James Whitmore Has Died
by John NolteIn less than two months we’ve lost three of the stars of “Battleground“ (1949). In December, Van Johnson was taken from us, last month it was Ricardo Montalban, and now James Whitmore. In the William Wellman classic, Whitmore plays Sgt. Kinnie, the battle hardened leader of a small group of soldiers lost and confused in the midst of the Battle of the Bulge. Because of frostbite, Kinnie limps through most of the film as he leads the men through increasingly difficult times right up to that dreaded moment where bayonets are necessary because the ammunition’s run out.
Whitmore’s superb in the role, was nominated for an Oscar as a supporting actor (he won the Golden Globe), and launched a sixty year career that would include memorable turns in “The Asphalt Jungle” (1950), “Kiss Me Kate” (1953), “Them!” (1954), “Planet of the Apes” (1968), “Tora! Tora! Tora!” (1970), “Chato’s Land” (1972), “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994), numerous television appearances and two successful one man stage shows as Will Rogers and Harry Truman.
But the closing scene of “Battleground” is how I’ll always remember him.
After endless days of hell, Kinnie and the other survivors are finally out of danger and set to be relieved by fresh troops. Hungry, exhausted, and shaken to the core, they’re a ragtag bunch dreaming only of a hot meal and clean sheets. Kinnie understands, though, that his men have one more mission: to put on a brave face and show their replacements a fighting spirit.
Here’s the unforgettable result:
–
James Whitmore served his country in the United States Marine Corps during World War II and died at the age of 87.
May he rest in peace.
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37 Comments
A class act indeed.
JW, rest in peace.
Thanks for the clip. Very good way to remember him, yes.
(Otherwise, I was thinking Twilight Zone episodes)
“And when he gets to Heaven,
To St. Peter he will tell:
Another Marine reporting, sir,
I’ve served my time in Hell!”
Rest in peace, Sgt. Whitmore.
Semper Fi
As a lover of 1950’s big bug movies, I’ll remember Mr. Whitmore in Them!
Giant ants, and a very good story to go with them.
I remembered that clip though the decades but had forgotten the movie – RIP James
It is sad to see that generation of talented actors that were also REAL MEN leave us. They were part of that Greatest Generation we’ve heard so much about recently. Compare those guys to the current crop of pretty boy waxed smooth meterousexuals and you can see quite a contrast. Mr. Whitmore was always a first class guy on and off the stage. God Bless him.
Unfortunately, another actor of whose work I’ve seen little of. In my case, I remember him best in the Miracle Gro commercials he used to do. He made for a good villain, as I saw in two episodes of The Big Valley in the 60’s. I must say, I didn’t realize until recently he was in Planet Of The Apes; I’ve seen it many times but never recognized him.
RIP, Mr. Whitmore.
Every time that I saw James Whitmore on the screen, there was something that stood out for him over other actors. It did not matter if it was a television guest appearance or on the big screen. Villain or good guy, I always remembered his performance over the others.
Let me second the recommendation of “The Next Voice You Hear”. That’s a wonderful little (in the best sense of little) movie that is rarely heard about nowadays. Also, let me second the kudos of Whitmore’s performance in Shawshank….one of the greatest character creations of the decade….again, not often cited. His work in “The Practice”, while television, was phenomenal too. All in all, one of those actors of the earlier generations that seem to be devalued nowadays…..the character actor. And one of the greatest, to be sure.
Whitmore and Arness were awesome in Them–which means it will soon be ruined with a $100 million irony-filled comedic remake starring Justin Long and Seth Rogen.
Semper Fi and safe passage to a great Actor, Drill Instructor and Marine. Too bad we are losing all the great actors from a time when Hollywood did not need to send them to a mini-bootcamp to prepare for military movie.
One of my favorite actors; never gave a bad performance and truly one of a kind, even while playing Everyman.
Mr. Whitmore was a personal favorite. He stole Shawshank Redemption from Robbins and Freedman. As BATTON LASH mentions, “The Next Voice You Hear” is a gem of a film, little noticed and seldom broadcast. “Them” is a sci-fi classic. Years ago, before it became a rag, the NYT used to publish a weekly TV guide that included quips about the various movies that were scheduled for the week. In reference to “Them”, the quip was, as I recall, “Ants attack Los Angeles, wrong side wins”. Rest in peace sir.
