Jump to content
 
Search In
  • More options...
Find results that contain...
Find results in...

Your Favourite Performances from 1929 to present are...


Bogie56
 Share

Recommended Posts

It’s time for 1964.  We will be on 1964 for one week so plenty of time for everyone to respond.

 

Here are Oscar’s choices for 1964.  Winners in bold. 

 

Best Actor

 

Rex Harrison, My Fair Lady* 

Richard Burton, Becket

Peter O’Toole, Becket

Anthony Quinn, Zorba the Greek

Peter Sellers, Dr. Strangelove

 

Best Actress

 

Julie Andrews, Mary Poppins* 

Anne Bancroft, The Pumpkin Eater

Sophia Loren, Marriage Italian Style

Debbie Reynolds, The Unsinkable Molly Brown

Kim Stanley, Seance On a Wet Afternoon

 

Best Supporting Actor

 

Peter Ustinov, Topkapi*

John Gielgud, Becket

Stanley Holloway, My Fair Lady

Edmond O’Brien, Seven Days In May

Lee Tracy, The Best Man 

 

Best Supporting Actress

 

Lila Kedrova, Zorba the Greek*  

Gladys Cooper, My Fair Lady

Edith Evans, The Chalk Garden

Grayson Hall, The Night of the Iguana

Agnes Moorehead, Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1964

 

BEST ACTOR

Peter Sellers  Dr. Strangelove****

Rod Steiger  The Pawnbroker

Anthony Quinn  Zorba the Greek

Peter Sellers  A Shot In the Dark

Peter O'Toole  Becket

Michael Caine  Zulu

Stanley Baker  Zulu

Richard Attenborough  Seance On a Wet Afternoon

Richard Burton  Becket

Paul Scofield  The Train

Henry Fonda  Fail-Safe

Peter Ustinov  Topkapi

Richard Burton  Night of the Iguana

Sean Connery  Goldfinger

James Garner  The Americanization of Emily

 

BEST ACTRESS

Kim Stanley  Seance On a Wet Afternoon****

Anne Bancroft  The Pumpkin Eater

Nobuko Otawa  Onibaba

Yomiko Nogawa  Gate of Flesh

Tippi Hedren  Marnie

Sophia Loren  Marriage Italian Style

Jitsuko Yoshimura  Onibaba

Bette Davis  Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

George C. Scott  Dr. Strangelove****

Sterling Hayden  Dr. Strangelove

Gert Frobe  Goldfinger

John Gielgud  Becket

Edmond O'Brien  Seven Days In May

Tetsuro Tamba  The 7th Dawn

Tatsuya Nakadai  Kwaidan

Peter Fonda  Lilith

Herbert Lom  A Shot In the Dark

Slim Pickens  Dr. Strangelove

Michel Simon  The Train

Dan O'Herlihy  Fail-Safe

Keenan Wynn  Dr. Strangelove

Peter Bull  Dr. Strangelove

Sid Haig  Spider Baby

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Lila Kedrova  Zorba the Greek****

Honor Blackman  Goldfinger

Beverly Washburn  Spider Baby

Diane Baker  Marnie

Edith Evans  The Chalk Garden

Angela Lansbury  The World of Henry Orient

 

BEST JUVENILE PERFORMANCE

None

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here are my choices of the 116 films I've seen from 1964 for…

 

Best Supporting Actress of 1964

 
1.  LILA KEDROVA (Madame Hortense), Zorba the Greek
2.  MARY ASTOR (Jewel Mayhew), Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte
3.  IRENE PAPAS (“the Widow”), Zorba the Greek
4.  LIBBY MCCLINTOCK (Paulie Coffey), The Luck of Ginger Coffey
5.  EDITH EVANS (Mrs. St. Maugham), The Chalk Garden
 
6.  GRAYSON HALL (Judith Fellowes), The Night of the Iguana
7.  ELZA RADZINA (Queen Gertrud), Hamlet
8.  GERALDINE FITZGERALD (Marilyn Birchfield), The Pawnbroker
9.  ANGELA LANSBURY (Isabel Boyd), The World of Henry Orient
10. ULLA JACOBSSON (Margareta Witt), Zulu

 

and ...

