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I was so looking forward to this book and it didn't disappoint. I remember first seeing Hendry in "Girl in the Headlines", what a fabulous movie and Ian was a major part of that. He played Inspector Birkett, a quirky detective trying to balance family life with a lively teenage daughter while on the hunt for a vicious murderer - he made his scenes believable. Then I saw him in one of the better Thriller episodes "Killer With Two Faces" made in 1974, just over 10 years later and I couldn't believe the difference - he now looked like an elderly man!! and I really wanted to know what happened to him. I don't have anything negative to say about this really lovingly written and extremely well researched book. I did find out what happened and why he went from being to the essence of cool to a very sick looking old man. A penchant for alcohol from his early theatre days made sure that by the early 1960s he was well on the way to being an alcoholic but in 1963 he was on top of the world. His marriage to the adorable but tragic Janet Munro saw them as the top glitter couple of their day and the photos provided in the book show a sparkling couple. Unfortunately both were dealing with their own demons and Janet who went through her own drink and drug hell must be applauded for having the courage to stop drinking in 1966. It must have been difficult to do while being married to a person like Ian who never really addressed his own problems. This book provides a very detailed analysis of his films, theatre and TV work with many, many quotes and interviews from people who give an honest assessment of Hendry as a man and an actor. Hershman seems to have tracked down just about everyone who worked with him from John Nettles to Michael Jayston (who was so terrific in a couple of Brian Clemen's Thrillers). And if you are a fan of British TV from the 60s,70s, the names conjure up a whose who of solid talent. A common thread is their love and esteem of Ian who, no matter how "in his cups" he was, was always nothing short of professional as soon as he stepped before the camera. And anyone who could request Bob Newhart's "The Driving Instructor" for a Desert Island Disc - you've got to love!!Read full review
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