Out on a Limb (Shirley MacLaine book)
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''Out on a Limb'' is an autobiographical book written by
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film actress and
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r
Shirley MacLaine Shirley MacLaine (born Shirley MacLean Beaty, April 24, 1934) is an American actress, author, and former dancer. Known for her portrayals of quirky, strong-willed and eccentric women, MacLaine has received numerous accolades over her seven-dec ...
in 1983. It details MacLaine's journeys through New Age spirituality. The book follows her from southern California to various locations including New York City, Europe, and Hawaii, culminating in a life-changing trip to the
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in Peru. Central characters include David who is, according to MacLaine, a composite character; Gerry Stamford, a married man and fictionalized
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member of the British House of Commons, with whom MacLaine claimed she had a love affair; and real-life close friend and politician, Bella Abzug. The book received both acclaim and criticism for its candor in dealing with such topics as reincarnation, meditation,
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(trance-channeling), and even unidentified flying objects. It made Shirley MacLaine the butt of many jokes, especially by late-night television
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s. Once, when
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would not let up on the New Age subject, she responded by saying, "Maybe
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was right; maybe you ''are'' an asshole!" The claim about an affair with the MP gained attention in the UK when the book was published there. ''Out on a Limb'' was adapted for television broadcast in 1987. The five-hour
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miniseries starred MacLaine (as herself), John Heard as David Manning, and Charles Dance as Gerry Stamford.
Anne Jackson Anne Jackson (September 3, 1925 – April 12, 2016); retrieved April 16, 2016Archivedfrom the original on April 16, 2016. was an American actress of stage, screen, and television. She was the wife of actor Eli Wallach, with whom she often co-sta ...
played Bella Abzug, and Jerry Orbach played Shirley's agent. MacLaine kept a diary during the filming of the miniseries. The notes were later turned into the book ''It's All In the Playing''. After the publication the former President Jimmy Carter asked MacLaine to talk about UFOs.


References


External links


Shirley MacLaine's website
*{{cite news , title=Shirley MacLaine book is found exasperating , author=Norm Goldstein , url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b7BcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pVgNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5103,768920&dq=out-on-a-limb+maclaine&hl=en , newspaper=Merced Sun-Star , date=July 5, 1983 , accessdate=16 Aug 2012
''Out on a Limb''
at Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 04 Nov 2015. *'' Out on a Limb'' at Internet Archive. Retrieved 26 Feb 2021. 1983 non-fiction books American autobiographies New Age books