 

MILLICENT MARTIN (Ann Horton), Nothing But the Best

ANASTASIYA VERTINSKAYA (Ophelia), Hamlet

CLAIRE BLOOM (“the Wife”), The Outrage

NANETTE NEWMAN (Mrs. Clayton), Seance on a Wet Afternoon

HERMIONE BADDELEY (Ellen), Mary Poppins

HONOR BLACKMAN (**** Galore), Goldfinger

GLADYS COOPER (Mrs. Higgins), My Fair Lady

AVA GARDNER (Eleanor Holbrook), Seven Days In May

SUE LYON (Charlotte Goodall), The Night of the Iguana

NELLY BENEDETTI (Franca Lachenay), The Soft Skin

 

a bit of trivia: Lila Kedrova was only 45 years old and had to learn English to play the part of Madame Hortense in Zorba the Greek.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here are my choices of the 116 films I've seen from 1964 for…

 

Best Supporting Actor of 1964

 

1.  GEORGE C. SCOTT (General Buck Turgidson, USAF), Dr. Strangelove

2.  GERT FROBE (Auric Goldfinger), Goldfinger

3.  SLIM PICKENS (Major T.J. "King" Kong, USAF), Dr. Strangelove

4.  STERLING HAYDEN (Brigadier General Jack D. Ripper, USAF), Dr. Strangelove

5.  PETER BULL (Soviet Ambassador Alexei de Sadeski), Dr. Strangelove

 

6.  RONALD REAGAN (Jack Browning), The Killers

7.  LIAM REDMOND ("Hitler" MacGregor), The Luck of Ginger Coffey

8.  LEE TRACY (President Art Hockstader), The Best Man

9.  LEE MARVIN (Charlie Strom), The Killers

10. DAVID TOMLINSON (George Banks), Mary Poppins

 

and ...

 

GIAN MARIA VOLONTE (Ramon Rojo), A Fistful of Dollars

STANLEY HOLLOWAY (Alfred “Alfie” P. Doolittle), My Fair Lady

DENHOLM ELLIOTT (Charlie Prince), Nothing But the Best

MIKHAIL NAZVANOV (King Claudius), Hamlet

MICHEL SIMON (Papa Boule), The Train

KEENAN WYNN (Colonel Bat Guano), Dr. Strangelove

PATRICK MAGEE (Superintendant Walsh), Seance on a Wet Afternoon

TOM HARVEY (Joe McGlade), The Luck of Ginger Coffey

JACK HAWKINS (Reverand Otto Witt), Zulu

LARRY HAGMAN (Buck), Fail-Safe

CLU GULAGER (Lee), The Killers

FRANK OVERTON (General Bogan, USAF), Fail-Safe

JOHN GIELGUD (King Louis VII), Becket

NIGEL GREEN (Colour Sgt. Bourne), Zulu

PAUL TAMARIN (Lt. B. “Goldie” Goldberg), Dr. Strangelove

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've seen this movie many, many times, and it's one of my all-time favorites, but I don't know who this guy is! :huh:

 

He chews the gum and goes over the code books.  The Radio-Operator.  Very droll.  You suspect he's not that bright.  Hilarious!

Edited by Bogie56
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1964 Favorites

 
Best Actor
 
Richard Burton (Becket)
Peter O’Toole (Becket)
Anthony Quinn (Zorba the Greek)
Peter Sellers (Dr. Strangelove)
Saro Urzi (Seduced and Abandoned)
 
Best Actress
 
Anne Bancroft (The Pumpkin Eater)
Barbara Barrie (One Potato, Two Potato)
Kyoko Kishida (Woman in the Dunes)
Sophia Loren (Marriage Italian Style)
Kim Stanley (Seance on a Wet Afternoon)
 
Best Supporting Actor
 
Charles Hawtrey (Carry On Cleo)
Wilfred Hyde-White (My Fair Lady)
Cecil Kellaway (Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte)
Dudley Sutton (The Leather Boys)
Lee Tracy (The Best Man)
 
Best Supporting Actress
 
Mary Astor (Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte)
Ingrid Berman (The Yellow Rolls Royce)
Edith Evans (The Chalk Garden)
Geraldine Fitzgerald (The Pawnbroker)
Lila Kedrova (Zorba the Greek)
 
Best Juveniles
 
Merrie Spaeth and Tippy Walker (The World of Henry Orient)
 
Best Musical Scenes
 
Madame Hortense’s song/dance performed by Lila Kedrova (Zorba the Greek)
“We’ll Meet Again” sung by Vera Lynn (Dr. Strangelove)
“Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte”
 
Best Line
 
“infamy! Infamy! They’ve all got it in for me!” spoken by Kenneth Williams as Julius Caesar as he’s about to be assassinated (Carry On Cleo).
 
