Category: Hall Of Fame
Remember Me: Ben Gazzara
Ben Gazzara died on February 3 of pancreatic cancer. An alumnus of the famed Actors’ Studio, he had a long career on stage, TV, and film. Not just long, but accomplished. On Broadway, he was the original Brick in the … [Read the Rest]
Catherine Breillat Retrospective: The Early Years
Writing a series focused on the depiction of gender and sexuality in films, it would be a massive oversight not to talk about the work of French director Catherine Breillat. Few other directors have as consistently explored these topics as … [Read the Rest]
6 Actors Headed for the Top in 2012
It may be a fickle goal – corrupting, even – but there’s no question that for the vast majority of actors the top of the Hollywood tree is the place to be. And so, as we roll into 2012, and … [Read the Rest]
Unsung Heroes: Mark Addy
Last spring, a bold show with a dark heart brightened up our screens and reminded us once again that television can be a wonderful medium for in-depth storytelling, despite the likes of Jersey Shore poisoning impressionable minds. It may have … [Read the Rest]
Memento Mori: Remembering those we lost in 2011
In October of 2010, Sound on Sight asked me to do my first commemorative piece on the passing of filmmaker Arthur Penn. I suspect I was asked because I was the only one writing for the site old enough to … [Read the Rest]
Top 10 Hollywood Actors Still In Business
Much of our lurid film community is of the belief that America’s acting prowess died with its classic stars like Marlon Brando, James Stewart, Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Grace Kelly. However, I’m here to argue that America’s … [Read the Rest]
55th BFI London Film Festival: Masterclass: Barry Ackroyd
Masterclass: Barry Ackroyd “The most peaceful place you can be on a film set is when you put your eye to the camera.” On Monday night at the BFI, British cinematographer Barry Ackroyd talked to Screen International Editor Mike Goodridge … [Read the Rest]
Remember Me: John Calley (1930-2011) – “A Class Act”
Hollywood joke: A writer, a director, and a producer are crawling across the desert without water, dying of thirst. They look up and sticking out of the sand is a nicely chilled bottle of apple juice. Before the writer … [Read the Rest]
Remember Me: Cliff Robertson (1923-2011) – “Utility Player”
He played leads – but never became a star. He played supporting parts – but was never considered a second-stringer. He moved between the big and little screen easily throughout much of his career without ever looking like he’d overreached (for the … [Read the Rest]
Worth Remembering: Anne Bancroft (1931 – 2005) – “The Consumate Everything”
Before we called them MILFs or cougars – long before – there was only Mrs. Robinson. She was a mid-1960s adolescent fantasy come true; the sexy, available older woman/housewife next door with an appetite for young not-quite-men/not-quite-boys. She became so … [Read the Rest]
Remember Me: Lee Remick (1935 – 1991) – “Uncommonly Gifted…”
When it comes to actresses, the movie business has always had an eye for beautiful faces. Unfortunately, it has often only been an afterthought as to whether or not that beautiful face could do anything other than be beautiful. Leaf … [Read the Rest]
Remember Me: Peter Falk (1927-2011)
It is to be expected that the obituaries and commemorations for Peter Falk, who passed away last Thursday, would center on his four-time Emmy-winning starring role in the long-running series Columbo (the character was first introduced in a 1968 TV … [Read the Rest]
Worth Remembering: William Holden (1918-1981) and Glenn Ford (1916-2006) – Golden Boys
By most accounts, Harry Cohn was a royal son of a bitch. For the uninformed, Harry Cohn was co-founder of Columbia Pictures, and the autocratic ruler of the studio from its founding in 1919 until his death in 1958. … [Read the Rest]
Great Actresses – Great Scenes: #3 Barbara Stanwyck in ‘Double Indemnity’
Barbara Stanwyck made her screen debut in 1927 and her strong screen presence established her as a favourite of many great directors, including Cecil B. De Mille, Fritz Lang, and Frank Capra. She went on to appear in over 80 … [Read the Rest]
Great Actresses – Great Scenes: #2 Bette Davis in ‘All About Eve’
Bette Davis is one of my favourite actresses of all time, and with good reason. She could play a variety of difficult and powerful roles, though her greatest successes came from her willingness to play unsympathetic characters. She set a … [Read the Rest]
