Martin Landau was one who showed promise in his younger days and
showed occasional flashes of brilliance, but by the 1970's when he was
doing Space 1999 and movies like Meteor and that Gilligan's Island
reunion movie I felt he had become something of a hack. In the mid
late 80's he developed into an outstanding character actor in films.
I wasn't too impressed with Tom Hanks in his younger days; I never
imagined he would develop into the Jimmy Stewart of his era.
Clint Eastwood is having one of the most interesting third acts in
film history; in his younger days I didn't think much of him as an
actor but he has improved considerably over the years.
If it has any merit, it shows Kate's improved skill.
--
"In no part of the constitution is more wisdom to be found,
than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace
to the legislature, and not to the executive department."
- James Madison
Lola Albright improved with age as did Muriel Hemingway.
Wull
True. Think of Harrison looking weak head to head with Henry Winkler in
Heroes.
--
--
Dennis/Endy9
~Some will sink, but we will float. Grab your coat. Let's get out of here.
You're my witness, I'm your Mutineer.~ Warren Zevon
--
Laughton's early films were incredibly heavy-handed and stage
oriented, and even some of his mid-career work was frequently
overdone. By the end of his career, when sufficiently engaged by the
material and the co-stars - such as in "Spartacus" or "Advise and
Consent" he was virtually without peer, and wonderfully adept at film
acting.
March also started off 'too large' for the screen, making his work in
such early films as "Sign of the Cross" and "The Affairs of Cellini"
difficult to take. He blossomed a little earlier than Laughton IMHO,
and by the time of "Anthony Adverse" had tamed most of his excesses.
The depth, skill and subtle playing of of March in his later
portrayals, such as "Best Years of Our Lives," "Executive Suite," and
"Man in the Grey Flannel Suit" were quite impressive.
I thought March was excellent in _ A Star is Born_ and although I
would never have cast him as a swashbuckler there was nothing wrong
with his performance as Jean Lafitte in _The Buccaneer_.
Dave in Toronto
A lot of actors got better with seasoning. E.g. Humphrey Bogart,
William Holden, Fred MacMurray, Dick Powell, Robert Mitchum, etc.,
etc., etc.
>I thought March was excellent in _ A Star is Born_ and although I
>would never have cast him as a swashbuckler there was nothing wrong
>with his performance as Jean Lafitte in _The Buccaneer_.
Fredric March was John Simon's favorite actor of the American studio
years.
____
On the question of playing continuo during a Mozart concerto, I can only
reaffirm my belief that it is perfectly fine as long as it is inaudible.
-- Charles Rosen, "The Classical Style"
>A lot of actors got better with seasoning. E.g. Humphrey Bogart,
>William Holden, Fred MacMurray, Dick Powell, Robert Mitchum, etc.,
>etc., etc.
Laurence Olivier, too. The skinny little twit with the Ronald Colman
moustache grew into -- a cosmic Coriolanus, Richard, Lear, Othello,
&c. He wasn't bad on film in his youth, but he sure grew in skill &
stature.
EK: Go earlier, and you'll see what I mean...
>Jack Nicholson seemed the worst actor in the universe in The Terror and
>Little Shop.
I don't think it is fair to judge his skills by The Terror, shot in
2-3 days with a freshly written script. And he was hilarious in
Little Shop of Horrors.
"Curse you, Don Tickles, Notary Public!"