  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My 1964 picks. Murderous time once again for me to produce names for the supporting actress category.

 

BEST ACTOR

 

Rex Harrison, MY FAIR LADY

Peter Sellers, DR. STRANGELOVE

Rod Steiger, THE PAWNBROKER

Peter Ustinov, TOPKAPI

Anthony Quinn, ZORBA THE GREEK

 

Honourable Mention: Richard Burton in Night of the Iguana, Peter Sellers in A Shot in the Dark, James Garner in Americanization of Emily, Fredric March in Seven Days in May, Burt Lancaster in Seven Days in May, Richard Burton in Becket, Peter O'Toole in Becket, Richard Attenborough in Seance on a Wet Afternoon.

 

BEST ACTRESS

 

Kim Stanley, SEANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON

Ava Gardner, NIGHT OF THE IGUANA

Audrey Hepburn, MY FAIR LADY

Julie Andrews, AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY

Sophia Loren, MARRIAGE ITALIAN STYLE

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

 

George C. Scott, DR. STRANGELOVE

Sterling Hayden, DR. STRANGELOVE

Stanley Holloway, MY FAIR LADY

Michael Caine, ZULU

Edmond O'Brien, SEVEN DAYS IN MAY

 

Honourable Mention: Wilfred Hyde-White in My Fair Lady, Melvyn Douglas in Americanization of Emily, Akim Tamiroff in Topkapi.

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

 

Lila Kedrova, ZORBA THE GREEK

Joyce Grenfell, AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY

Agnes Moorehead, HUSH HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE

Ava Gardner, SEVEN DAYS IN MAY

 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1964

 

Winners in BOLD

 

BEST FILM

 

The Americanization of Emily

Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte

The Incredible Mr. Limpet

Marnie

Mary Poppins

The Moon-Spinners

My Fair Lady

The Night of the Iguana

Paris, When it Sizzles

Robin and the 7 Hoods

Send Me No Flowers

Viva Las Vegas

What a Way to Go! 

The Three Lives of Thomasina

 

BEST ACTOR

 

James Garner, The Americanization of Emily

Joseph Cotten, Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte

Don Knotts, The Incredible Mr. Limpet

Sean Connery, Marnie

Dick Van Dyke, Mary Poppins

Rex Harrison, My Fair Lady

Richard Burton, The Night of the Iguana

William Holden, Paris, When it Sizzles

Frank Sinatra, Robin and the 7 Hoods

Dean Martin, Robin and the 7 Hoods

Sammy Davis Jr., Robin and the 7 Hoods

Rock Hudson, Send Me No Flowers

Elvis Presley, Viva Las Vegas

 

BEST ACTRESS

 

Julie Andrews, The Americanization of Emily

Bette Davis, Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte

Olivia de Havilland, Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte

Tippi Hedren, Marnie

Julie Andrews, Mary Poppins

Hayley Mills, The Moon-Spinners

Audrey Hepburn, My Fair Lady

Ava Gardner, The Night of the Iguana

Deborah Kerr, The Night of the Iguana

Audrey Hepburn, Paris, When it Sizzles

Doris Day, Send Me No Flowers

Ann-Margret, Viva Las Vegas

Shirley MacLaine, What a Way to Go! 

Karen Dotrice, The Three Lives of Thomasina

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

 

Melvyn Douglas, The Americanization of Emily 

David Tomlinson, Mary Poppins

Stanley Holloway, My Fair Lady

Bing Crosby, Robin and the 7 Hoods

Tony Randall, Send Me No Flowers

Gene Kelly, What a Way to Go! 

Robert Mitchum, What a Way to Go! 

Dick Van Dyke, Mary Poppins

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

 

Agnes Moorehead, Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte

Mary Astor, Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte

Grayson Hall, The Night of the Iguana

Margaret Dumont, What a Way to Go! 

Gladys Cooper, My Fair Lady

Glynis Johns, Mary Poppins

 

MOST DISAPPOINTING FILM:

 

Kiss Me Stupid.  I like Billy Wilder.  I like Dean Martin.  I like Kim Novak.  I did not like this film.

 

MOST ANNOYING FILM

 

Sex and the Single Girl.  I like Natalie Wood and I don't even dislike her in this film.  However, I didn't like this film and especially didn't like the bickering married couple of Henry Fonda and Lauren Bacall. 

 

WORST ACCENT

 

I love Dick Van Dyke, but his cockney accent in Mary Poppins is horrible.