Imdb.com says his last role was on CSI in 2008. What a man!
The instant I heard the news of Mr. Whitmore’s passing, the Jody Drill scene that closes “Battleground” played in my mind. Exactly right, he never gave a bad performance, portraying characters of depth seemingly without effort. Thank you, Mr. Whitmore, for a lifetime of service. Rest in peace, sir. BK
That scene could have been a depiction of E Company, 506th Infantry, 101 Airborne Division. A marine playing the part of an Airborne Trooper, works for me.
“Rendezvous With Destiny” Mr. Whitmore
While I truly appreciate the depth BATTLEGROUND my first thought on hearing of his death was James Whitmore and Keenan Wynn doing Brush Up Your Shakespeare in KISS ME KATE. Perhaps it’s the female in me or my love of musicals, but it brought an immediate smile to my face. And I ask, where are the truly talented who could do both the last scene in BATTLEGROUND and a Cole Porter musical comedy? We will not see his like again.
I didn’t watch the clip, as I want to watch the whole movie, which I ordered after your last post about it. Mr. Whitmore was fantastic in every thing I’ve seen him in.
Rest in Peace, Marine.
I’m 46 and can’t remember a time that Battleground wasn’t my favorite movie ever, even with Bogart being my #1 guy, when I see that last scene, I tear up everytime, the smile between the two men says it all, it’s a wonderful moment and writing at it’s best, and not a word is spoken between the two, man that’s great stuff.
Mr. Whitmore, RIP & Thank You.
JD
I regret not mentioning “The Last Voice You’ll Hear.” It completely slipped my mind. Next time TCM airs it, I’ll be sure to give that fine, smart Christian gem the attention it deserves.
Splendid film, thanks in large part to Mr. Whitmore’s work with Nancy Davis (Reagan)and the breaking down of Christian tenets and themes into the simplest elements of everyday life.
Very special film that deserves wider recognition.
Mr Whitmore was one of those actors who never ‘phoned it in’. If you wanted an actor who was dependable and authentic in his performance, he was one to count on. Too many actors are in roles that are ‘cookie cutter’, and they only last for a few years. We were fortunate that he was someone who could be found in a variety of roles, and for such a long career.
My condolences to his family, friends and fans.
I feel like I just lost a favorite uncle. I was a big fan of Mr. Whitmore’s and watched many of his movies. His role in Shawshank made me cry. He’s among the last of a dying breed and will be missed. RIP Mr. Whitmore
My father was in the Navy in Long Beach in the 50s. Back then, service members would get into a lot of sporting events free if they were uniform. Patriotism was still running high from WW2 and the Korean War.
My Dad hitched a bus to the Rams game and was heading towards the stadium when a gentleman offered him a free ticket. My dad quickly realized that it was James Whitmore offering him a ticket to the game. Needless to say my dad accepted, being an enlisted man at the time, it was a better seat than the free ones. My dad has always spoken fondly of that day, and how James Whitmore was such a fine person, and how he and his son really enjoyed the game as much as my father did.
The Shawshank Redemption is one of my father’s favorite movies, and it is also one of mine. Whitmore was always such a class act. It is sad we are losing so many of the remaining greats from when Hollywood had dignity and class.
After watching the ending of Battleground, I got up and looked at the Screaming Eagle patch on my fatigue jacket, my basic training unit in the Korean War. The spirit and pride of the men at the end is hard to explain but that is what makes American service men so special. I can't expain it but James Whitmore reflects that wonder in the film, Battleground. Thank you, Marine. We in the army got much of our needed equipment from the Marines because of the foul-ups in the army. God bless you, James.
Great clip. Makes me want to see the whole film. Only one problem: the uploader screwed up by making the clip widescreen. None of the widescreen filming processes existed in 1949, so Battleground must have been in the old standard 1.33:1 aspect ratio. Forcing it to a widescreen ratio distorts the whole picture.
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