicles some important facet of her amazing life and incredible journey.
One of the most evident things she talks about are the hardships she's endured. The issues in her working life are nothing compared to the ones she endures in her love life though. Her tumultuous relationship with Marlon Brando coupled with constant abuse led her to attempt suicide, but it's her inner strength and determination that pulls her through it. And this is why she's so admirable. She's got the fortitude and gusto to walk away having learned something. Moreno's journey is a tragic one, but unlike many of the Hollywood greats, hers has a happier ending than the Judy Garland's and Mario Lanza's of her day. Rita is a woman who did what she had to do to survive and become successful. She's a woman who never loses sight of the end goal. She is admirable and brave. In the end, Moreno is shaped less by the characters she played and more by the experiences behind them.
Moreno is a multi-faceted woman --- she's strong, passionate, vivacious, demure and incredibly self-concious. Despite wearing a tough and sexy visage, like many of her contemporaries, she's more than just another pretty face. This book is her personal narrative on how she conqured the world and, if anything, it's one of the most authentic books I've ever read. She's had quite the journey and even though it wasn't alwasy the easiest, it was certainly an incredible one.
jcpdiesel21's review against another edition
4.0
A terrific deep dive into the life of an absolute icon. After seeing and greatly enjoying Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It last year, I simply had to know more about Moreno, and this book fit the bill perfectly. Moreno covers everything in great detail from her move to the United States and childhood to her position in present day as as a multitalented entertainer and EGOT recipient. I wish that this book had been published more recently than 2012 to include her time and experiences on One Day at a Time and especially the West Side Story remake, but otherwise I found this to be excellent and the material about her complicated relationship with Marlon Brando is incredibly fascinating.
mthornburg13's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.5