davey
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Post by davey on Jul 5, 2023 8:42:12 GMT
I’ve been making my way through all of his films. For a lot of years, all I knew about him was, ‘The Postman Always Rings Twice’ and the John Prine song.
Later I caught on to more of his story. The first method-acting star. Precursor to Brando. Blacklisted by HUAC. Refused to name names. Died young.
Anyhow…what an actor. I happened to watch’”Four Daughters” yesterday - his debut film. It’s not a great movie, but you can see why he was a sensation. His style is so much more natural than everyone else around him. Watching about a dozen or so of his other films, you really see that his characters were all distinct and vivid.
Very quickly jumping near the top of the list of my favorite actors, I wonder if anyone else here is a fan?
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Post by Stacy Heydon on Jul 5, 2023 9:20:23 GMT
I’ve been making my way through all of his films. For a lot of years, all I knew about him was, ‘The Postman Always Rings Twice’ and the John Prine song. Later I caught on to more of his story. The first method-acting star. Precursor to Brando. Blacklisted by HUAC. Refused to name names. Died young. Anyhow…what an actor. I happened to watch’”Four Daughters” yesterday - his debut film. It’s not a great movie, but you can see why he was a sensation. His style is so much more natural than everyone else around him. Watching about a dozen or so of his other films, you really see that his characters were all distinct and vivid. Very quickly jumping near the top of the list of my favorite actors, I wonder if anyone else here is a fan? I've actually seen very little of his work. But his performance in 'Body & Soul' (which I've not seen in about 30 years, so I can't say much about it) did blow me away and justified the proto-Brando hype. It had a visceral quality that was very unusual for the time. Will be interested to see what recommendations pop up.
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davey
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Post by davey on Jul 5, 2023 14:14:04 GMT
I’ll toss out Force of Evil as an immediate standout. Written And Directed by Abraham Polonsky (who wrote the screenplay for Body and Soul as well as Odds Against Tommorow, and Tell Them Willie Boy is Here and other standout films). That one is pretty much in the must-see category.
Garfield is terrific, and the film itself is gritty and unsparing. The last scene will stay with you forever. Also has Thomas Gomez, Marie Windsor and a very young Beau Bridges.
I’ll throw out more recs if nobody joins in. But this should be top of the list.
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Post by harrylemon on Jul 5, 2023 15:15:35 GMT
My mum was a big fan. In the days of bbc2 showing movies regularly she would record them on her vcr. I've seen some of his films, usually he was the best thing in them. Fantastic actor.
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Sneelock
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Post by Sneelock on Jul 5, 2023 17:47:36 GMT
Isn't he good? it's like he's not even acting. "naturalistic" doesn't even begin to describe it. Thomas Gomez was damned good in "Force of Evil" too. More "actorly" but very stylized. I'm very fond of him as well. when I worked retail in Beverly Hills I got to know Polonsky to the extent that he would talk to me if he saw me walking down the street.he was ONE hell of a guy. He once walked in on a customer insulting me and me defending myself. a day or two later he gave me some advice. Don't ever do assholes the favor of getting mad at them. you get mad and they win. that's what they want because you don't think good when you're mad. Of "tell them willie boy..." he said Redford accused him of letting Robert Blake steal the picture from him. he said he told him that he didn't need to let Blake steal the picture - that Redford had done that all by himself. heck of a guy. He got to be a little bit of a celebrity towards the end of the time I knew him. Scorcese was championing "Force of Evil" and Polonsky would tell anybody who asked him how he felt about Elia Kazan getting a lifetime achievement award. "maybe somebody will take a shot at him" he said every time "...and brighten an otherwise dull evening" He said this with a twinkle in his eye but it was treated as incendiary a statement as it was. I was glad he said it if only to see him on TV with his equally pleasant wife. IMO he deserved some attention even if it was for such reasons.
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davey
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Post by davey on Jul 5, 2023 18:31:26 GMT
Wow - would love to have known him. Clearly an interesting guy. Also loved his Screenplay for Madigan.
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davey
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Post by davey on Jul 6, 2023 7:03:01 GMT
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davey
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Post by davey on Apr 14, 2024 7:23:04 GMT
Just saw The Breaking Point again. A marvelous film, and Garfield is fantastic in it.
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