I just finished rewatching "Witness for the Prosecution" -- the old black and white classic, with Charles Laughton, Tyrone Power and Marlene Dietrich. What a great old movie but provoked a couple of random thoughts:
First, Laughton is an amazing actor but lordy, lordy... he is a seriously unattractive man. Even without the makeup, he still looks like Quasimodo's only slightly more attractive brother, bless his heart. That he managed a career in Hollywood at all is an achievement. But the sheer presence of the man has to be part of the reason. I shall have to look for more Laughon in other films.
What amazed me this time around about WFTP-- I saw it years and years ago -- was seeing just how much of Marlene's performance inspired Madeline Kahn in "Blazing Saddles." I mean, I knew that Lilli Von Stupp was based on Marlene but really "seeing" it -- now that I've seen BS about a dozen times -- was fun.
Dietrich DOES sound like a German Elmer Fudd when it comes to pronouncing the letter "R." (It's twue, it's twue!) Even the scene in the club where Dietrich was singing was so much like Lill's stage show -- right down to the drunks storming the stage -- it was a hoot! And at the end, when Marlene is clutching at Tyrone Power crying, "Don't leave me! Don't leave me!" all I could see was Kahn hanging onto Sheriff Bart, saying the same thing before bursting into hysterical German. (Something really hysterical, though, was hearing Dietrich attempt a cockney accent. She just about nails it until an "R" comes along....)
Anyway.... i watched that while sewing a monkey (yes, I have monkeys all over the place), Then called Centennial and my doctor and my bank trying to figure out which medical bills got paid twice, once by me, once by my insurance... and now checking my online life.
Next on the agenda: ordering more socks, then adding embellishments to a couple of treasure boxes in the finishing stages of production, and finishing (hopefully) another monkey while watching "Frost/Nixon" later this evening.
Though I may opt for my NetFlix of "Mystery Science Theater 3000."
Or maybe seeing if Season 2 of "Breaking Bad" is available on InDemand. I've finished Season 1 and am loving it. Mr White is like a combination of Mr. Wizard and McGyver. Mercury fluminate, indeed. What a hoot. Though this series has shown me how very unlikely it is I would ever succeed as a meth dealer. I'm a lousy chemist.
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" he is a seriously unattractive man"
ReplyDeleteI am not of that opinion, but then, regardless of what one thinks of his looks, the truth is that you can't take the eyes out of him when he's onscreen ;D
Considering Show-busssiness general inclination to keep non-goodloking people off the fence, it is indeed astounding that he worked in films, and I should add, playing leads, and quite successfully in his 30 year film career.
If you liked him here, I recommend you, yes, to keep track of his films: you won't be disappointed!
Among my personal favourites I could mention Spartacus, Rembrandt, Ruggles of Red Gap, Les Miserables, Tales of Manhattan, Mutiny on the Bounty, This Land Is Mine or Island of Lost Souls, just to mention a few
Gloria
www.rootingforlaughton.blogspot.com