If you love the 1960's live action Disney films as much as I do, you probably have the same fondness for Hayley Mills (who as a child acted in multiple Disney classics). To me Pollyanna (1960) still ranks as one of Disney's finest live action movies and The Parent Trap (1961) is still a comedy classic. Because of this I was eager to read Hayley Mills' memoir.
What I found was the Hayley is just a lovely of a human being as she is an actress. She not only talks about her career and personal life but also her own personal philosophies. In a simple and unpretentious manner, she shows herself to be a very soulful and intelligent woman. You not only learn about her here, but you connect with emotionally.
As a buff of all things Walt Disney, I of course greatly enjoyed the times when she talked about Walt himself. It is rare to be able to actually read about Walt from the point of view of someone who actually knew him. This makes me treasure every chance I get to read a first-hand account of the great filmmaker. To read Hayley writing about him with such love and fondness only increased this joy.
She also talked greatly about some of her British films. Even if you have not seen these movies, Hayley's writing makes you want to search them out.
Hayley also talks greatly about the effects of being a child star in Hollywood. While her life does not have the same tragedies that many child stars suffered, it did lead to much insecurity on her part. She obviously still remembers these insecurities and writes about them in a way that can feel heartbreaking to read.
A must read for any Hayley Mills and/or Disney fan.
No comments:
Post a Comment