Kiss Me Like a Stranger: My Search for Love and Art

by Gene Wilder

Overview

In this personal book from the star of many beloved and classic film comedies -- from The Producers to Young Frankenstein, Blazing saddles to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory -- Gene Wilder writes about a side of his life the public hasn't seen on the screen. Kiss Me Like a Stranger is not an autobiography in the usual sense of the word, and it's certainly not another celebrity "tell-all." Instead, Wilder has chosen to write about resonant moments in his life, events that led him to an understanding of the art of acting, and -- more important -- to an understanding of how to give love to and receive love from a woman.

Wilder writes compellingly about the creative process on stage and screen, and divulges moments from life on the sets of some of the most iconic movies of our time.

In this book, he talks about everything from his experiences in psychoanalysis to why he got into acting and later comedy (his first goal was to be a Shakespearean actor), and how a Midwestern childhood with a sick mother changed him. Wilder explains why he became an actor and writer, and about the funny, wonderful movies he made with Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, Richard Pryor, and Harrison Ford, among many others. He candidly reveals his failures in love, and writes about the overwhelming experience of marrying comedienne Gilda Radner, as well as what finally had to happen for him to make a true and lasting commitment to another woman.

A thoughtful, revealing, and winsome book about life, love, and the creative process, Kiss Me Like A Stranger is one actor's life in his own words.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781429909952
Publisher:	St. Martin's Press
Publication date:	04/01/2010
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	20,530
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Gene Wilder has been acting since he was thirteen. After a small role in Bonnie and Clyde pulled him away from a career onstage, he was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor for his role as Leo Bloom in The Producers, which led to Blazing Saddles and then to another Academy nomination, this time for writing Young Frankenstein. Wilder has appeared in twenty-five feature films and a number of stage productions. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, Karen.

Gene Wilder has been acting since he was thirteen and writing for the screen since the early 1970s. After a small role in Bonnie and Clyde pulled him away from a career onstage, he was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor for his role as Leo Bloom in The Producers, which led to Blazing Saddles and then to another Academy nomination, this time for writing Young Frankenstein. Wilder has appeared in twenty-five feature films and a number of stage productions. His first book, about his own life, was Kiss Me Like A Stranger, and was followed by the novels My French Whore, The Woman Who Wouldn't and What Is This Thing Called Love?. Wilder lives in Connecticut with his wife, Karen.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"a gracious, endearing book" —The New York Times "I always knew Gene Wilder was a remarkable person, but I didn't realize how remarkable until I read this brave, riveting book." —Charles Grodin, actor "...an honest, affecting look at his life. Strong, tender and revealing" —Kirkus "A wonderful addition to the entertainment memoir Gene pool." —Library Journal "A witty memoir. It's also a reflective and well-written meditation on the life of someone who has more on his mind than the next big part or belly laugh." —Los Angeles Times "It's impossible to not feel deep affection for Gene Wilder." —Entertainment Weekly "Come for inside dish on his funniest movies, stay for touching stories about Mel Brooks, Gilda Radner and others. A classy memoir." — Newsweek

Editorial Reviews

a gracious, endearing book

The New York Times

I always knew Gene Wilder was a remarkable person, but I didn't realize how remarkable until I read this brave, riveting book.

actor Charles Grodin

A witty memoir. It's also a reflective and well-written meditation on the life of someone who has more on his mind than the next big part or belly laugh.

Los Angeles Times

It's impossible to not feel deep affection for Gene Wilder.

Entertainment Weekly

Come for inside dish on his funniest movies, stay for touching stories about Mel Brooks, Gilda Radner and others. A classy memoir.

Newsweek

"a gracious, endearing book" —The New York Times

"I always knew Gene Wilder was a remarkable person, but I didn't realize how remarkable until I read this brave, riveting book." —Charles Grodin, actor

"...an honest, affecting look at his life. Strong, tender and revealing" —Kirkus

"A wonderful addition to the entertainment memoir Gene pool." —Library Journal

"A witty memoir. It's also a reflective and well-written meditation on the life of someone who has more on his mind than the next big part or belly laugh." —Los Angeles Times

"It's impossible to not feel deep affection for Gene Wilder." —Entertainment Weekly

"Come for inside dish on his funniest movies, stay for touching stories about Mel Brooks, Gilda Radner and others. A classy memoir." — Newsweek

From the Publisher