Product Description
For more than a quarter century, Al Pacino has spoken freely and deeply with acclaimed journalist and bestselling author Lawrence Grobel on subjects as diverse as childhood, acting, and fatherhood. Here, for the first time, are the complete conversations and shared observations between the actor and the writer; the result is an intimate and revealing look at one of the most accomplished, and private, artists in the world.

Pacino grew up sharing a three-room apartment in the Bronx with nine people in what he describes as his "New York Huckleberry Finn" childhood. Raised mostly by his grandparents and his mother, Pacino began drinking at age thirteen. Shortly after he was admitted to the renowned High School for Performing Arts, his classmates nicknamed him "Marlon," after Marlon Brando, even though Pacino didn't know who Brando was. Renowned acting coach Charlie Laughton saw Pacino when he was nineteen in the stairwell of a Bronx tenement, and the first words out of Laughton's mouth were "You are going to be a star." And so began a fabled, lifelong friendship that nurtured Al through years of not knowing where his next meal would come from until finally -- at age twenty-six -- he landed his first salaried acting job.

Grobel and Pacino leave few stones unturned, touching on the times when Pacino played piano in jazz clubs until four a.m. before showing up on the set of Scarecrow a few hours later for a full day's work; when he ate Valium like candy at the Academy Awards; and when he realized he had been in a long pattern of work and drink.

As the pivotal character in The Godfather trilogy and the cult classic Scarface, Pacino has enshrined himself in film history. He's worked with most of Hollywood's brightest luminaries such as Francis Ford Coppola, Sidney Lumet, Michael Mann, Norman Jewison, Brian De Palma, Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Gene Hackman, Sean Penn, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hilary Swank, and Robin Williams, among many others. He was nominated for eight Academy Awards before winning the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in Scent of a Woman. Pacino still seems to prefer his work onstage to film and, if he's moved by a script or play, is quick to take parts in independent productions.

Al Pacino is an intensely personal window into the life of an artist concerned more with the process of his art than with the fruits of his labor, a creative genius at the peak of his artistic powers who, after all these years, still longs to grow and learn more about his craft. And, for now, it's as close to a memoir as we're likely to get. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Whoooahh!!
was reading this book in the bookstore, thought of ordering it thru Amazon and nevver received it. Money got wasted. So cant really write a review all the way.

Great Book
I am very pleased with my purchase. I received it on the last day, but still within the time given.

'Conversations with Al Pacino' with a different name
I'm a huge Al Pacino fan and I bought 'Al Pacino: The authorized Biography' thinking it was, well, his biography, since I already own a book named 'Conversations with Al Pacino', by Lawrence Grobel, the same author from his biography, that is entirely made out of interviews. In my country neither one of the books are sold and there are no reviews on this one in Amazon, so I bought it. I was shocked to find out, when it arrived, that his 'Biography' is actually the same book with a different title. Now, the interviews are amazing - they're about nine or ten and range from his first interview, in the seventies until the most recent years. I definitely recommend Al's fans buying either one of them. Just don't buy both. It's a waste of money.

Kindle edition review
This is a good group of interviews and conversations done with Al Pacino.It isn't a biography, although it has bigraphical information.What it does is give the reader a small glimpse of a man who normally stays well hidden.If you like Al Pacino it is a good read, and gives insight into the behind the curtain reasons for some of his "quirks".The Kindle editon is formatted without problems.The only complaint is the pictures are small, but that is a kindle limitation.The words carry the book. So this isn't an issue for me. I have looked for the print edition and it was out a few days, sold out in book stores, and I haven't seen it since. It may be available on Amazon, I was checking when I found this edition. And didn't continue to look, the pictures aren't that important to me - I know what Pacino looks like.

A great book for a great actor
Mr. Grobel's relationship with Al Pacino grows throughout this book.The book consists of numerous interviews by the author as well as magazine articles.Pacino talks about his many successful films, actors he admires, the Godfather III disaster, and his obsession with Richard III.This was a great read and allowed me to see inside the mind of one of my favorite actors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

awful commentary, but nice pictures
Don't get me wrong, I've been a fan of Al Pacino ever since I saw him in "The Godfather" when I was ten, and I personally love everything about him.He's one of the gods of acting, and Schoell's book does no justice to him or his films.

