A Third Face: My Tale of Writing, Fighting, and Filmmaking

It was someone else's review that sparked my interest in this book. I even didn't know who this Mr. Fuller was!Life is short, and I always look for suggestions from elder people: especially those who lived their life with passion and at full speed."If there's one reason to recount my personal history, something inspirational that I'd like my life experiences to offer you, the reader, be you young or young at heart, then it would be to encourage you to persist with all your heart and energy in what you want to achieve - no matter how crazy your dreams seems to others. Believe me, you will prevail over all the naysayers (...) who are telling you it can't be done!"And inspirational indeed it is!I warmly suggest you to read this book because it is well written, because the yarn makes sense, because it is enthralling, because it tells you a life full of energy, because it'll give you relief when you are in pain, hope when you're dreaming a better future, reasons and support while you fight for your ideals - like Fuller did, and not just in a metaphorical sense - and of course, because it's the author's true experience (i.e. it can be done - don't listen to the naysayers!).It is possible to roughly divide this book in three parts: part one is when Fuller was able to work as a reporter in New York; part two is the tale of Fuller that chose to volunteer into the Second World War, infantry, that makes about thirty percent of an army and suffers eighty percent of its losses.Third part (it makes up for more than half the book) tells of Fuller back from the war, when he had quite a successful career as a film director.I'd just like to quote excerpts from the book, I think this is the best way to lure you into reading it!A dialogue between Sam Fuller and Hank Wales: " 'Let's you and I write a movie together!' said Hank. 'Got any good stories?'We both laughed. With all his amazing experiences, Hank Wales was asking me for a yarn. I was thrilled that such a remarkable guy wanted to collaborate with me. But I had a book to finish.'Look, Hank,' I said, 'I'm writing the great American novel!''Everyone is writing the great American novel, Sammy. Forget about greatness. Let's have some fun.' ""One guy I couldn't forget was Griff, who'd barely survived a land mine explosion. When I first got back to the States, I went down to Washington, D.C., and visited Griff at a veterans' hospital there. He was a basket case, no legs, no arms. Only mumbled words came out of his lips. Believe it or not, we had a wonderful reunion. Griff's eyes sparkled when he saw me. He laughed when I recalled some of the funny shit we'd gone through together in the war. I put my arm around his neck and kissed him, happy to find him alive. I couldn't keep the tears back. Griff didn't want me feeling sorry for him. He was born optimist and refused to accept my pity. Or anyone's. I was trembling when I left the hospital that day.Griff's invincible spirit would always be an inspiration. I will take

Samuel Fuller did have a full life and you read about it here. His details of his life while in the Army during WWII is one of the best as is his teen years learning the newspaper reporting business. He had too many valleys in his life (don't most of us?}and the peaks were short lived. There is no gossip in this book, but an interesting story for all...not just movie buffs.

We need a guy like Fuller to come back in this age of corporate greed and fascism. That's the first thing that came to mind as I ventured into the first few pages of this memoir. I myself am a filmmaker, and have been moved by Jean Renoir's autobiography, MY LIFE MY FILMS and I find this to be it's American partner. The sheer sense of freedom and protection for democracy which Sam Fuller speaks of when describing his actions and decisions throughout his career inspired me greatly. He is the example of a man who refused to be a governement stooge when his film always showed both sides of the issue, and I believe that anyone who is making films now should read this book to see that they don't have to make the people with the money happy. Where are the Sam Fullers of the world now where have they all gone. His message has gotten to me.

I just finished reading this amazing book and have GOT to reccomend it to everyone! I was at first put off by it's length but don't let that fool you. At close to 600 pages it reads like a swiftly paced novella in which every anecdote-filled page leads fluidly to the next exciting "yarn" (to use Sam's favorite phrase). Fans of Sam Fuller are already sold so I won't preach to the choir. Anyone who has even a passing interest in the American century has got to read this firsthand account of a man who was ALWAYS at the right place at the right time. From his formative years at the end of WWI to all the events and people in between, Sam Fuller's adventures are a must-read. The best part is he wasn't just a casual observer of these fascinating events, he was an active particpant. Prohibition, The Depression, Lindbergh, Al Capone, Gene Fowler, Ring Lardner, WWII, D-Day, Daryl Zanuck, the blacklist, Marilyn Monroe, even Jim Morrison, there is no person or event in the 20th Century Sam did not encounter as either a reporter, soldier, or film maker. Forget what you've heard about Fuller. Read the man's own account for yourself as I did. Like him or dislike him, you can not deny the man's impact on popular American culture and history. After reading it, you'll have to admit, it's a hell of a yarn!

Samuel Fuller was, depending on your outlook, either the director of a lot of fun "B" movies, or one of the seminal forces in cinema. Nevertheless (to borrow a word he quotes in the book), it cannot be argued that he didn't lead one of the most exciting lives of the 20th century! His portraits of America in the 20s & 30s, Hollywood (and the world) in the 40s through the end of the century (or, close enough-he died in 1997) are brilliant, hilarious, moving, frivolous, and profound portraits of who we ALL are, and how we got that way. If you're a film buff, read this book! If you're an history buff, read this book! And, if you just want to read one of the most entertaining, enlightening, pieces of (forgive me, Mr. Fuller!) literature, READ THIS BOOK!!!!!