 

FUNNIEST LINES

 

"Melrose, forgive me!" Robert Mitchum before he meets his fate in What a Way to Go!

 

"Move your bloody arse!" Audrey Hepburn, as a Lady, cheering for her horse at the Ascot Races in My Fair Lady. 

 

BEST COSTUMES

 

1964 featured some of the best costuming: 

 

-Shirley MacLaine's wardrobe in What a Way to Go! 

-Audrey Hepburn's clothing in My Fair Lady

-The Rat Pack's gangster Robin Hood suits in Robin and the 7 Hoods.

 

BEST SONGS

 

1964 also featured some of the best music in film:  

 

-"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," Mary Poppins

-"A Spoonful of Sugar," Mary Poppins

-"Chim Chim Cher-E," Mary Poppins

-"Step in Time," Mary Poppins

-"Let's Go Fly a Kite," Mary Poppins

-"Jolly Holliday," Mary Poppins

-"On the Street Where You Live," My Fair Lady

-"I Could Have Danced All Night," My Fair Lady

-"I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face," My Fair Lady

-"Viva Las Vegas," Viva Las Vegas

-"C'mon Everybody," Viva Las Vegas

-"What I'd Say," Viva Las Vegas

 

BEST DANCE NUMBER

 

Ann-Margret's dance in the dance practice scene in Viva Las Vegas

 

MOST DIVISIVE FILM

 

What a Way to Go!  When this film premiered on TCM last year, there were many (like me) who were excited to see the film.  After it aired, there were so many people who disliked the film so intensely, it led to quite a heated discussion.  Online, there seem to be many bloggers who either vehemently dislike this film or love it.  Put me in the "love" camp.  I love this movie, I don't care what anyone says.

 

BEST FANTASY SCENES

 

Paris When it Sizzles.  Sure the film isn't anywhere near either Audrey Hepburn or William Holden's best film, but it has its moments.  One of the more entertaining aspects of the film is when Hepburn and Holden are acting out the scenes in Holden's screenplay as he's writing it.  

 

BEST CAMEOS

 

Paris When it Sizzles.  Tony Curtis, Marlene Dietrich, Mel Ferrer and Frank Sinatra all make uncredited appearances in the film. 

 

BEST MOMENTS

 

When Audrey Hepburn walks down the stairs post makeover in My Fair Lady.

 

When Mr. Banks finally drops his stern demeanor and loosens up and sings "Let's Go Fly a Kite," in Mary Poppins.

 

BEST PURSE

 

Mary Poppins' bag in Mary Poppins.  Who wouldn't love to be able to carry a coat rack in their purse? 

 

BEST BODY

 

Paul Newman's starving artist body in What a Way to Go! 

 

MOST DISTURBING SCENE

 

When Sean Connery rapes Tippi Hedren in Marnie

 

BEST ONSCREEN CHEMISTRY

 

Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret in Viva Las Vegas

 

SPEEDRACER'S TAKEAWAY FROM VIVA LAS VEGAS  

 

After seeing Ann-Margret in her dance practice number: "Man, I REALLY need to start exercising more." 

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Actor

Peter Sellers,  Dr. Strangelove or:  How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Rex Harrison, My Fair Lady
Bendt Rothe, Gertrud
Peter Sellers, A Shot in the Dark
Henry Fonda, Fail-Safe

 

I was very strongly tempted to nominate John Lennon as well, but decided that you couldn't get a nomination for playing yourself.

Runner-ups:  Vincent Price (The Masque of the Red Death), Sean Connery (Marnie), Innokenty Smoktunovksy (Hamlet), Enrique Irazoqui (The Gospel According to Saint Matthew), Dick van Dyke (Mary Poppins), Richard Harris (Red Desert)


Actress

Nina Pens Rode, Gertrud
Anna Karina, Band of Outsiders
Catherine Deneuve, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
Monica Vitti, Red Desert
Julie Andrews, Mary Poppins
 

Runner-ups:  Nobuko Otawa (Onibaba), Audrey Hepburn (My Fair Lady), Julie Andrews (The Americanization of Emily), Sophia Loren (Marriage Italian Style), Jitsuko Yoshimura (Onibaba), Francoise Dorleac (The Soft Skin), Melina Mercouri (Topkapi)

,

Supporting Actor

George C. Scott, Dr. Strangelove or:  How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Wilfrid Brambell, A Hard Day's Night
Sterling Hayden, Dr. Strangelove or:  How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Stanley Holloway, My Fair Lady
Burt Lancaster, Seven Days in May

