Brando RIP

Posted by: Kevin-W on 02 July 2004

So, the most influential, and perhaps (I keep thinking of all those stinkers) greatest fim actor of them all has gone to that great method class in the sky.

He'd been little more than a ghostly presence for the past 20-odd years, better known for his weight and personal problems than his acting, but performances in The Men , One Eyed Jacks , The Godfather , Last Tango in Paris , The Chase , The Fugitive Kind and others.

Then there the oddities: playing Fletcher hristian as a mumbling fop in Mutiny On the Bounty ; as Sky Masterson in Guys & Dolls ; a strangely compelling Napoleon in Desiree and that extraordinary Kurtz in Apocalypse Now in which he fails, despite himself, to derail the movie.

Even the stinkers, which are too numerous to mention, and those dated performances The Wild One , On the Waterfront and Streetcar, he was always a compellingly watchable presence. And no actor in the history of movies has been as influential on his peers.

I hope he has found some peace now.

Kevin (listening to Throbbing gristle's DOA)
Posted on: 02 July 2004 by throbnorth
I've never been able to fathom his iconic status - a [very few] good films and then a swift decent into mediocrity, self indulgence and tabloid hell. Wasted talent has little glamour for me, I'm afraid, and the classic/stinker ratio seems to suggest that he didn't realise quite what he was doing on the occasions he managed to do it. Sad he's gone, natch, but I miss Margaret Rutherford more.

throb
Posted on: 03 July 2004 by Not For Me
Who will forget his magnificent performance in 'Superman'? It lifted the film into classic status.

DS

OTD - Global Control - Crazy

ps Kevin - Top TG choice - my favourite of their album probably
Posted on: 06 July 2004 by Wolf
Well I've been reading the great Hepburn book "Kate Remembered" and she says it's really chance that a movie becomes great. You try your best and try to surround yourself with good people, but sometimes it just doesn't come off, no matter what you do. More times off than on. And few careers are more than 10 years now that the studio system is gone. also there just are not as many great classic writers, directors, producers out there putting out incredible stuff. The main goal is to get the block buster so much crap is being produced these days. Tom Cruise makes more money but did he really do anything close to what Marlon did? Look at what he's doing, is it memorable? Barely.

Brando was GREAT! he changed the way actors act early in his career and had a number of good roles after that. And a dry spell here and there. He also took meager roles because of the price of his living style. It's expensive to own your own island in the pacific, estate on top of Beverly Hills, and 3 wives and 9 kids and staff to keep all this working. He admitted he went for the fridge anytime he had fears or doubts about his work, but the LA Times had a large pic of him in Street Car without shirt and he was the hunk of his day. Can't keep that for 40 years. Being lean and hungry in physical and mental states isn't possible after decades of success. Long live the good films of Brando and Hepburn, the others will fall quietly into obscurity as well as many of todays blockbusters.

Life is analogue
Posted on: 06 July 2004 by Bob Edwards
May he rest in peace.

Might be heresy, but I think he was the most overrated actor ever.

Best,

Bob
Posted on: 06 July 2004 by Cheese
quote:
Might be heresy

Not if you are more accurate about your point of view - or was that just a cheap attempt to stage a controversy ?

Cheese
Posted on: 06 July 2004 by Bob Edwards
Cheese--


No, it wasn't. I've seen a number of films he was in, and I just don't think he's nearly as great as people make him out to be. My opinion only, obviously....

Best,

Bob