By the way, I had Edward G. Robinson's Five Star Final fifth on my list -- the performance is so good it actually keeps pointing out how bad everybody else in the movie is. I kept thinking this is what would happen if you brought Gene Hackman in to star in your kid's high school play.
Whereas Wallace Beery, who I've got fourth, is a pure ham, but a corny movie like The Champ needs a big side order of ham to make it work. Like Boston Legal only worked because William Shatner was perfectly hammy, a more modulated, realistic portrayal of the over-the-hill boxer would have sunk The Champ.
Or at least that's my reaction to it.
As for the Buster Keaton header, I've had the picture sitting around for a year, but there's actually a ticket taker smack in the middle of it that made it unusable as a header. Fortunately, I discovered I have the "Paint" program on my computer and I airbrushed her right out of there.
My nominees, in rank order are:
ReplyDeleteWinner - Muni
#2 - March
#3 - John Barrymore (Grand Hotel)
#4 - Edward G Robinson (Five Star Final)
#5 - Lowell Sherman (What Price Hollywood)
My honorable mentions are Ronald Colman (Arrowsmith), Colin Clive (Frankenstein) and Groucho.
I vote for Buster Keaton....
ReplyDeleteNice.
yeah, fabulous heading! :)
ReplyDelete1# Fredric March
2# Paul Muni
By the way, I had Edward G. Robinson's Five Star Final fifth on my list -- the performance is so good it actually keeps pointing out how bad everybody else in the movie is. I kept thinking this is what would happen if you brought Gene Hackman in to star in your kid's high school play.
ReplyDeleteWhereas Wallace Beery, who I've got fourth, is a pure ham, but a corny movie like The Champ needs a big side order of ham to make it work. Like Boston Legal only worked because William Shatner was perfectly hammy, a more modulated, realistic portrayal of the over-the-hill boxer would have sunk The Champ.
Or at least that's my reaction to it.
As for the Buster Keaton header, I've had the picture sitting around for a year, but there's actually a ticket taker smack in the middle of it that made it unusable as a header. Fortunately, I discovered I have the "Paint" program on my computer and I airbrushed her right out of there.
The Soviets would have loved Paint.
As for the Buster Keaton header,
ReplyDeleteWhat this country needs is a good 40¢ movie house . . . .
What this country needs is a good 40¢ movie house . . . .
ReplyDeleteAs you may have observed, in Casablanca life is cheap!
Sorry I'm totally biased but it's Freddy all the way for me.
ReplyDelete