On Reflection: An Autobiography
Helen Hayes Book Review

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Plot Summary of On Reflection: An Autobiography

"    During the course of her seven-decades long acting career, Helen Hayes won the Academy Award two times. Hayes earned the nickname "First Lady of the American Theater", and was one of only twelve people to win an Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and Academy Award. Hayes won the Oscar in the Best Actress category in 1932 for her role in the film "The Sin of Madelon Claudet", but did not win her second Oscar until 1970 as the Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Airport".
    Helen Hayes was born in Washington D.C., on October 10, 1900. Her birth name was Helen Hayes Brown, and her parents were Francis W. Brown, and Estella Catherine Hayes. By the time Helen was ten years old she was already acting in movies, acting in a short film called "Jean and the Calico Doll". She made her debut in sound films in the movie "The Sin of Madelon Claudet", for which she also won the Academy Award. She also had roles in the films "Arrowsmith", with Myrna Loy, and "A Farewell to Arms" with Gary Cooper. She also had roles in a few Disney movies, such as "Herbie Rides Again". Although Helen found success in movies, she actually preferred stage work. Hayes was forced to retire from theater work due to asthma. Helen was married to the playwright Charles MacArthur, and their daughter, Mary, died from Polio. Their son, James MacArthur, was an actor himself, and had a role in the hit television show, "Hawaii Five-O".
    The Helen Hayes Theater, located in New York City, was named in her honor in 1983, after she gave her consent to tear down another theater that had been named in her honor.

    "
Nathaniel Ford, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of On Reflection: An Autobiography

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
job/profession: - actor/actress
Job/profession/poverty story Yes
Story of entertainer? - Movie Drama Actor
Period of greatest activity? - 1900+

Subject of Biography
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - actor/actress/producer
Age: - long lived adults
Biography of famous person? Yes
Ethnicity - White
Nationality - American (!)
How sensitive is this person? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Northeast - California
City? Yes
City: - Washington D.C.

Style
Person - mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
Writer's slant towards subject: - very favorable
Story of entire life, or part? - story of nearly entire life
If this is a kid's book: - Age 16-Adult
Autobiography? Yes
How much dialogue in bio? - significantly more dialog than descript
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 26-50% of book

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Helen Hayes Resident Scholar Profiles

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Nathaniel Ford

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Helen Hayes Book Review