The first 15 pages are some kind of attempt to outline his life.Some of the anecdotes are amusing; however, many sound more speculative than true.For example, the discussion of Al Pacino's love life reads like a gossip magazine.Maybe all of it really happened, but lines like "things went hot and heavy with Ms. Praeger for a while" and "there have also been many rumors about how Pacino managed to get by between acting gigs and part-time employment in the days before stardom" make the book sound cheesy and hokey.

I'm also not sure why the author chose to write a book about the films of Al Pacino, as he doesn't really like any of them.Even for the Godfather movies, two of the mostly widely revered movies of all the time, the author has only lukewarm praise at best, as shown when he says, "The Godfather is an 'amusing' potboiler but hardly a work of art..there isn't the care in each shot and setup that would indicate TRULY GREAT filmmaking...it lacks a subtext of humanity, people that we could root for and care about."I had to wonder if we were even watching the same movie.His criticism of the film is scanty at best, and he spends about a paragraph mentioning Pacino's performance, and somehow manages to ignore his wondrous transformation from Michael the naive, sweet war-hero to Michael the new Godfather.It is arguably cinema's finest portrayal of the "hardening of the human heart," and the author still can't find "a subtext of humanity."

His other reviews are also scanty at best and are mostly bogged down by plot summary.He seems fixated mainly on Pacino's appearance in the film, and not necessarily his wonderful performances.Now, again, don't get me wrong, I think Pacino is a very, very handsome, sexy, good-looking man, but we all know that.I wouldn't have a problem with the author mentioning it again and again, but it seems as if that is ALL the author wants to do.For example, he prefaces all his descriptions with comments like, "Although far more attractive than the real Sonny, Pacino does an excellent imitation of him" (Dog Day Afternoon), or "Pacino looks oddly geeky in the opening scenes, but is still attractive and masculine, 'lethal' to the ladies" (Panic in Needle Park).I completely agree that Pacino is a very attractive guy, but there needs to be more in a review than just that.

Another problem I had with this book was the numerous inaccuracies.In his review of "Dog Day Afternoon" (a wonderful movie, and his so-called review doesn't do the film justice at all), the author writes that "Pacino, (Chris) Sarandon, and (John) Cazale were all nominated for Oscars."No, Cazale was NOT nominated for an Oscar, despite appearing in only 5 films that were all Best Picture Oscar nominees.It isn't very relevant, admittedly, but this is just one example of the glaringly obvious inaccuracies in this book.Also, another reason to wonder if the author actually watched Pacino's movies at all is he often gets the quotes all wrong.Some are incomplete, some have words juggled around, and some are out-of-context.I've seen most of Pacino's films, and believe me, whether deliberate or not, the mishandling of Pacino's powerful lines detract from the films and Pacino's performances.

Also, the reviews of the films often contain many, many spoilers, so I would not recommend reading this before watching his movies (actually, there's no real need to read this at all).Al Pacino is a legend, and he deserves much more than this lame attempt.So, why did I give it two stars instead of one?Well, I suppose the book's saving grace is its wealth of lovely pictures, much of which I have never seen before.So, if you really want to buy the book, I suppose you can just buy it for its pictures, which only enhance the charm, grace, and magnetism of Al Pacino.

For real commentary of his performances, read Roger Ebert's reviews of Pacino's movies.Ebert adores the man, and has written numerous glowing reviews of his acting, even when he criticizes the movie as a whole.Check out, especially, his review of "Scarface."

Perfect Pacino
This was apresent for my husband, but I just had to read it first! Great book, gets right into the heart and soul of the man. Many stories and anecdotes I have not read before. Good buy!

Al is the man...
If u r a Al Pacino fan then this is the book u need .I my self love everylitle thing about that man.Everything from his acting , his look , the wayhe dresses and his personality.But it was alot i didnt know about him wichi got answers to after reading William Schoells bok Al Pacino. ... Read more

Product Description
One of America's most fascinating superstars, Al Pacino is also one of its most complex, enigmatic personalities, whose private life has been cloaked in mystery- until now. Whilst his astonishing performaces have established him as one of the greatest actors of our time, Andrew Yule reveals that he has spent most of his life at war with himself. A traumatic childhood, years of grinding poverty and an inability to sustain relationships with, amongst others, Jill Calyburgh, Tuesday Weld and Diane Keaton have lead to a turbulent, unstable private life- a life nearly destroyed by an apparently hopeless alcohol addiction. International success after The Godfather only served to intensify the crushing personal pressures on Pacino, and he has since had to live with some of the worst career moves in the history of Hollywood. Combining intensive research with extraordinarily frank interviews with Pacino's closest friends and associates, Andrew Yule strips away the wall of secrecy behind which the reclusive star has hidden and paints a startlingly intimate portrait of a truly remarkable personality. ... Read more

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A shared love of acting and common Bronx origins sparked the friendship between Al Pacino and acclaimed drama coach Ed De Leo. This candid and insightful memoir chronicles their divergent paths as Al climbs to stardom and Ed falls short at every turn. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

HILARIOUSLYFUNNY!
A must read for both actors and non-actors!!! Pretty helpful for aspiring actors as well!

