Product Description
The inside story of the infamous Brigitte Bardot reveals her two lives--one as a sexy film star and one as an animal-rights activist--through interviews with former husbands, former lovers, oldest friends, her current husband, and Bardot herself. Tour.Amazon.com Review
Though she retired from the screen in the early 1970s, Brigitte Bardot remains an enormously popular sex symbol. Her image continues to be mimicked and recycled almost as often as Bardot herself continues to be hounded. Jeffrey Robinson sees Bardot's life as a story about the enormous cost of fame. He follows her as she rockets to stardom in her teens and ever after consumes the attention of the merciless media while making films, championing humanitarian causes, and bedding lovers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

B.B.-Bad
"Bardot: An Intimate Portrait" is both a good and bad title -- on one hand, Jeffrey Robinson lets us in on lots of love life info. On the other, he seems uninterested in Brigitte Bardot as a person, and more as an icon. As the book goes on, it becomes obvious that Robinson cares more about worshiping Bardot than telling the world about her.

Brigitte Bardot was born into a strict middle-class family, who considered actors "gypsies" and expected her to be a dancer. But her life changed when she met Roger Vadim, an energetic young film director who made her his muse, and married her as a teenager. Soon "B.B." was a legend for her free-lovin' movies and sultry image.

But B.B. wasn't as crazy about movies as the movies were crazy about her. While going through a succession of lovers and husbands that would make J.Lo proud, she quit the movies and devoted herself to animal care -- sometimes at the expense of the humans around her -- and living an ultra-reclusive life.

Robinson does a passable job of telling Bardot's life story, from her life as a feted star to her work as an animal rights activist. That stuff is interesting. But he pads it out with stories about how amazing, wonderful and exquisite she is -- barely a page goes by without a quotation burbling about how extraordinary she is.

The problem is, the way he tells it, she is not an exceptional person -- she comes across as a bit dizzy, rather bland, and alternately obnoxious and sweet. Oh yeah, and obsessed with lawsuits.Not a single quote of hers is memorable, and only a few of her good deeds are. It's difficult to take Robinson's adoration seriously when he says in the epilogue that she is better than perfect, she's "unique." Not the way he tells it.

Were she not an exceptional beauty, it's doubtful anyone in this book have been so quick to talk about how glorious she is. As a person, she comes across as very, very ordinary. It certainly doesn't help that Robinson devotes most of the book to A) telling us how saintly Bardot is, B) dismissing false rumors, and C) excusing all her bad behavior. All people who are less than 100% complimentary toward Bardot are dismissed as "nasty," such as great Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni.

Far from being nasty, Mastroianni's candor is refreshing in a book full of rosy worship. In essence, only die-hard fans of Brigitte Bardot will be able to stomach all this praise... which appears to center on Bardot's beauty, and nothing more.

LOVE THIS BOOK!
Brigette Bardot has a very amazing and interesting life story. I really enjoyed reading this and found it very inspiriting. She isvery raw in her words and emotion and passionate about her love for animals. She was a free sprirt and really changed to way alot of people thought. She inspired pop culture and rock n' roll and the entire sexual revolution!!! I hope her own bio "initials B.B." will be released in English format someday. I also enjoyed Tony Crawleys book "The Films of B.B.". She was the French Marilyn Monroe!

A Beautiful Soul
This book is about one of my heroes, Brigitte Bardot. It isn't the best written book but it is interesting. It has a lot of interviews with people who were close to Brigitte at different times in her life. It goes from the beginning of her life when as a young teenager encouraged by her mother she started down the road to becoming an international film star and sex symbol. This was before people had much consciousness about the objectification of women and Brigitte was so beautiful and sensual that she was exploited to the maximum degree. She has been hounded by fans and photographers all of her life but she has remained gentle and good-natured. She has had several failed marriages and suicide attempts and a life of drama, drama, drama. Yes, all that is true, but that is not why I enjoyed this book nor is it why I admire this incredible person. This book also tells about her involvement in and dedication to Animal Rights activisim. She has tirelessly supported and protected the humane treatment of animals around the world and particularly in her home country of France. She has brought about huge changes in the way animals are treated in France and has raised consciousness throughout the world. Her foundation fights animal abuse worldwide. Perhaps because of her experiences as a "sex kitten" she came to understand the cruel and degrading way that human beings can treat other living beings as objects for their use. This book is the only one I could find that tells her story so I enjoyed it, but I don't think it does justice to this enigmatic, courageous and beautiful soul. Her story is more complex than this book indicates, but if you are interested in a pioneer in the Animal Rights movement or if you just love BiBi it is worth the read. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A BB fan must have!
This is an excellent book. Pics are great.Magazine covers, film photos, the works. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Awesome!
I agree with the above reviewer. This book is excellent! This book goes deep. It explains a lot on BB's life. It's not an ordinary biography. The author seems to have gathered all the best info he could find on Bardot. In it are a lot of her witty lines in interviews. There are tons & tons of great pics of beautiful Brigitte. Once I began to read I could not put it down. The things BB says are so smart & witty. She reminds you of Marilyn Monroe. And he covers all her movies in the back thoroughly, with old reviews, the plot of the movie, & the behind-the scenes of the movie (also includes BB's thoughts of the movie). Beware though that sometimes you can't understand what the author says bcz he begins to write in French or begins to get too psychological. Those parts you can just skip over though. If you are a BB fan you cannot pass on this!

