Not Just Batman's Butler
The Autobiography of Alan Napier
Published on 8. October 2015
Book
Paperback/Softback
392 pages
978-1-4766-6287-9 (ISBN)
Description
In January 1966, Alan Napier became a household name on ABC's hit series Batman (1966-1968) as Alfred Pennyworth, loyal butler to the show's title character. This "overnight success" came after 16 years of stage work (and the occasional film) in his native England and 26 years of film and television work (and the occasional play) in the United States.
In the early 1970s, Napier wrote an autobiography, detailing his childhood as a "poor relation" of the famous Birmingham political family the Chamberlains (Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain was a cousin), and his collaborations over the years with the likes of John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier, George Bernard Shaw, Noel Coward, Fritz Lang, Otto Preminger and Alfred Hitchcock.
Almost 30 years after Napier's death, James Bigwood, who first read the manuscript in 1975 when interviewing the actor for a Films in Review profile, has prepared it for publication.
This is Alan Napier's story in his own words, annotated and updated, with dozens of rare photographs.
In the early 1970s, Napier wrote an autobiography, detailing his childhood as a "poor relation" of the famous Birmingham political family the Chamberlains (Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain was a cousin), and his collaborations over the years with the likes of John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier, George Bernard Shaw, Noel Coward, Fritz Lang, Otto Preminger and Alfred Hitchcock.
Almost 30 years after Napier's death, James Bigwood, who first read the manuscript in 1975 when interviewing the actor for a Films in Review profile, has prepared it for publication.
This is Alan Napier's story in his own words, annotated and updated, with dozens of rare photographs.
Reviews / Votes
"A treasure"-Examiner; "Jim Bigwood has done us all a great favor by bringing Alan Napier's autobiography to print"-It's About TV!.More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Jefferson, NC
United States
Target group
Interest Age: From 18 years
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
91 photos & illustrations, appendices, index
Dimensions
Height: 254 mm
Width: 178 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
735 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4766-6287-9 (9781476662879)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
James Bigwood has written articles for American Film and American Cinematographer. He is also a television producer whose credits include Being Mary Jane, The Red Road, Mercy, Lipstick Jungle and The Black Donnellys. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
Content
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments (James Bigwood)
Introduction (James Bigwood)
Part One: Birmingham
Prologue: The Reason Why
1.?Nanny and Mother Do Their Best
2.?The Family Click
3.?Napierolatry
4.?Chamberlain in Excelsis
5.?The Grove-Cast Iron
6.?Tennal Grange-Non-Ferrous
7.?Heritage
8.?Trailing Clouds of Glory
9.?Intimations of Immorality
10.?A Talent Is Discovered
11.?Fish Out of Water
12.?Into the Swim
Part Two: London
13.?A Year of Grace
14.?Benevolent Deity
15.?Where Is Fancy Bred?
16.?Breakthrough
17.?Bitter Sweet Days
18.?Marie Tempest and Gerald du Maurier
19.?A Lesson in Drama
20.?Near Misses and Sweet Aloes
21.?On the Rocks
22.?Ibsen, Shaw and Sayers
23.?Tomorrow to Fresh Woods
24.?Filling Quotas (James Bigwood)
25.?Crossing the Pond
Part Three: America
26.?From Sea to Shining Sea
27.?A Toe in the Door
28.?Old Friends and New Experiences
29.?Broadway
30.?Down to Earth
31.?Meeting Gip
32.?Take One (James Bigwood)
33.?Marrying Gip
34.?Take Two (James Bigwood)
35.?Dogs
36.?Take Three (James Bigwood)
37.?Mountains
38.?Take Four (James Bigwood)
39.?Don't Talk Politics to Adolphe Menjou
40.?Give My Regards to Broadway
41.?Take Five (James Bigwood)
42.?Family Affairs
43.?Friends
44.?Television (James Bigwood)
45.?Journey's End
46.?More Television (James Bigwood)
47.?Patriarch
48.?Batman
49.?Alfred the Butler (James Bigwood)
50.?After Batman
51.?The Vortex (James Bigwood)
52.?Back to Work (James Bigwood)
53.?Hitchcock, Hubbard and Hawkins (James Bigwood)
54.?Family and Friends (James Bigwood)
55.?One Role Too Many (James Bigwood)
56.?Writing (James Bigwood)
57.?Last Hurrah (James Bigwood)
58.?Playing Oneself (James Bigwood)
59.?Batman Redux (James Bigwood)
60.?The End (James Bigwood)
61.?Memorial (James Bigwood)
Appendix A. Acting Credits
On the Stage delete
On the Big Screen (Films) delete
On the Small Screen (Television) delete
Appendix B. How to Approach a Production of Shaw's Heartbreak House (Alan Napier)
Index
Acknowledgments (James Bigwood)
Introduction (James Bigwood)
Part One: Birmingham
Prologue: The Reason Why
1.?Nanny and Mother Do Their Best
2.?The Family Click
3.?Napierolatry
4.?Chamberlain in Excelsis
5.?The Grove-Cast Iron
6.?Tennal Grange-Non-Ferrous
7.?Heritage
8.?Trailing Clouds of Glory
9.?Intimations of Immorality
10.?A Talent Is Discovered
11.?Fish Out of Water
12.?Into the Swim
Part Two: London
13.?A Year of Grace
14.?Benevolent Deity
15.?Where Is Fancy Bred?
16.?Breakthrough
17.?Bitter Sweet Days
18.?Marie Tempest and Gerald du Maurier
19.?A Lesson in Drama
20.?Near Misses and Sweet Aloes
21.?On the Rocks
22.?Ibsen, Shaw and Sayers
23.?Tomorrow to Fresh Woods
24.?Filling Quotas (James Bigwood)
25.?Crossing the Pond
Part Three: America
26.?From Sea to Shining Sea
27.?A Toe in the Door
28.?Old Friends and New Experiences
29.?Broadway
30.?Down to Earth
31.?Meeting Gip
32.?Take One (James Bigwood)
33.?Marrying Gip
34.?Take Two (James Bigwood)
35.?Dogs
36.?Take Three (James Bigwood)
37.?Mountains
38.?Take Four (James Bigwood)
39.?Don't Talk Politics to Adolphe Menjou
40.?Give My Regards to Broadway
41.?Take Five (James Bigwood)
42.?Family Affairs
43.?Friends
44.?Television (James Bigwood)
45.?Journey's End
46.?More Television (James Bigwood)
47.?Patriarch
48.?Batman
49.?Alfred the Butler (James Bigwood)
50.?After Batman
51.?The Vortex (James Bigwood)
52.?Back to Work (James Bigwood)
53.?Hitchcock, Hubbard and Hawkins (James Bigwood)
54.?Family and Friends (James Bigwood)
55.?One Role Too Many (James Bigwood)
56.?Writing (James Bigwood)
57.?Last Hurrah (James Bigwood)
58.?Playing Oneself (James Bigwood)
59.?Batman Redux (James Bigwood)
60.?The End (James Bigwood)
61.?Memorial (James Bigwood)
Appendix A. Acting Credits
On the Stage delete
On the Big Screen (Films) delete
On the Small Screen (Television) delete
Appendix B. How to Approach a Production of Shaw's Heartbreak House (Alan Napier)
Index