Comments on: TCM Pick O’ The Day: Tuesday, January 13th

By: John

John — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:38:42 +0000

Years ago, William Goldman compared 1939 to 1982 in terms of each year’s Oscar nominations and the decline was pretty self-evident.
I agree that Mr. Laughton and Miss o’Hara are gems of the cinema.

By: Howard Thompson

Howard Thompson — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 06:24:35 +0000

Never seen the movie before, but I checked it out, and it was very great, great recommendation.

By: Charles Delacroix

Charles Delacroix — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 04:57:33 +0000

You know, after reading through and thinking about the examples and counter-examples, I’m inclined to think that the line between big acting and big characters might be pretty hard to make out sometimes. And agree with John the Libertarian very much that genre defines acting.

Acting as such shouldn’t be very noticeable at all in more realistic genres. But acting as such should be very noticeable indeed in genres for which stylized acting is a core feature of the genre. Sin City, Singin in the Rain, The King and I, 300, Hamlet, Henry V, the Aeneid, the Oddyssey, and (yes) the Hunchback of Notre Dame all use styles of acting and speaking that “stand out” … and should stand out. Making for “big characters” … yes … but isn’t part of the pleasure involved in the knowledge that they are characters? Not realistic next-door neighbor types? Consciousness that we are experiencing or watching Story, and not watching an inventory unfold or listening to a dryasdust narrative? But in that case is the Big Acting really simply an expression of the Big Character in the Big Story?

I don’t know … just thinking out loud really.

By: CW

CW — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:21:00 +0000

This version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one of my all-time favorites. It is so well done. It casts a spell.

Yes, as someone commented, the moment when Quasimodo rescues Esmerelda from execution is ELECTRIFYING.

“SANCTUARY!! SANCTUARY!!”

For Charles Laughton fans, check out an obscure gem called
This Land Is Mine. Directed by Jean Renoir.
An ordinary, timid man finds his courage in the face of danger, and sets a fine example to his young students about the responsibility of citizens in a free society.

I’m pretty sure it’s on DVD.

What a shame Laughton’s version of The Island of Dr. Moreau
is not on DVD. It’s called Island of Lost Souls. Very effective.

Too bad it’s so rare today to shoot a new film in black & white.

By: JEB

JEB — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:38:53 +0000

Hunchback as well as Rio Grande were both filmed in B&W. Thank goodness Ford was smart enough to film The Quiet Man was in color.

Big acting – me thinks you may have Ms Streep in mind?

Laughton also directed the great Night of the Hunter. A shame he didn’t direct anything else.

By: NavyMom

NavyMom — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:11:04 +0000

Maureen O’Hara has to be the most gorgeous woman ever filmed in any movie. None of today’s flat-chested, bony-armed, lemon-sucking waifs can hold a candle to her. When I was a little girl, my parents took me to the theater to see Ms. O’Hara and co-star John Wayne in “McClintock”. I adored the Duke but was awe-struck by her beauty.

By: PerfectTommy

PerfectTommy — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:56:19 +0000

I really am going to have to start writing John Nolte some day rather than Harry some day.

By: PerfectTommy

PerfectTommy — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:55:17 +0000

I don’t know, Addison, I think Lewis in “There Will Be Blood” is exactly the kind of “big acting” Harry is talking about, it was a big character aptly filled by a great actor.

By: rori

rori — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:53:38 +0000

Worst Big Acting I’ve seen: Brando in On the Waterfront. I want to watch a movie, not an acting class.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:23:21 +0000

This film is yet another reason that 1939 is The Year of Film