Check your kinks, leave your kooks at the door!
An engaging,tremendously written account of the lives of two actors. Ed DeLeo's journey through the acting world was full of mishaps and never reached the success level that he'd hoped for but it is fascinating nonetheless.Al Pacino should feel lucky to have known such a seasoned person as Ed DeLeo.

ADynamic Blueprint For Today's Actor !
"As David Sheldon and Joan McCall point out in "When I Knew Al,"Ed De Leo entered Al Pacino's life when Al was at an early crossroads bordering on success or failure.I studied acting with Ed.He took great pleasure in his student's successes in the industry, more so than his own. He was a natural born teacher.VEE GENTILE, former student of Ed De Leo and actor ("Two Bits," "Gettysburg").

Powerful and compelling
This book gives a rare insider look at the life of Al Pacino. The journey this books takes you on shows how the choices people make influence their careers.If you want to see how two people starting off in the same spot can go in completely different directions while still remaining friends, this book is for you!

John Livesay
Author The 7 Most Powerful Selling Secrets

... Read more

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PACINO...

The Name conjures up images of glamour and violence: Michael Corleone of the Godfather; Serpico, the renegade cop; and Tony Montana, the vicious gangster better known as "Scarface".

Andrew Yule, the critically-acclaimed biographer of Sean Connery and David Puttnam (Fast Fade) was given exclusive access to Pacino's friends and associates, making this the only authoritative biography of one of the most volatile and brilliant actors of our time. Includes many rare photos of Pacino and the women he has loved - on and off screen! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Simply Electric
Life on the Wire is an excellent book for anyone interested in living up to his/ her potential. It is powerfully narrated replete with examples and anecdotes. It is one of the greatest biographies i have read. Althought it lacks the actor's deep secrets or rather the actor's key learnings as a human being and as a profesisonal actor, the book certainly increases the desire of the reader to read more. Al Pacino is a genius that the book fails to truly capture entirely. Quality of the pages is poor and some grammatical errors are scatterred throughout. Nonetheless, a good read indeed.

Excellent Reading Material.
As a lifelong fan on Al Pacino, I purchased this book and could not put it down.It gives you private insight into a very private man and details the trials that he endured to get to where he is now.A must have for any Pacino fan!

Great book about a great actor
This is a extremely well written book..andrew yule does a great job on this book which i can imagine was not too easy judging by how private al pacino is..al pacino is one of if not my favorite actor and i thought i knew about him but after reading this i feel like i really came way seeing al pacino in another light.

the book can be perceived as not a true bio by some as it doesn't go real deep into al's life...it mainly explores and reveals his work..but then you will find that al pacino's life is "the work"..al pacino is the definition of what a actor is..and you will see that after reading this book..the author yule is given access to lots of sources and it is a authorized bio..as he gives lots and lots of great quotes from marty bergman,charlie laughton,and pacino himself...which are great.

how it goes it is will basically go in order by all the work he's done and it will tell stories about what happened behind the scenes it will give quotes of all the people involved and will show what happened..then afterwards it will always show you what "professional" critics wrote about the work..which i think is a good idea..it sheds light into how the work was perceived at the time...

and what i really took to heart from this book is how much critics are scum..not that the author portrayed them as this..i just can't believe how much critics have without mercy assaulted and attacked pacino...pacino gives his blood to his work...he gives everything...he immerses himself so deeply into his characters that it is almost scary...and sometimes he will put so much work in and so much sweat and then you see these critics sitting on their fat butts just bashing his work..these talentless nobodies destroying all pacino has done..and it is really sad and really angers me..i have really never payed that much attention to "critics" but now i see just how disgusting these people are...to spit on someones art is shameful.

you will learn alot from this book..about al pacino and dustin hoffman and their quiet rivalry of sorts...you will learn about john cazale and james hayden who's careers and lives were ended too short..and you will learn alot about pacino and his work.

i highly reccommend this great book by andrew yule if you are a pacino fan or if you are just an actor or like acting..this should be in every actor's library as an example of what a true actor is.