 

Runner-ups:  Slim Pickens (Dr. Strangelove or:  How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb), Mauricio do Valle (Black God, White Devil), Ebbe Rode (Gertrud), Walter Matthau (Fail-Safe), Tatsuya Nakadai (Kwaidan), Gert Frobe (Goldfinger), Wilfrid-Hyde White (My Fair Lady), Baard Owe (Gertrud), Herbert Lom (A Shot in the Dark), Keenan Wynn (Dr. Strangelove or:  How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb), Mikhail Nazanov (Hamlet), Larry Hagman (Fail-Safe), Peter Ball (Dr. Strangelove or:  How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb), Harold Sakata (Goldfinger), Peter Ustinov (Topkapi), Edmond O'Brien (Seven Days in May), Takashi Shimura (Kwaidan)

Supporting Actress

Emaneula Paola Carboni, Red Desert
Keiko Kishi, Kwaidan
Diane Baker, Marnie
Anastasiya Vertinskaya, Hamlet

Tatyana Bestayeva, Shadows of Our Forgotten Ancestors



No Runner-ups.


Not seen:  Zorba the Greek, The Pumpkin Eater, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Seance on a Wet Afternoon, The Best Man, The Chalk Garden, Hush...Hush Sweet Charlotte

 

 

-------Sophia Loren just doesn't get any luck.  This is the third time she's a runner up with no nomination.  Tatsuya Nakadai has also been a runner-up three times, but he will be nominated in the future.

 

-------Granted that I haven't seen three of the nominees, the Best Supporting Actress category was unusually weak.  It's often weak, but in previous years I could say I genuinely admired the winners.  Of all my winners, this year's may be the shortest.

 

-------Not to be rude, but this year there is fairly gap between the winner and the second place finisher in both the actor and actress category.  This year wasn't close.

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The New York Film Critics Circle Awards for 1964 were:

 

Best Actor

Rex Harrison, My Fair Lady*

Dirk Bogarde, The Servant (63)

 

Best Actress

Kim Stanley, Seance On a Wet Afternoon*

Julie Andrews, Mary Poppins

Audrey Hepburn, My Fair Lady

Barbara Barrie, One Potato, Two Potato

 

—————————————————————————————————

 

The National Board of Review Awards for 1964 were…

 

Best Actor

Anthony Quinn, Zorba the Greek* 

 

Best Actress

Kim Stanley, Seance On a Wet Afternoon*

 

Best Supporting Actor

Martin Balsam, The Carpetbaggers*

 

Best Supporting Actress

Edith Evans, The Chalk Garden*

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

ACTOR:

1. Louis de Funès - Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez
2. Peter Sellers - Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
3. Rex Harrison - My Fair Lady
4. Anthony Quinn - Zorba the Greek
5. Sean Connery - Goldfinger
6. Richard Burton - The Night of the Iguana
7. Sean Connery - Marnie
8. William Holden - Paris When It Sizzles
9. Ray Walston - Kiss Me, Stupid
10. Jean Marais - Fantômas
 
ACTRESS:
1. Audrey Hepburn - My Fair Lady
2. Tippi Hedren - Marnie
3. Audrey Hepburn - Paris When It Sizzles
4. Jeanne Moreau - Diary of a Chambermaid
5. Olivia de Havilland - Lady in a Cage
6. Julie Andrews - Mary Poppins
7. Shirley MacLaine - The Yellow Rolls-Royce
8. Kim Novak - Kiss Me, Stupid
9. Sophia Loren - Marriage Italian Style
10. Gina Lollobrigida - Woman of Straw

SUPPORTING ACTOR:
1. Stanley Holloway - My Fair Lady
2. Gert Fröbe - Goldfinger
3. Dick Van Dyke - Mary Poppins
4. Michel Galabru - Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez
5. Christopher Plummer - The Fall of the Roman Empire
6. Georges Géret - Diary of a Chambermaid
7. James Caan - Lady in a Cage
8. David Tomlinson - Mary Poppins

SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
1. Grayson Hall - The Night of the Iguana
2. Geneviève Grad - Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez
3. Sue Lyon - The Night of the Iguana
4. Irene Papas - Zorba the Greek
5. Mylène Demongeot - Fantômas
6. Diane Baker - Marnie
7. Honor Blackman - Goldfinger
8. Gladys Cooper - My Fair Lady
 