From Ballerina to Legend
I have read several books on Brigitte Bardot and

this is one of the best.It does explain so much

her status as a major cultural figure and puts her

career in proper perspective.My only complaint

is that there was not more about her early dancing
days. ... Read more

Product Description
Actress and sex symbol Brigitte Bardot had a stunning career in France and America in the mid–20th century. Since the 1970s, she has dedicated her life to the welfare and protection of animals, with much personal involvement. In this book the author makes the case that far from being just a pretty face or a spotlight grabber, Bardot was an accomplished actress and has always been an intelligent, sensitive individual.

Chapters acquaint readers with her Paris childhood and her rebellious coming of age in a Catholic bourgeois family, who disapproved when she appeared on the cover of Elle magazine and was offered a screen test. The book examines her years in film (with careful analysis of her films) and also covers her tumultuous personal life, including suicide attempts, and the beginnings of her interest in animal protection. Final chapters detail her efforts in worldwide animal welfare activism, including the work of her own international foundation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Very expensive for what it is
At 44 dollars and listed as a hardback I was more than shocked when a book less than 200 pages arrived! Why on earth the publishers made this into a hardback is beyond me, for such a small book (without colour photos) it's a ridiculous format.

From the opening pages the writing struck me as appalling. Not only is the style annoying (it switches between trying to sound formal to writing in a somewhat immature, talky fashion) but there are grammatical errors everywhere (I'm not a stickler for grammar but the errors were really distracting!)- was this not even edited? What's worse is that the author apparently is a history lecturer at a university so one would expect something more insightful...

Whilst the author has researched Bardot's personal history very well, the writing and assessment of Bardot is terrible. The author also has no real understanding of cinema, which is obvious in his treatment of Godard's 'Contempt', and for someone writing about a film actress I think this is a real flaw.

All in all, a very disappointing book.

The French Marilyn Monroe
Bardot lives unlike her American counterpart. And her life since the 1970's has been a committment to animal rights. A biopic on the tragedy and triumphs of an international living screen legend. Bardot was the blonde goddess on the beach in Cannes decades before Pamela Anderson hit the small screen on Baywatch. The latter seems to be following the lead of the former and one wonders: what happened to beauty's promise in youth? Bardot herself has commented that she gave her youth to men and in her twilight years gives her passion to the cause of animal rights. A turmoil of a life filled with the heights of stardom intermingled with psychological demons and power lost when youthful beauty faded. Bardot is now in retirement and a recluse in France but her legend remains. Was beauty not supposed to bring lasting happinness? ... Read more

Product Description
Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot by Heinz Duthel
…. Et Dieu... créa la femme
While Brigitte Bardotis best known in North America as one of the sexiest women to ever appear on a movie screen, in her native France she also enjoyed a successful career as a pop singer, and this retrospective offers a comprehensive look at the high points of her musical career, drawn from television appearances and promotional clips. Brigitte Bardot: Divine BB includes several of Bardot's collaborations with Claude Bolling and Serge Gainsbourg; selections include "Everybody Loves My Baby," " "Le Belle et le Blues," " "Bubblegum," " "Bonnie and Clyde," " "Saint-Tropez," " "Comic Strip," " "Harley Davidson," and many more.
In her 2003 book, Un cri dans le silence ("A Scream in the Silence"), she warned of an “Islamicization of France”, and said of Muslim immigration:
Over the last twenty years, we have given in to a subterranean, dangerous, and uncontrolled infiltration, which not only resists adjusting to our laws and customs but which will, as the years pass, attempt to impose its own.
... Read more

Product Description
An account of Brigitte Bardot as an international social phenomenon: how she was trapped by fame, how she handled and mishandled it, how fame drove her to become a recluse. It describes her relationships, her failure to find happiness and how she has hidden behind animals to protect herself. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

One Book - Two Titles
I believe that this is the same book by the author titled "Bardot An Intimate Portrait".It creates confusion when the same book comes out with 2 titles and 2 different covers (I believe that it was issued as one title in Europe and another in the U.S.). ... Read more