Great Read
Al Pacino: A Life on the Wire is a great book! I am very impressed because even though Al Pacino went through a lot of hard times in his life, he made it. He is a real fighter, and he has proven that people should never give up; they must follow their dreams. Yule presented Al Pacino's life in general in an easy-to-follow way, and the reader can understand things well about Al Pacino as a person. I especially like Al's sense of humor, his passion for his job, and his attitude towards marriage. Al is definitely a free spirit and an accomplished actor!

Kirkus Review in error.
In response to the Kirkus Review of Life on the Wire:The book does not report that Al Pacino's mother left him at three.She died when Pacino was 22 years old.Pacino's father left the family when Pacino was 3. The bookclearly states these facts. ... Read more

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35th AFI Life Achievement Award; a Tribute to AL Pacino ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from El Ritmo de la Noche, published by Editorial Sur, Inc. on February 1, 1998. The length of the article is 1598 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Famosos encarcelados. (Al Pacino y Jane Fonda son algunas de las celebridades que en algún momento pasaron por la cárcel)(TT: Celebrity mug shots) (TA: Al Pacino and Jane Fonda are some celebrities that at some point were in jail)
Author: Gabriel Liberatori
Publication: El Ritmo de la Noche (Magazine/Journal)
Date: February 1, 1998
Publisher: Editorial Sur, Inc.
Volume: v4Page: p50(4)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

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PLAYMATE: Candace CollinsCOVER: Raquel WelchPICTORIALS: Rachel Welch- 8 pages; Playmates Foreverfeatures the centerfold and more recent photos of notable Playmates including DeDe Lind, Nancy Scott, Jo Collins, Lisa Baker, Liv Lindeland, Miki Garcia and others; Sex Stars of 1979showcases films stars Laura Antonelli, Richard Gere, Farrah Fawcett, Sylvester Stallone, Jaclyn SmithCheryl Tiegs, Susan Anton, Corinne Clery, Barbara Bach, Susan Sarandon, Suzanne Somers, Dorothy Stratton, Cyndi Wood, Bo Derek and many others; INTERVIEW: Al PacinoFEATURES: Fiction by John Updike, The Holy Land,Frederick Forsyth, Used In Evidence; conclusion (part 3 of 3) of Norman Mailer's story on serial killer Gary Gilmore, Executioner's Song; David A. Fryxell offers The Great Comic Heroes Trivia Quiz; LeRoy Neiman Sketchbook - 1/2 page painting of Cuban Boxer Teofilo Stevenson; profile of Richard Pryor by William Brashler; College Basketball Preview; Playboy Funnies; Nick Nolte, Peter Fonda, Federico Fellini in "Grapevine" segment; Little Annie Fanny goes out dancing.PAGES: 414 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

love
i love this , it came on time , is in good shape ,it's just what i wanted .love it ... Read more

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Der Nordische Film stellt sich nach außen als Einheit dar und setzt sich trotz einer gewissen internen Variabilität klar von anderen Filmindustrien ab. Diese großen filmischen Gemeinsamkeiten der Nordischen Länder erklären sich zu einem gewissen Teil durch ähnliche geschichtliche Entwicklungen sowohl der Filmindustrie als auch der Politik und Wirtschaft. Der stete Kampf, auch auf einem globalisierten Filmmarkt eigene Filmindustrien als kulturelle Einrichtungen zu erhalten, hat gerade im Norden zu zahlreichen filmischen Experimenten geführt. Die Filme der Dogma-Reihe sind das bekannteste Beispiel dessen. Doch auch die Mentalität der Menschen in den Ländern des Nordens mag ihren Anteil daran haben, dass dem Nordischen Film ein Charme eigen ist, der ihn unverwechselbar macht. ... Read more

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Alfredo James "Al" Pacino (born April 25, 1940) is an American film and stage actor and director. He is best known for his roles as Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Sonny Wortzik in Dog Day Afternoon, Tony Montana in Scarface, Carlito Brigante in the 1993 film Carlito's Way, Frank Serpico in Serpico, Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade in Scent of a Woman, and Roy Cohn in Angels in America. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1992 for his role in Scent of a Woman after receiving seven previous nominations. ... Read more