BEST JUVENILE PERFORMANCE: 
1. Karen Dotrice - Mary Poppins
2. Dominique Sauvage - Le Journal d'une femme de chambre
3. Matthew Garber - Mary Poppins

BEST ANIMAL PERFORMANCE: Suzy, bottlenose dolphin in Flipper's New Adventure
BEST EXTRA: Marlene Dietrich - Paris When It Sizzles
BEST MULTI-STAR CAST: The Yellow Rolls-Royce
BEST COSTUME DESIGN: Edith Head - Marnie
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: Mikis Theodorakis - Zorba the Greek
BEST NON-ORIGINAL SONG: Get Me to the Church on Time (Stanley Holloway in My Fair Lady)
BEST ORIGINAL SONG:
1. Goldfinger - Shirley Bassey in Goldfinger
2. A Spoonful of Sugar - Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins
3. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious - Julie Andrews & Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins
BEST QUOTE: 
1. "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the War Room!." (Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb) 
2. "The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain." (My Fair Lady)
  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's a review I posted earlier this year of a delightful 1964 comedy that I don't believe anyone has mentioned in their picks for the year. Possibly the reason for that is that the film is so little seen these days.

 

 

BEDTIME STORY (1964), or, as it may be better known to some modern filmgoers, the original version of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, a 1988 comedy. I just saw the original again for the first time in years and found this tale of two competitive French Riviera con artists fleecing rich women a charming, polished delight.

 

David Niven is perfectly cast, bringing his charm and droll humour to the role of the wealthy, well established con artist, working in collaboration with the corrupt captain of police, to suavely pluck the rich female tourists arriving in his affluent but small Mediterranean town, without their ever knowing that they have been plucked.

 

Along, though, comes a brash American con artist interloper (Marlon Brando), threatening to spoil the pickings for Niven. From there the story takes off.

 

The film looks like parts of it may have been filmed in the Riviera, adding considerably to the sunshine kissed affluent atmosphere of this handsome production. And there is often some rather clever dialogue.

 

At one point Brando, in talking to the French town police officer, says, "She caught me with another woman. You're French. You understand."

 

"To be with another woman, that is French," replies the Frenchman, "To be caught, that is American."

 

That same line of dialogue, by the way, would re-appear in the remake (Stanley Shapiro has writing credit on both films).

 

Niven brings his expected aplomb to his role. Did any actor ever look more at home in a white tuxedo? But Brando is an unexpected pleasure to watch in this film, as well, gleefully leaping into the role of the lower class brash Yankee ready to exploit the gullibility of innocent women.

 

At one point Niven says to him, "By no stretch of the imagination would I associate myself with someone like you. You're crude."

 

"Well, so is oil until you refine it into high octane gasoline," says Brando, wanting to be taught all the tricks of sophisticated flip flammery at the hands of an old master like Niven.

 

Shirley Jones also appears as an innocent American tourist. Niven and Brando both set their sights on her in a competition between them to see who is able to fleece her of her money first, the "loser" to leave town.

 

Both Bedtime Story and its Dirty Rotten Scoundrels remake (featuring Steve Martin and Michael Caine as the con artists) are well worth viewing. Where the remake has an edge over the original, though, is in the casting of Martin, who has a few sequences of physical comedy brilliance when he poses as "Ruprecht," Caine's brain addled "brother," who acts, at times, like he's almost half monkey. These scenes are hysterically funny, thanks to Martin.

 

The remake also changes the ending of the original and, for the better, in a clever twist that I, for one, didn't see coming.

 

However, while the remake is available on DVD, Bedtime Story is strangely missing in action for home theatre viewing. And that's a shame, for the script is clever and the performances of Niven and Brando shine brightly. (Brando's own scenes as simple minded "Ruprecht" are very funny, as well).

 

 

bedtimestory3.png

 

Brando posing as "Ruprecht." This is Brando as you've never seen him before, I guarantee. Brando would later affectionately recall making this film, thanks to his working relationship with Niven.

 

There is currently a decent copy of Bedtime Story available for viewing on You Tube. I highly recommend taking a look at it.

