By Heidi Simmons
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Unsinkable: A Memoir
By Debbie Reynolds
Biography
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For six decades Debbie Reynolds has been entertaining on the big screen and stage. Written with as much energy and enthusiasm as her dancing, singing and acting, Unsinkable: A Memoir (William Morrow, 306 pages) by Raynolds and Dorian Hannaway, is an honest, revealing and fun-filled biographical read of the life and movies of a beloved American sweetheart.
Unsinkable is Reynolds’ second book about her life. Her first autobiography titled Debbie: My Life was published in 1988 when she was just 56 years old and happily married to her third husband Richard Hamlett. Now 81, Reynolds is single and singing a new song.
This time around, Reynolds’ story has a maturity and appreciation for her life experience and the challenges she faced. It is the result of having survived an amazing career, overcoming horrible marriages and embracing what is most important. She has lived long enough to take another look at the big picture that is nearly her entire life. A triumph that only retrospection and wisdom can bring.
The book begins with her third marriage and the devastating result after her husband took advantage of her name, status and money. Believing he was a successful real estate broker and investor, Reynolds was enthusiastic about being in business with Hamlett. It was his idea to buy a hotel and casino in Las Vegas and Reynolds was excited to have a place to perform, entertain her fans and have a Hollywood memorabilia museum. It was a dream that came to fruition, but sadly failed because Hamlett was a thief, a coward and a fraud.
She freely shares and revisits the history and failure of her first two marriages as well; first with recording artist Eddie Fisher and second, with wealthy businessman Harry Karl. All ended badly. Fisher left her with two small children under three years of age for her good friend Elizabeth Taylor. Karl also was unfaithful and spent his millions and hers gambling, leaving Reynolds and her children broke. And with his debts to pay.
Raised with a strong work ethic, she did what she did best. Reynolds is happiest when she is performing and can do no less than give it her all. Her career started when she was 16. She was given a contract with Warner Brothers after winning a Miss Burbank contest. She rode her bike to the studio and suddenly was making more than her father.
The first two thirds of the book is a brief but comprehensive look at what it was like to be a young Hollywood star, her difficult marriages and her children and family. She speaks intimately and openly about her experiences and relationships with movie stars, husbands and her kids Carrie and Todd Fisher.
In the chapter “I’m Princess Leia’s Mother,” Reynolds shares her daughter Carrie Fisher’s struggle with mental illness and her use of electro shock therapy. The book reflects a family that has overcome hardships and is now close and loving. Carrie wrote the forward to Unsinkable.
The last third is a collection of short anecdotes and comments on the 54 movies Reynolds made starting in 1948. These recollections are so interesting and fun. I’m hoping Turner Classic Movies will have a Debbie Reynolds movie marathon so I can revisit these films again with what I now know. She names names and tells tales that are shocking and hilarious with fascinating tidbits about the stars we know and love.
The book includes a list of her films and those involved. There is also an eight-page index filled with recognizable names.
There are so many amazing details about the talented Reynolds: She was 19 when she did Singin’ in the Rain. She had never danced before and only had singing lesson after the movie was made. Reynolds had to fight for the iconic lead role in “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” — even offering to do it for free!
Over her career, Reynolds collected Hollywood costumes and memorabilia. It was her dream to preserve these valuable pieces that were part of the Hollywood history she grew up in and loved so much. But she could never make it happen and was forced to sell the collection after a court ordered settlement with her third husband. This chapter is exciting as she describes the astonishing auction and its amazing results. It saved her life.
All the way through the book you hear Reynolds’ voice, her energy and humor. Hannaway did a great job getting Reynolds tone and attitude on the page. There is nothing dry or contemplative or bitter as with so many autobiographies. Reynolds suffered and lost but made it through. Unsinkable is more than a memoir. It is a Hollywood history from an inside perspective by one of our great entertainers. Reynolds also shows us how precious life is — especially when we look back from a mature vantage point.
