haha Brilliant! and thanks for the little mention on our George Brent. :) so much to catch up on over here, Marx Brothers wise mainly, almost bowled over at all the parts you've written!! fabo.
Great to hear from you, Zoe! I'm glad you were able to carve out a week or two to read through the Marx Brothers essays -- I went a bit nuts there, but as I'll explain in a post later today, the Marx Brothers played a pivotal part in my past and I wanted to take some time with them.
Not even sure if this one would do it for Hemingway and I know he had a thing for Cooper. It's probably the cigarette.
Funny how the cigarette was so much a part of nearly every actor's (and actress's) look and has become an automatic turnoff for many people. I myself can't stand the smell anymore -- reminds me of a shaggy, wet dog that's just relieved himself on one's shoe -- but I think the photo captures the self-regarding narcissism usually so well-concealed at the core of Gary Cooper's laid-back all-American appeal. I'm not sure everyone would agree with that characterization of him -- British film historian David Thomson regards him as a man of "astonishing integrity" -- but I think anybody who bedded as many women as he did without regard to the state of their hearts is at his core a narcissist. Which is why I think his best roles are not as the unquestioned hero, but as flawed, self-absorbed men in movies such as Morocco, A Farewell To Arms and Meet John Doe.
Either that, or as inarticulate, emotionally-stunted men (Mr. Deeds Goes To Town and Ball Of Fire) -- which matches his lack of range as an actor.
When I like him, I really like him. But I confess, I rarely like him.
By the way, I'm using the term "narcissism" as something distinct from "vanity" to mean someone who thinks purely in terms of his own needs and desires. Lacking empathy. A need always to play the hero ...
Gary Cooper.
Thanks, so much, MM. You had me at Cary. : )
ReplyDeleteNot even sure if this one would do it for Hemingway and I know he had a thing for Cooper. It's probably the cigarette.
ReplyDeletehaha Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteand thanks for the little mention on our George Brent.
:)
so much to catch up on over here, Marx Brothers wise mainly, almost bowled over at all the parts you've written!! fabo.
Thanks, Thingy. Couldn't have done it without you!
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear from you, Zoe! I'm glad you were able to carve out a week or two to read through the Marx Brothers essays -- I went a bit nuts there, but as I'll explain in a post later today, the Marx Brothers played a pivotal part in my past and I wanted to take some time with them.
ReplyDeleteNot even sure if this one would do it for Hemingway and I know he had a thing for Cooper. It's probably the cigarette.
ReplyDeleteFunny how the cigarette was so much a part of nearly every actor's (and actress's) look and has become an automatic turnoff for many people. I myself can't stand the smell anymore -- reminds me of a shaggy, wet dog that's just relieved himself on one's shoe -- but I think the photo captures the self-regarding narcissism usually so well-concealed at the core of Gary Cooper's laid-back all-American appeal. I'm not sure everyone would agree with that characterization of him -- British film historian David Thomson regards him as a man of "astonishing integrity" -- but I think anybody who bedded as many women as he did without regard to the state of their hearts is at his core a narcissist. Which is why I think his best roles are not as the unquestioned hero, but as flawed, self-absorbed men in movies such as Morocco, A Farewell To Arms and Meet John Doe.
Either that, or as inarticulate, emotionally-stunted men (Mr. Deeds Goes To Town and Ball Of Fire) -- which matches his lack of range as an actor.
When I like him, I really like him. But I confess, I rarely like him.
By the way, I'm using the term "narcissism" as something distinct from "vanity" to mean someone who thinks purely in terms of his own needs and desires. Lacking empathy. A need always to play the hero ...
ReplyDelete