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Chapters: Sonny Bono, Frank Zappa, Frank Sinatra, Martin Scorsese, Frank Capra, Joe Dimaggio, Al Pacino, Liza Minnelli, Vincent R. Impellitteri, Susan Sarandon, Nancy Sinatra, Louis Prima, Princess Superstar, Sal Mineo, Antonin Scalia, Vincent Schiavelli, Independence, Louisiana, Jack Valenti, Steve Buscemi, Frankie Laine, Morgana King, Joe Montana, List of Sicilian Americans, Joseph Barbera, Yvonne de Carlo, Jill Biden, Mario Lanza, Gene Sarazen, Johnny Thunders, James Maritato, Joe Cino, Rachael Ray, O'neil de Noux, Patti Lupone, Vincent Cavallaro, Philip Zimbardo, Dana Gioia, Natalie Merchant, Jessicka, Milo Ventimiglia, Eugene D. Genovese, Vince Colletta, Vincent Gallo, Guy Williams, Mario Savio, Joe Trippi, Imero Fiorentino, Dennis Farina, John Turturro, John Cazale, Vincente Minnelli, Judith Regan, Stacy London, Mike Carona, Victor H. Schiro, Dom Dimaggio, Angela Alioto, Leah Remini, Giovanni Ribisi, Joseph Alioto, Chazz Palminteri, Ben Gazzara, Angelo Badalamenti, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Joseph D. Pistone, Paul Malignaggi, Benedict T. Viviano O.p., Joe Alioto Veronese, Michela Alioto-Pier, Billy Barty, Ferdinand Pecora, Robert Maestri, Sam Viviano, Frank Vincent, Pietro Scalia, Nocera, Ahmet Zappa, Tommy Tallarico, Diane Di Prima, Hudson Brothers, Michael Barone, Joseph A. Mussomeli, Joe Kirk, Alan Dale, Iron Eyes Cody, Lino Graglia, Vinnie Paz, Henry Silva, Al Bandiero, Charles Castronovo, Johnny Dundee, Marissa Ribisi, Anthony T. Rossi, Nick Nuccio, Paula Prentiss, Joe Grifasi, Joe Conforte, Louis Vanaria, Avery Storm, Anthony Scarpa, Giovanni Capitello, Robert Giaimo, Vince Dimaggio, Frank Capra, Jr., Jerry Capeci, Daniel Frisa, Michael Gandolfi, Matthew Randazzo V, Frank Sivero, Frank Capra Iii, April Stevens, Pete Rugolo, Duke Mitchell, Cosimo Matassa, Don Dixon, Joseph Cataldo, Catherine Scorsese, Frank Lentini, Richard S. Castellano, Sonny Vaccaro, Chris Cillizza, Frank Viviano, Curt Cacioppo, Victor Anfuso, Tina Si...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=10672 ... Read more

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Chapters: John Cleese, Sean Connery, Russell Crowe, Michael Caine, Robert Redford, Al Pacino, Anthony Hopkins, Kevin Spacey, Spencer Tracy, Roberto Benigni, Burt Lancaster, Dustin Hoffman, Gene Hackman, Walter Matthau, Bill Murray, Nigel Hawthorne, Richard Dreyfuss, Peter Finch, Hugh Grant, John Hurt, Ben Kingsley, Bob Hoskins, Daniel Day-Lewis, William Hurt, Robert Downey, Jr., Geoffrey Rush, Mickey Rourke, Jack Nicholson, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, Bafta Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Mark Rylance, Haing S. Ngor, Robert Carlyle, Philippe Noiret, Jamie Bell. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 412. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Hugh John Grant (born 10 September 1960) is a British actor and film producer. He has received a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA, and an Honorary César. His movies have also earned more than $2.4 billion from 25 theatrical releases worldwide. Grant achieved international stardom after appearing in Richard Curtis's sleeper hit Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). He used this breakthrough role as a frequent cinematic persona during the 1990s to deliver comic performances in mainstream films like Mickey Blue Eyes (1999) and Notting Hill (1999). By the turn of the century, he had established himself as a leading man skilled with a satirical comic talent. In recent years, Grant has expanded his oeuvre with critically acclaimed turns as a cad in Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), About A Boy (2002), and American Dreamz (2006). He has been criticised by students of cinema for putting emphasis on nuanced mannerisms, for the predictability of his movies, and for his unwillingness to stretch as an actor. Within the film industry, he is cited as a anti-movie star who approaches his roles like a character actor, with the ability to make acting...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=170779 ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 789 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.Signed essays ranging from 500 to 2,500 words, written by subject experts and edited to form a consistent, readable, and straightforward reference. Entries include subject-specific bibliographies and textual cross-references to related essays. ... Read more