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here are my choices of the 116 films I've seen from 1964 for…

 

Best Actress of 1964

 

1.  KIM STANLEY (Myra Savage), Seance on a Wet Afternoon

2.  SOPHIA LOREN (Filumena Maturano), Marriage Italian Style

3.  MARY URE (Vera Coffey), The Luck of Ginger Coffey

4.  ANNE BANCROFT (Jo Armitage), The Pumpkin Eater

5.  JULIE ANDREWS (Mary Poppins), Mary Poppins

 

6.  BETTE DAVIS (Charlotte Hollis), Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte

7.  OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND (Miriam Dearing), Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte

8.  AVA GARDNER (Maxine Faulk), The Night of the Iguana

9.  JOAN CRAWFORD (Lucy Cutler Harbin), Strait-Jacket

10. DEBORAH KERR (Hannah Jelkes), The Night of the Iguana

 

and ...

 

JEANNE MOREAU (Celestine/”Marie”), Diary of a Chambermaid

FRANCOISE DORLEAC (Nicole Chomette), The Soft Skin

NOBUKO OTOWA (“the Mother”), Onibaba

MADHABI MUKHERJEE (Charulata Dutta), Charulata

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here are my choices of the 116 films I've seen from 1964 for…

 

Best Actor of 1964

 

1.  PETER SELLERS (Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake, RAF/President Merkin Muffley/”Dr. Strangelove”/Dr.                    Merkwurkdigliebe), Dr. Strangelove

2.  ANTHONY QUINN (Alexis Zorba), Zorba the Greek

3.  MARCELLO MASTROIANNI (Don Domenico Sariano/”Mimi”/”Domi”), Marriage Italian Style

4.  ROBERT SHAW (Ginger Coffey), The Luck of Ginger Coffey

5.  INNOKENTY SMOKTUNOVSKY (Prince Hamlet), Hamlet

 

6.  ROD STEIGER (Sol Nazerman), The Pawnbroker

7.  REX HARRISON (Professor Henry Higgins), My Fair Lady

8.  PETER SELLERS (Inspector Jacques Clouseau), A Shot In the Dark

9.  PETER O'TOOLE (King Henry II), Becket

10. RICHARD ATTENBOROUGH (William "Billy" Henry Savage), Seance on a Wet Afternoon

 

and ...

 

PETER USTINOV (Arthur Simon Simpson), Topkapi

FREDRIC MARCH (President Jordan Lyman), Seven Days In May

RICHARD BURTON (Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas a` Becket), Becket

BURT LANCASTER (Paul Labiche), The Train

RICHARD BURTON (Reverend Dr. T. Lawrence Shannon) The Night of the Iguana

PAUL SCOFIELD (Colonel Franz von Waldheim), The Train

PETER FINCH (Jake Armitage), The Pumpkin Eater

SEAN CONNERY (James Bond/"007"), Goldfinger

STANLEY BAKER (Lt. John Rouse Meliot Chard, Royal Engineers, Officer Commanding Rorke’s Drift), Zulu

BURT LANCASTER (General James Mattoon Scott), Seven Days In May

MICHAEL CAINE (Lt. Gonville Bromhead, 2nd Battalion of the 24th Regiment Foot, South Wales                               Borderers), Zulu

TONY RANDALL (Dr. Lao/ Merlin the magician/Pan/Abominable Snowman/Medusa/Giant                                             Serpent/Apollonius of Tyana), 7 Faces of Dr. Lao

HENRY FONDA (‘the President’), Fail-Safe

 

Randall playing an Oriental in Dr. Lao is perhaps saved from being un-PC when he switches into an American and Scottish accent suggesting it is all a put on.

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Best Supporting Actor of 1964

 

4.  STERLING HAYDEN (Brigadier General Jack D. Ripper, USAF), Dr. Strangelove

 

 

3812795249_8ef3d60020_b_zps9tyu3oc0.jpg

I believe it may have been in a filmed interview with Sterling Hayden in San Francisco in which he admitted that he was absolutely petrified on the set of Dr. Strangelove.  Practically frozen with fear.  I thought this was quite interesting because that emotion doesn't necessarily translate to what we have in the finished film.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3812795249_8ef3d60020_b_zps9tyu3oc0.jpg

I believe it may have been in a filmed interview with Sterling Hayden in San Francisco in which he admitted that he was absolutely petrified on the set of Dr. Strangelove.  Practically frozen with fear.  I thought this was quite interesting because that emotion doesn't necessarily translate to what we have in the finished film.

 

Could have been the drugs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Could have been the drugs.

 

He would have said so if that was the case, I'm sure.  It was stage fright.

But he admitted to just having taken a big toke from a hash pipe when he stepped out of the car in The Godfather to break Michael Corleone's jaw.

