Hellraisers: The Life and Inebriated Times of Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter O'Toole, and Oliver Reed

An in-depth inside look at the chaotic, fantastic and hideously messy private lives of four legendary British actors of the latter 20th century: Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter O'Toole and Oliver Reed. Every page is filled with their amazing and almost unbelievable deeds of alcohol-fed insanity. Sharing much in common (including unique theatrical genius and a deep and abiding love of rugby), these men worked hard (citing numerous shudder-inducing stories of the horrors of location filming) and played even harder, suggesting that the downside of a life in the theater may be seriously overtaxing for some who tread the boards, and fueling the theory that the pain of coming out of a role may be far too great to endure without some form of anesthetic. These men make today's tabloid faces seem pallid indeed: their tales trivialize any and all subsequent film stars' off-screen antics to the point of resembling kindergarten pranks. Three of them died as they lived, taking no prisoners (Reed fittingly passed on in a pub after a drunken evening arm-wrestling a group of Maltese sailors while filming "Gladiator", and Burton literally pickled himself to death--his autopsy found his spine to be completely encrusted with crystallized alcohol). However harrowing the results for the families of these wild men, none of the four expresses the least remorse at their lifelong excesses--to a man they vow they would do it all again in a heartbeat. And we believe them. They don't make 'em like this anymore.

This is sort of like reading a book-length version of England's tabloid newspapers, but it is fun. These four remarkable actors were indeed hellraisers! One is tempted to feel sad for the lives that ended too young and the (acting) work that didn't happen, but my god, they had a hell of a good time!

Very entertaining book. Lots of juicy details about the hellraising antics of Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter O'Toole and Oliver Reed. Today's Hollywood's bad boys have got nothing on these guys!

For fans of O'Toole, Harris, Burton and Reed, this book is a must. Well written and researched, it is a celebration of the lives of these incredible actors. It is never judgmental or mean-spirited-because these men were only having fun. Politically-correct will never apply to these men. How refreshing. Also how envious to live life on your terms!