Product Description
Magazine ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not quite so much for Bardot fans...
I thought this book was more of a biography about the time period rather than Bardot herself. When the author DOES focus on Brigitte, she spends too much time comparing her to Marilyn Monroe, (whom I AM a fan of also)but as anyone who really understands Bardot would know they are nothing alike...and she would really hate to be compared to MM. In fact she DID hate to be compared to Marilyn. Roberts even went as far to say that the film "And God Created Woman" was about Monroe!!! Ok, that went a little too far. After awhile, you get a little tired of the originality of Bardot being taken away. Most people understand that the film was Brigitte playing herself. Sure, it had some similarities to Monroe's life, but the film was an original and so was Bardot!
All in all, the book was pretty informative of the that era, but the author writes about Bardot with the same contempt as a vegetarian being asked to write a cookbook of nothing but meat recipes. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Disappointed Bardot Fan
I was very excited whenever I found out there was a new book about BB coming out, so I pre-ordered it immediately.
However, I was very disappointed with the size of the book. Still, I thought, perhaps there are some rare photos inside. Then, I was even more disappointed; upon opening the book, I realized I had already seen what few photos there are in it. The rest of the photos are just miniturized versions of her movie posters, which are tiny.
The book offers no information; in fact, the photos and posters are not even in chronological order. There is no structure, and it looks like it was slapped together without any thought.
Save your money and don't buy this book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Chere Brigitte, cela ne faite rien.
The French legal system has treated Bardot horribly. She is allowed to say what she wants. I didn't agree with every word but I understand how she feels the way she does. I loved the chapter where she complains how people dress now. I loved another chapter where she talks about how much she enjoys her pretty, long hair. I was not so fond of all she said but I still adore Brigitte Bardot. Any chance I get I like to visit her fondation or send a donation although the economy now is too bad to travel or make donations, at least, for me it is. Anyway G-d bless Brigitte Bardot for being so beautiful and for her work with animals.

ORDER MORE COPIES AMAZON!
I say good for Ms.Bardot and let's hear it for the right to express one's opinion. And for Amazon for having a backbone and sticking to their guns! What, Rush Limbaugh is allowed to have a say but she can't?Amazon can sell Ann Coulter's book but not Brigitte's?And Amazon is supposed to ban this from their website because it offends people??OH NO NO NO NO NO NO.We don't move backwards, thank you.I have been highly offended by some of Amazon's things, they sell real fur and while I truly wish they wouldn't, there's nothing I can do except, well, not buy their fur!
I'm going to order copies of this book {from Amazon} for me AND my friends.I'm hoping to put her on the best seller list!

Should be released in English!
Veuillez excuser ma tentative faible a l'inscription en francais.

Je souhaite que ceci soit libere en anglais. La semaine derniere juste, Bardot est allee sur l'épreuve pour "la haine raciale d'incitation contre des musulmans". Elle fait face au jailtime et a $24000 dans les fines si condamnee!

En ce livre, Bardot parle son esprit au sujet de combien la France a change au cours des annees. Ceci inclut l'immigration et quelques autres issues-- le plus notamment comment les gens se plient plus de vers l'arriere pour adapter a l'exactitude politique-- meme lorsque cette crainte d''offense 'sera la ruine de tous.

Bardot a ecrit une lettre a Sarkozy dans 2006 qui ont decrit son revirement de la pratique musulmane d'abattre des moutons pendant le festival musulman d'Al-Adha d'Eid. Brigitte Bardot a ete un long activiste d'animal-droits de temps. Pour cette raison elle a ete maintenant trouvee coupable d'inciter la haine raciale, puisque les musulmans radicaux font tout dans leur puissance de supprimer tout le commentaire negatif de l'Islam. Qu'est arrive au discours libre en France (et, tant d'autres pays que sont les revetements les memes dangers)?

Ce cas entier semble comme si c'est une plaisanterie, jusqu'a ce que vous realisez le gouvernement francais prend ceci extremement serieusement.

Bardot Libre!

thank you for your honesty brigitte!
thank you for sharing your honest thoughts with the world, brigitte! it is insane that france has decided to fine you yet again for your comments of truth about the infidel muslims. you have been a beacon all your life: your beauty on screen, your stance and actions protecting animals, and now as a defender and champion of the west in it's greatest time of need and danger (from the islamic terrorist wackos).

Un livre qui est loin d'ëtre "politiquement correct"
Enfin, quelqu'un qui ose dire tout haut ce que beaucoup pense tout bas.Bravo Madame Bardot pour votre courage! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Okay for What It Is
I purchased the book based on a 5 star rating and review at the time and was disappointed.This is a picture book of Bardot from the ages of 30 to 40.There are approx. 55 pictures with a simple introduction. ... Read more