Bruce Campbell isn’t just a pretty fa…an actor famous for the Evil Dead series you know, there’s a lot more to his career, and with that a lot of stories to tell. So he’s turned to the written word to get them across, probably because no one will ever make the movie The Bruce Campbell Story.
I read his first book, If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor, and I have to say it is one of the more enjoyable reads I’ve had. A few excerpts from my review of the book:
…When it really begins to get interesting for me is is the start of the Evil Dead story, and you being to hear of the long and often physically painful process of making a movie. It’s interesting to learn the cheap tricks used, and the extraordinary lengths they went to merely to raise the money for the production.
When the book moves into the days and movies after Evil Dead it really does become the story of a struggling actor. Finding out some of the inside stories of Hercules, Xena and other such productions and the lengthy traveling and tireless marketing involved by an actor is a surprise. Hardly the dream life you would expect…
…There’s a particularly excellent chapter where Campbell gets serious about his profession. He talks more from behind the scenes, preparation and what is expected from an actor and what they should give to a movie. He also does a good job of showing what a Director should expect and ask of them.
It’s an excellent read, not only of his life and that of any struggling actor, but also of the difficulties in Hollywood and how an actor should behave. It left me wanting more, and something more meaty too. Unfortunately I’ll have to drop the meaty and settle for the more as Campbell has now released a second book called Make Love! the Bruce Campbell Way. From The Statesman Journal:
It’s about a B movie star named Bruce Campbell who is quite content living in his southern Oregon home somewhere in the vicinity of Jacksonville. Then his agent — whom he hasn’t heard from in too long — calls to let him know he’s up for a part in an A film. Another one-scene wonder, Campbell thinks.
But this time it is a real part, a significant part. The film, called “Let’s Make Love!”, is to be directed by the legendary Mike Nichols and star the biggest names ever, including Richard Gere, Rene Zellweger and Christopher Plummer…
…”Make Love!” is a marvel of invention, humor and outrageous action. It goes too far, and the reader will love every word of it. With this book, Campbell proves himself both an accomplished writer and a master of self-depredation.
Much like the first book the humour is everywhere, even in the picture captions and the pictures themselves, read everything, he certainly believes in value for money! Campbell is a surprising talent, and it’s a real shame we don’t see more of him upfront in the A list, although if he was would we get to see his lighter side and such enjoyable work? I’m not so sure.
