RITA MORENO A Memoir

Very few creative performers have won Tony, Grammy, Emmy, and Academy Awards--Moreno is one of those few. Born in Puerto Rico and arriving destitute in the Bronx at age 5, Moreno reflects on the struggles and victories associated with her long-term affair with Marlon Brando, her work with MGM and other major studios, and her successful marriage to physician Leonard Gordon. At the beginning of the memoir, Moreno uses a little-girl voice that quickly becomes annoying as it's used at such significant length. Otherwise, her narration is as sultry as her role in WEST SIDE STORY. It's also fairly monotonous in tone and phrasing despite the fascinating details of her life. This is, without question, an insider's look, but listening will require patience. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2013]