Edited by Bogie56
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The lead actor category this year is quite strong. I'm delighted that Bogie has also seen Nothing But the Best.

 

Best Actor of 1964:

 

Anthony Quinn, ZORBA THE GREEK****

Charles Denner, LIFE UPSIDE DOWN

Richard Attenborough, SEANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON

Henry Fonda, FAIL-SAFE

Peter Sellers, DR. STRANGELOVE

 

Honorable mention: Alan Bates, NOTHING BUT THE BEST; Richard Burton, THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA; Rex Harrison, MY FAIR LADY; Rod Steiger, THE PAWNBROKER; Peter Ustinov, TOPKAPI

 

Best Actress of 1964:

 

Anne Bancroft, THE PUMPKIN EATER****

Julie Andrews, MARY POPPINS

Kim Stanley, SEANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON

Debbie Reynolds, THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN

Jean Seberg, LILITH

 

Honorable mention: Audrey Hepburn, MY FAIR LADY; Deborah Kerr, THE CHALK GARDEN; Irene Papas, ZORBA THE GREEK; Rita Tushingham, THE GIRL WITH GREEN EYES

 

Best Supporting Actor of 1965:

 

Juano Hernandez, THE PAWNBROKER****

Denholm Elliott, NOTHING BUT THE BEST

Paul Scofield, THE TRAIN

Lee Tracy, THE BEST MAN

Gert Frobe, GOLDFINGER

 

Honorable mention: Brock Peters, THE PAWNBROKER

 

Best Supporting Actor of 1965:

 

Grayson Hall, THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA****

Lila Kedrova, ZORBA THE GREEK

Capucine, THE SEVENTH DAWN

Rosalie Crutchley, BEHOLD A PALE HORSE

Mildred Dunnock, BEHOLD A PALE HORSE

 

Honorable mention: Edith Evans, THE CHALK GARDEN; Siobhan McKenna, OF HUMAN BONDAGE

 

Best Performance in a Mediocre Film: Dirk Bogarde, KING AND COUNTRY; Runner-Up: Tom Courtenay, KING AND COUNTRY

 

Best Performance with a Telephone: Henry Fonda, FAIL-SAFE; Rosalie Crutchley, BEHOLD A PALE HORSE

 

Best Performance with Minimal Screen Time: Juano Hernandez, THE PAWNBROKER; Runners-Up: Rosalie Crutchley and Mildred Dunnock, BEHOLD A PALE HORSE

 

Best Musical in a Fine Year for Musicals, Unless You Consider It an Opera, Which It Is: THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG

 

Best Cinematography, Black and White: THE PUMPKIN EATER; Runner-Up: ZORBA THE GREEK

 

Best Cinematography, Color: THE WORLD OF HENRY ORIENT; Runner-Up: ZULU

 

Favorite Line: "Seducer!" Grayson Hall to Richard Burton in THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA

 

 

 

 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The BAFTA winners for 1964 were ….

 

Best Actor (British)

Richard Attenborough, Guns at Batasi and Seance on a Wet Afternoon*

Peter Sellers, The Pink Panther (63) and Dr. Strangelove

Peter O’Toole, Becket

Tom Courtenay, King and Country

 

Best Actor (Foreign)

Marcello Mastroianni, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow* (63)

Cary Grant, Charade (63)

Sterling Hayden, Dr. Strangelove

Sidney Poitier, Lilies of the Field (63)

 

Best Actress (British)

Audrey Hepburn, Charade* (63)

Edith Evans, The Chalk Garden

Deborah Kerr, The Chalk Garden

Rita Tushingham, Girl With Green Eyes

 

Best Actress (Foreign)

Anne Bancroft, The Pumpkin Eater*

Ava Gardner, Night of the Iguana

Kim Stanley, Seance on a Wet Afternoon

Shirley MacLaine, Irma la Douce (63) and What a Way to Go!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Best Supporting Actor of 1964

 

6.  RONALD REAGAN (Jack Browning), The Killers

 

b8e63b902a46f5242c422ab033104673_zpszw6n

Ronnie gives his career best performance as a mean mother in The Killers.  Sadly, this was to be his last feature film and just when he was hitting his stride - and Angie too.  I believe he dabbled in politics after this.  What a waste.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Bogie56 changed the title to Your Favourite Performances from 1929 to present are...
 Share

© 2022 Turner Classic Movies Inc. All Rights Reserved Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Settings
×
×
  • Create New...