Comments on: Where Are The Cinema Heroes Today?

By: Twitter Trackbacks for Big Hollywood » Blog Archive » Where Are The Cinema Heroes Today? [breitbart.com] on Topsy.com

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:17:54 +0000

[...] Big Hollywood » Blog Archive » Where Are The Cinema Heroes Today? bighollywood.breitbart.com/obean/2009/01/06/where-are-the-cinema-heroes-today-10 – view page – cached The movies saved my life. I grew up in the great depression, the only child of a pair of star crossed lovers. My father lost his job. My mother drank. — From the page [...]

By: Kid In The Front Row

Kid In The Front Row — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 14:54:42 +0000

A great post. Indeed, I would love to see a return to filmmaking where the hero is King, and I agree – we do need these heroes. But it's a very tricky thing, because cinema has aged and matured. A modern hero is a different thing, the John Wayne's and Jimmy Stewarts of yesterday are very hard for people to believe in. We find our heroes now to be people like Jerry Maguire, who had to have a breakdown and get to the edge of insanity before clawing his way back.

I think the heroes you are looking for (who I am looking for too) are hard to fit in to cinema today. I think a perfect example of this is Mickey Rourke in 'The Wrestler' – he's the guy who back in the 80's would have been the All-American, heroic hero – but today, society doesn't want him. Instead, he sticks to what he knows, and believes in – but in the end he'll die unappreciated. It's sad, but I think that's how it is.

I'd love to see heroic characters – and I think they'd help us in this slump just like your heroes did during and after the Great Depression.

By: rd

rd — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:12:31 +0000

We’re a predominately white nation and most of our heroes have, consequently, been white men. It’s not fashionable to celebrate white men anymore, unless (ala Gran Torino), it’s because they identify with another ethnic group.

By: JackRabbit

JackRabbit — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:16:50 +0000

People have bitched about Hollywood and its supposed lack of morals since the time Orson Bean tries to tell us was “golden.” It’s obvious right-wingers are still bitching about Hollywood. Much ado about nothing.

By: Big Hollywood » Blog Archive » Big Thanks: A Really Big Launch, A Really Big Tent, A Really Big Future

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 01:09:46 +0000

[...] father-in-law Orson Bean hearkened to a time when the film industry inspired people even in the bleakest of times. Bill [...]

By: JoeCR

JoeCR — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:54:50 +0000

What a pleasure to read your article. The influence that decent entertainent had on you was shared by most young people I knew. No hitting below the belt; no kicking: These were rules of fairness taught by Roy and Gene – and observed by even the most beligerent kid in school. What a shame that these rules have been replaced with knives, guns, clubs – anything to win.

It all comes down to an ideology that wants to confuse and destroy the foundations of our society and replace it with a world where perfect humans can be developed through education. What a shame that new discoveries are showing the flaws in the foundation of thier ideology and it will be a joke in 40-50 years.

By: Amanda Fitzhugh

Amanda Fitzhugh — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 07:18:21 +0000

Love this blog and agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Bean! My son was only nine when his father died and he picked up his dad’s old school copy of “Stories of the Gods and Heroes” and read it until it fell apart. I, too, grew up watching John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, Spencer Tracy, Charlton Heston, and Clark Gable. There wasn’t a lot of moral relativism when I was growing up. Feeling ashamed when you did something wrong was not an hourlong episode of Oprah. Bonanza, Palladin, Father Knows Best, all taught lessons on the small screen. I quit going to movies for many years after I saw “Carnal Knowledge” and never regretted missing most of the garbage that was produced during my hiatus. If the industry ever figures out that the public wants to be E*N*T*E*R*T*A*I*N*E*D and uplifted, instead of demeaned, then perhaps it will make films that will cost less and make more.

By: Bobc

Bobc — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:12:45 +0000

Hello Mr. Bean! Good to hear from you!

I don’t think we have heroes in Hollywood now. I used to want to see movies that had people in them I liked, now I only go if it’s the kind of content I want to see.
No more Cary Grants, Jimmy Stewarts, and one of my favorites, even if I didn’t know his politics, was Yul Brynner.

As for the women in Hollywood now, nope, there is no one….the last one left that I admire is, Angela Lansbury.

By: Beuvyler

Beuvyler — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:03:13 +0000

Great piece! I know why there are no more heroes in Hollywood. We have been outsourcing our heroes for Australia and England, ie(Russle Crowe, Christain Bale) Can anyone honestly think of a young American actor who could play a real “bad ass” and be convincing? The reason John Wayne was so good, is because he was genuine. For example, when smacked someone for getting lippy in a film, you get the feeling he wouldn’t be above doing it in real time. Would anyone really be afraid of Matt Damon in a dark alley? Clint Eastwood must sense that there are no more heroes as well. He’s giving a lesson in tuff with his new film “Torino”. Pay attention young Hollywood. Put down the Frapaccinos and cancle the manicure, Metrosexuality isn’t cool, despite what your girlfriend tells you.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:20:54 +0000

Thanks Jeff. I think the problem is who is casting? And alot of the taste of these casting people goes to the little teeny boy look rather than the adult male. We all know the Duke would never have made it now days. Look what happened to Tom Selleck whom in my view was the heir apparent, even while Harrison Ford was busy wondering about getting his ear pierced. A lot of really amazing actors who have “star” quality have never had a chance at the good roles because they don’t fit what the casting departments want or because of well politics. Do one advert for the NRA and see how far you get?