Monday, August 2, 2010

30 Day Movie Meme: Day 6

Day 6: FAVOURITE ACTOR/ACTRESS

MARLON BRANDO
Best Actor: On the Waterfront (1954), The Godfather (1972)
Nominated: 8 times (2 wins)
First Became A Fan: After watching The Godfather in 2005. I spent the next few months catching up on as many of his films that I could get my hands on. There are still a few obscure ones I haven't seen; however, I have since caught up on all the essentials and some underrated classics.
Favourite Brando Films: The Godfather, A Streetcar Named Desire, On the Waterfront
Favourite Brando Performances: Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather, Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront, Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire, Paul in Last Tango in Paris, Mark Antony in Julius Caesar
Check Out These Lesser-Known Films I'd Recommend: One-Eyed Jacks (the only film he ever directed), The Fugitive Kind, Viva Zapata!, The Men (although this is currently unavailable on DVD), The Ugly American, The Young Lions.

Marlon Brando's famous ad-libbed scene from Last Tango in Paris. Brando created a childhood for his character, Paul, and Bernardo Bertollucci leaves the camera on his face for the majority of the scene.


BETTE DAVIS
Best Actress: Dangerous (1935), Jezebel (1938)
Nominated: 10 times (2 wins)

First Became A Fan: At the age of 12 when I saw Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? for the first time. Although I didn't actually start following her career until I was older, I've since caught up on some of her most memorable films.
Favourite Davis Films: All About Eve, Now Voyager, Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, Dark Victory.
Favourite Davis Performances: Jane Hudson in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, Margo Channing in All About Eve, Julie Marsden in Jezebel, Charlotte in Now Voyager, Charlotte Hollis in Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte.
Check Out These Lesser-Known Films I'd Recommend: Dark Victory, Now Voyager, Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte.


Bette Davis in Jezebel with a really young Henry Fonda. I love their chemistry and Davis is so natural and beautiful in this scene.

2 comments:

  1. (Started following you again!)

    So during a recent episode of my podcast, we did a top five list of southern movies and STREETCAR came up. I sorta think I need to watch that one again, because I think I saw it before I could fully appreciate it.

    'Course, for my money, Brando doesn't get a whole lot better than ON THE WATERFRONT.

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  2. I first saw Streetcar when I was 18, before I could properly appreciate it too. I've seen it about six times since and, with each viewing, I grow to love it more and more. There are little nuances you pick up on with each viewing.

    Brando did give a better performance in Waterfront. Streetcar is so iconic for him because it was his "arrival"...plus, he was all raw sexuality which wasn't all that present in 1951 American cinema.

    P.S. I finally saw Robin Hood (and Salt and The Kids Are Alright). I saw them all last week so I fell a little behind...but Robin Hood...not that great.

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