Author: Bruce Campbell
Price: $10.17
Release Date: August 24, 2002
Tags: autobiography, books, bruce campbell
If Chins Could Kill is the autobiography of one of my favorite actors, Bruce Campbell, who’s one of those actors who never seem to rise above having a cult following. Mention his name to most folks and you’re likely to get a perplexed look followed by, “Bruce who?”
“Campbell, dammit! Bruce Friggin’ Campbell! You know, Ash? From the Evil Dead movies? How about his stint as Brisco County Jr.? OK, how about Autolycus from Xena: Warrior Princess?? No?? WTF, dude??
That’s OK. Just means that those of us who do know of him and count ourselves as fans can enjoy him all to ourselves, you philistines!”
Anyway, this book, as I said, is his autobiography and it chronicles his rise to, well, cult-stardom from his humble beginnings right here in Michigan all the way up through his time touring around promoting If Chins Could Kill. How is that possible you ask? This is a second printing of the book and he added a bit on the end about the tour.
If you’re a fan, and especially if you’re only a casual fan, then you’ll want to pick up this book. Watching interviews with Bruce in the past I’ve always been struck with how he comes across as your pretty regular Joe who enjoys the fact that he’s never had to go out and get a “real” job, so to speak, and that same tone comes across in his autobiography. Bruce is the definition of the “working actor” in that he’s not so much interested in becoming a big box office name (much to the frustration of his agent) as much as making some pretty cool movies and TV shows. In addition to acting he’s taken turns as producer, director, and whatever-the-hell-needs-to-be-done guy.
As it turns out, this book will be worthwhile to fans of Sam Raimi, Ted Raimi, Rob Tapert, the Cohen Brothers, and any of a number of other people that Bruce made the trek out to Hollywood with because it’s really the story about how all of them got their careers underway. Bruce, Sam, Ted, and Rob have worked as a team on all manner of projects ever since the first Evil Dead film with Sam turning into a director with considerable clout after helming two record breaking film adaptations of Spider-Man. By and large they still work as a team even now that Sam’s a big shot director and there’s hardly a Sam Raimi film made that Bruce hasn’t done at least a cameo in. Ted Raimi also shows up in just about every project any of them have worked on. As a whole they brought a little bit of Michigan to Hollywood and they have a very Midwestern way of getting things done. Definitely a worthwhile read.
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Sepharo on 3/09/05 at 04:02 PM wrote the following... • Permalink
I have the “Official Bootleg Edition” of Army of Darkness in it’s lovely paperbag case.
on 3/09/05 at 04:36 PM wrote the following... • Permalink
I am unashamed to say that I love Bruce Campbell. One of my all-time favorites as well.
And isn’t it Raimi, not Rami?
on 3/09/05 at 04:51 PM wrote the following... • Permalink
You should see Bruce Campbell in “Bubba Ho-Tep”. Astounding acting job--my choice for best actor of 2003. He plays Elvis Presley, who didn’t die after all, but is living out his days in a nursing home. One day a mummy shows up and starts stealing the souls of the seniors in the home. Elvis gets help from none other than fellow resident and former President John F Kennedy, who also didn’t die after all--except he’s now African-American.
I swear, I’m not making this up! It’s a brilliant movie.
--Joe 
Socialist Swine on 3/09/05 at 07:15 PM wrote the following... • Permalink
I was about to comment and say that Les forgot to mention Bruce Campbell’s best movie. However, it seems that Joe beat me to the punch.
Les on 3/09/05 at 09:54 PM wrote the following... • Permalink
Skippy, you’re quite right. I did misspell it. Fixed now.
Joe, it is a good movie. I plan to write a review of it soon as well.
Alistair on 3/09/05 at 10:17 PM wrote the following... • Permalink
A most underrated actor. Got most of his movies and gonna get the book.
on 3/10/05 at 10:36 AM wrote the following... • Permalink
Campbell’s book sounds great! I was such a fan back in the 80s, I subscribed to Bruce’s zine ( imagine if blogs were around then 
“Bruce on a Stick.” I seem to recall at some point, I did get a miniature lifelike Bruce Campbell on a stick :-D
Ted on 3/10/05 at 12:02 PM wrote the following... • Permalink
This is a really amazingly good book. I’ve been a Campbell fan since I saw Army of Darkness and picked this book up as soon as it hit the shelves a few years ago. Definately worth reading, especially for his tips for people who want to get into the business.
on 3/11/05 at 09:21 AM wrote the following... • Permalink
I went to see Bruce Campbell at the book signing event at Borders, in Ann Arbor.
I ended up getting neither the book, nor his autograph in it, due to the fact that the entire top floor of Borders was ABSOLUTELY crammed, shoulder-to-shoulder with fans.
They sold out of the book, and only were signing the first thousand copies or something.
I did end up getting a copy, a couple weeks later, and it’s really a fantastic read--even if you aren’t a fan, but especially if you are.
on 4/06/05 at 12:31 PM wrote the following... • Permalink
You should also do a review on Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way when it comes out.
Bruce Campbell has always kicked ass, and Army of Darkness is my favorite movie of all time.
Somethingshiny on 9/25/05 at 03:59 PM wrote the following... • Permalink
Hey StupidEvilBastard! Since I see it mentioned here… mini-promo for “The Chin”, if you please, as I see a link to his new book on your blog:
Fans of Bruce Campbell ("Evil Dead”, “Army of Darkness”, “Xena: Warrior Princess”, “The Adventures of Brisco County Jr”, “Jack of All Trades") may be interested in meeting Bruce during his tour for his audio version of the book “Make Love The Bruce Campbell Way” September 27-30, 2005 in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Portland. His second book continues the “B” movie theme with a fictional (?) bumbling B-movie actor Bruce Campbell scoring an A-list film; hilarity ensues. The audio book is narrated by Bruce himself as well as a host of other actors! More about the book and tour is on his site at http://www.bruce-campbell.com. Cheers!
