path40a Posted October 21, 2005 Share Posted October 21, 2005 As a companion essay to the "film debut" one I wrote, for which I created an earlier thread, I've compiled a list of some of the best last on-screen performances from many of my favorite classic film actors & actresses here: http://www.classicfilmguide.com/index.php?s=essays&item=18 I hope you enjoy it and/or can help me to recall more which I've forgotten (or not seen) and neglected to include. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bansi4 Posted October 21, 2005 Share Posted October 21, 2005 Path, I was just to your terrific site and enjoyed reading your choices of stars and their memorable final performances. You hit the nail on the head. If I may add just a few... Lillian Gish in "The Whales of August" (1987). John Garfield in "He Ran All the Way" (1951) back to his tough, feisty gangster. William Powell in "Mister Roberts" (1955). Constance Bennett in "Madame X" (1966) a return to the screen as Lana Turner's bitchy mother-in-law. Mary Astor in "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" (1964) a cameo gem of a performance. By the way, Miss Leigh's first name is spelled Vivien. Mongo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spencerl964 Posted October 23, 2005 Share Posted October 23, 2005 Neat idea here & I was very-much surprised that of all TCM-ITES, Mongo left out *Gable's in "The Misfits???" (As I wrote you off of here awhile ago. I strongly feel he was "robbed" of what would have been his 4th nomination. & from what I' ve gathered, it's also the closest character he ever played, that was closest to the real man-(NOTE: To path & mongo, that in itself would be a good concept to write about 1 day. Closest roles a celeb portrayed to his or her own self) & you know I'll have to vote 4 *Tracy in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"-(ironically, also posthumously & another iriny here-(other then the 2 being somewhat pals) Both of these final flix were their biggest paydays too! His Matt Drayton, is not my fav. of his roles, but it fits into this topic & of course *Cagney as Police Chief Rheinlander Waldorf in 1981's great movie "Ragtime" (8 overall Oscar nods. & he was ignored?) Trouble is, it was not his actual last-(his 65th) was a nice 1984 tv movie co-starring *Art Carney-(who won an EMMY for it by the way!) "Terrible Joe Moran" & a 28 yr old Ellen Barkin. I've not been able to find out exactly whom dubbed *Jim in this though.It may have still been his voice. It's just off the mark if you ever see it, you can't miss this in all his scenes. & 1987's sadly/melancholy (***1/2) "Whales of August" only surprisingly nabbed 1 nom. that yr. it was for Ann Sothern. Good vote with Garfield too Joe! By the way, did you get notice I sent on about co-star in that final J. Garfield crime-drama>*Shelley Winters? She had massive heart attack. Most are not aware she deliberately put on the lbs in order to become a character actress? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spencerl964 Posted October 23, 2005 Share Posted October 23, 2005 To path, what a dummy! I just checked over exact article on your site & forgot about: Jean Arthur in "Shane!?"-(along with "The Searchers" It's my all-time fav. Western too) & though not a great actor. Alan Ladd's final role as Nevada Smith in 1964's "The Carpetbaggers" (***) was a good role & of course his last!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bansi4 Posted October 23, 2005 Share Posted October 23, 2005 Spencer, don't be very-much surprised since I simply didn't add Gable's last performance in "The Misfits" because Path already listed it on his site (apparently you missed it as you did with Jean Arthur). Mongo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
path40a Posted October 24, 2005 Author Share Posted October 24, 2005 Thanks spencer & mongo, I've got some additions to my Netflix queue as well as to my essay;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnpressman Posted October 24, 2005 Share Posted October 24, 2005 In "Terrible Joe Moran", James Cagney's voice was dubbed by Rich Little. Cagney had suffered a stroke and his words were badly slurred. They tried giving him a tennis ball to squeeze in between syllables but it didn't work. How about Edward G. Robinson's last performance? It was in the movie "Soylent Green'' and his last scene was a death (assisted suicide) scene! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyweekes70 Posted October 26, 2005 Share Posted October 26, 2005 Richard Burton contributed one last memorable feature film performance in 1984, though I wouldn't classify the film as a superior moviemaking, his performance, I think, was spellbinding. In Edward Scissorhands, Vincent Price gave us one last example of his extraordinary talent, as did Paul Muni in The Last Angry Man, and Bogart showed Rod Steiger how to really act in The Harder They Fall. But my favourite memorable final performance was provided by George Sanders in Psychomania. In a ridiculous film, Sanders looks like he'd left in the bottom of the freezer for a year, thawed overnight and microwaved for an hour-and-a-half before appearing in his first scene. No wonder he decided to split soon after. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vallo13 Posted October 26, 2005 Share Posted October 26, 2005 I'd have to say Burt Lancaster in "Field of Dreams" although he made some TV movies after Field of Dreams, It was his last Movie role as Dr Archibald "moonlight"Graham. Small part but he really made the picture worth seeing. great line: Just once, to stare down a big league pitcher.To stare him down just as he goes to wind up.wink, make him think you know something he doesn't. vallo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
movieman1957 Posted October 26, 2005 Share Posted October 26, 2005 Peter Finch in Network. (Rich Little had a side career with this. He also David Niven's voice in "Trail of The Pink Panther" ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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