CaveGirl Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 As we all know, the term "milquetoast" comes from the comic strip, "Caspar Milquetoast" which was created by a man named Webster [can't think of his first name]. The poor soul was described as a man who "speaks softly and gets hit by a big stick" paraphrasing you-know-who. This comic was popular through the early 1900's and in the 1920's was a big hit in the newspaper called "The New York World". The term became popular as a description for a certain type of male, who was, shall we say...meek, weak, bland, retiring, shy, quiet, fearful, ineffectual, and extremely timid. In movies, oddly enough, Donald Meek eponymously played the part to perfection, but some actors were relegated to such roles, and mostly played this part throughout their career. Once in a while, you would have a fine actor like Eddie G. play such a wimpish fellow, as in "Scarlet Street" which was against typecasting, but still effectively portrayed, due to his innate skills as a thespian. Name a perennial milquetoast in films or a person who became a milquetoast only once or a few times, in their career. Though the term does not seemingly have a gender specific meaning, I have always tended to think of it referring to men, but if you can name a female milquetoast, knock yourself out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zea Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 How about actor Richard Hayden? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CinemaInternational Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 Albert Brooks and Woody Allen come to mind immediately..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 Add just a pinch of the snob into the mix here and Allyn Joslyn was always fairly good at playing this type. Here he is making the mistake of introducing his gal Gene Tierney to his bad boy cousin Don Ameche in 1943's Heaven Can Wait... (...and ya don't have to have seen this wonderful movie in order to know who'll end up with Miss Tierney's affections and that sexy as hell overbite of hers, now do ya) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cigarjoe Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 Percy Helton Sterling Holloway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomJH Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 Franklin Pangborn "Pleeeese, Mr.Fields, must you do that?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cigarjoe Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 Stan Laurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bethluvsfilms Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 Edward Everett Horton comes to my mind. But you gotta love him. Also think Frank McHugh sort of fits the bill, usually when he was playing opposite James Cagney. Still, he was always a joy to watch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewhite2000 Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 I swear we just had a thread like this in the last couple of months in which I brought up Donald Meek and noted "His last name is MEEK!", which got a couple of laughing emojis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arpirose Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 CAVE GIRL do you mean a character or an actor. For a character, i will give to RICHARD BASEHART in TENSION, where he plays a meek but sympathetic character that gets emotionLLY abused by his wife Claire. The rub is that he will not stay humble towards the end of the film.The film will be back on August 6th on a Monday as a part of the tribute to AUDREY TOTTER. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cigarjoe Posted August 1, 2018 Share Posted August 1, 2018 From time to time this guy: Elisha Cook Jr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 1, 2018 Share Posted August 1, 2018 On 7/30/2018 at 10:08 AM, CaveGirl said: Though the term does not seemingly have a gender specific meaning, I have always tended to think of it referring to men, but if you can name a female milquetoast, knock yourself out! Dude Bashing! Isn't Milk Toast for when you get sheet faced? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedracer5 Posted August 1, 2018 Share Posted August 1, 2018 Edward G. Robinson's characters in Scarlet Street and Woman in the Window. His versatility is amazing. He can play anything from the gangster (Little Caesar), the shrewd businessman (Double Indemnity), to the conservative dairy farmer (Good Neighbor Sam). Then there are his characters in Scarlet Street and Woman in the Window who are almost afraid of their own shadow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bethluvsfilms Posted August 1, 2018 Share Posted August 1, 2018 29 minutes ago, speedracer5 said: Edward G. Robinson's characters in Scarlet Street and Woman in the Window. His versatility is amazing. He can play anything from the gangster (Little Caesar), the shrewd businessman (Double Indemnity), to the conservative dairy farmer (Good Neighbor Sam). Then there are his characters in Scarlet Street and Woman in the Window who are almost afraid of their own shadow! Don't forget his meek newspaper reporter in THE WHOLE TOWN'S TALKING, where he also displays his tough guy persona with the look-alike gangster. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polly of the Pre-Codes Posted August 1, 2018 Share Posted August 1, 2018 (edited) Charles Ruggles in Six of a Kind. What's especially touching is that while he is a milquetoast, and Mary Boland as his wife is an aspiring dowager, both clearly have been looking forward to some second-honeymoon "private times." Edited August 1, 2018 by Polly of the Pre-Codes Filter-pwned! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cigarjoe Posted August 1, 2018 Share Posted August 1, 2018 Roland Young Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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