TopBilled Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 For me, it's *Spring Byington*. I love how she puts these quirky little mannerisms into her characterizations and this zestful sort of energy that radiates charm and humor. I also like *Elsa Lanchester* for pretty much the same reason. And then there's *Orson Welles*. I am referring to his work where he is not the lead actor but still really powers the story. In THE STRANGER, he upstages even the outdoor scenery. And in TOMORROW IS FOREVER, he plays it more subdued, but the way he has these lingering stares and pining for Claudette Colbert just commands our attention. Even when he's off-camera, you feel as if he's watching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kriegerg69 Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Petey the dog from the Our Gang shorts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted February 16, 2012 Author Share Posted February 16, 2012 Now, I never would've thought of him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I've always thought Thelma Ritter was recognized as the best in this field, TB. Yep, I think I'll go with Thelma here. (...well, YOU know what I mean) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted February 16, 2012 Author Share Posted February 16, 2012 I've tried to figure out who stole the most scenes in WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE...maybe it was a tie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stjohnrv Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Barry Fitzgerald whether its Bing or the Duke or anyone else for that matter he took over the screen in every scene he was in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Faiola Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Well, when it comes to conscious thievery, the award HAS to go to Alan Hale. Always done with a wink, though, and with the gracious bowing of his on-screen comrades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownGoesFrazier Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Asta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepiatone Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Yeah, I too, would have to go with Thelma Ritter. Natale Wood as a child actor was good at it, too. In more contemporary times, Robert Blake has been known to dominate attention, if we go by Top Billed's WELLES criteria. Nowadays, well, in the "commentary" feature on the CD of "Ocean's 11" (2001), Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Andy Garcia all agreed that DON CHEADLE is the best in the biz today. He doesn't need to do more than just BE in the scene and it's his! Sepiatone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefCostello Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 William Powell. Especially in "The Libeled Lady". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Ya know Jeff, while I too certainly think highly of Mr. Powell's talents, I've always gotten the impression that the term "a scene stealer" refers more to a supporting and/or character actor or actress in a film who is so memorable in a particular scene or series of scenes that they tend to make one momentarily forget about or overshadow the lead players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clore Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I have to agree there. A lead is expected to hold the screen, that why if attention is diverted to a supporting player, they say the scene is stolen. But I have long said that William Powell does steal MR. ROBERTS from Fonda and the rest. He's the center of calm amongst the wildly animated Lemmon and Cagney and the stoic Fonda, whom I think at times is just walking through a performance that he gave several hundred times already on stage. That may have been owing to his problems with Ford on the changes made, but that's the stuff of another thread perhaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Yeah clore, I've heard of that supposed tiff between Ford and Fonda during the filming of that movie, but I don't know, it seems to me that Fonda pretty much HAD to underplay the Roberts' part, and here's why... Ya know the thread that Sepiatone just started about "Who's cool", well, I'm thinkin' that Fonda went with that understated angle because he probably felt that the crew of a ship would have been more inclined to look up to and like a guy with that whole "cool" aspect to his personality than of any other way to play the character. And I don't know about you, but I've always thought Lt. (JG) Douglas A. 'Doug' Roberts was one cool cat! (...for a navy officer anyway!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownGoesFrazier Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Amazing how opinions differ. I thought that Powell was so lousy in MR. ROBERTS that he almost ruins the film for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clore Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Mr. Roberts is cool - but he's really working hard at it. It's mentioned early that everyone else is close to cracking since there's been no liberty and it's up to Fonda to remain cool or calm in order to set some sort of example and get things done. The captain has him by the you-know-whats because Mr. Roberts can't afford to let go just a little as it would show up in an evaluation and further hurt his chances of a transfer. I've read that there was more of an edge to his character on stage, but perhaps that was just Fonda recognizing the difference between the stage and the studio. I just wonder if Fonda wasn't allowed to show some seams in his facade as Ford wanted to emphasize the comic aspects, or as Fonda once called it "the boys will be boisterous" approach with which he so disagreed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Some interesting thoughts there clore, especially the one about how you feel Fonda might've made the choice to "pull it in" a little too much for the film as compared to how he would've played it on Broadway. I still think, however, that Fonda gets it pretty much right in the film version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 > {quote:title=finance wrote:}{quote}Amazing how opinions differ. I thought that Powell was so lousy in MR. ROBERTS that he almost ruins the film for me. REALLY, finance? I don't get THAT at all! Please elaborate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesJazGuitar Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 First as for scene stealer I believe the actor shouldn't be the star of the movie but instead a supporting player. A lead player doesn't steal a scene since, by definiton, a lead should dominate scenes. So in that regard Ritter is clearly one of the top scene stealers. Even when a movie has a great lead, at the top of her game, like Bette Davis in All About Eve, Ritter steals a scene or two. I would also add Eve Arden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arturo Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 *I've tried to figure out who stole the most scenes in WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE...maybe it was a tie.* Nobody stole the scenes...but they sure chewed the scenery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arturo Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Along with Thelma Ritter, I would rate among the top scene stealers: Eve Arden Laird Cregar Florence Bates Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaytonf Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Man: Ned Sparks. Woman (female): Margaret O'Brien. . . .mmmmno. Billie Burke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefCostello Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Well, in "Libeled Lady", he plays with Tracy, Loy and Harlow. Three huge stars, but he steals the film from all of them. Even in his later films, like the previously mentioned "Mister Roberts" where he plays a character role, he steals the scenes he's in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kriegerg69 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 In Gone With The Wind, it's Hattie McDaniel in her historic Oscar-winning role. "Now hold on...and SUCK IN!!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kriegerg69 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Veronica Cartwright, in just about anything I see her in. Never once nominated for an Oscar, but has done so MANY memorable supporting roles. *The Witches of Eastwick* (the cherry scene) *Straight-Jacket* ("I am NOT a lesbian!!") Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lzcutter Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Edna Mae Oliver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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