pandorainmay Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 Having gotten quite a few chuckles from the ongoing sturm and drang under "The Least Sexy" thread, (especially the fights about Marlon Brando), I was wondering if there are any classic film players who have a greater appeal than the directors or scenarists may have intended. Let's get the show rolling by naming my first choice for different, yet appealing: Charles Ruggles What are your choices? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeanddaisy666 Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 Sam Levene and James Gleason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackBurley Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 Nat Pendleton, often cast as a hooligan, bouncer, wrestler, or the mobster's second hand man; his characters (with names like Spud, Tiny, Shoots, Truck) were called upon to be blunt and gauche, but there was no denying his charm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdb1 Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 I certainly have thought that supporting players sometimes run away with a film. We are talking here of those not intended to be co-stars, I think, but who are the real "characters." Think about those who got their own film or films because of their popularity, for instance Ma and Pa Kettle. So I'll add Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride to my list, and also Max Rosenbloom, Lionel Stander, William Frawley, and William Demarest (and, in fact, all of the Preston Sturges company), along with those already mentioned. I guess I should add actors like J. Carroll Naishe, who often played unsavory types, but was a real attention-getter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vallo13 Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 Good picks. "stoney", I'll add Guy Kibbee, S.Z. Sakall, and Donald MacBride vallo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackBurley Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 Apparently my synapsis aren't snapping yet this morning. Though I wrote about Nat Pendleton (as come to think of it, he's still a good pick), I was thinking about Lionel Stander! Thanks for waking me up, jdb! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken123 Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 Add Ed Brophy,William Demarest,Wallace Ford,and Douglass Dumbrille. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metsfan Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 Would Peter O'Toole classify in this thread for "Lawrence Of Arabia"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
songbird2 Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 How about Thomas Mitchell? I'm always frustrated watching such films as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington due to the fact that, for all his flaws, Mitchell's slightly cynical, wistful character is much more appealing than the callow James Stewart, (who, imo, only became interesting later after the war and w/ Anthony Mann & Alfred Hitchcock on hand to guide him). Jean, hey, you, Jean Arthur--wake up and smell the coffee! In Only Angels Have Wings and Adventure his death scene pas de deux with Cary Grant and Clark Gable respectively are wonderful. What a scene stealer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdb1 Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 We have to add some women to this mix. How about Helen Westley, Mary Wickes, and the great Margaret Dumont? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bansi4 Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 Edna May Oliver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benwhowell Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 Rondo Hatton and Ellen Corby... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonParker Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 I always smile and say aloud "Hey Nat!" when I see Nat Pendleton in a film. Seriously. I've been a fan since I first saw him in "Penthouse" with Warner Baxter. Marie Dressler is the classic "oddly appealing" actress. I think Tor Johnson is fun to watch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandorainmay Posted June 13, 2006 Author Share Posted June 13, 2006 Aline MacMahon, a sublime actress created funny and touching characters throughout her long career, usually in smaller parts. I'd single out Five Star Final, Gold Diggers of 1933 and The Search, among other films that displayed her subtle appeal. She made being intelligent sexy. Warren Hymer, an actor who might've played Nat Pendleton's brother, appeared in one of his best written roles with Miss MacMahon in the romantic drama One Way Passage . A dumb, but decent fellow. Edward Arnold, a portly character lead best remembered for playing a vulnerable Diamond Jim Brady in a couple of movies, the Devil, (in a splendid little short called "Inflation" that pops up on TCM occasionally) and Daniel Webster, in the splendid rendition of The Devil and Daniel Webster. A very attractive guy, blessed with a marvelous speaking voice, he also did a nifty job as a blind detective in two little movies: Eyes in the Night and The Hidden Eye. I'd love to see his Nero Wolfe turns on celluloid, sometime, TCM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilelmhr Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 Charles Winninger, S.Z. Sakall, Edmund Gwenn and Frank Morgan. Peter O'Toole--are you kidding??? The last time I looked, he played the title role in that little epic. Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeanddaisy666 Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 Tully Marshall and C. Aubrey Smith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdb1 Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 Ah, you've struck a chord with me in mentioning Edward Arnold. I love a man of corporeal substance and deep, melifluous voice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonParker Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 Oh crap. i forgot to mention Eugene Pallette. He was always great, even when the movie wasnt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandorainmay Posted June 13, 2006 Author Share Posted June 13, 2006 It's good to know that others like Edward Arnold too. Do you have a favorite performance of his, jdb1? I'd love to know others' opinions of his best work too. I'm very keen on Come and Get It as well as The Devil and Daniel Webster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdb1 Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 Exactly my two favorites as well. I also like him in The Glass Key. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulasmithy Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 Ned Sparks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian34 Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 Charles Lane. Even as a young man he always seemed to play "the cranky old guy" roles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyDan Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 I like Charles Lane as well. He seems to have aged about 7 yaers between Wonderful Life and Ghost and Mr. Chicken. Put me down for Charles Coburn and Jack Carson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 Frank McHugh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarhfive Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 Ernest Thesiger and Una O'Connor. Appeared together in "Bride Of Frankenstein" (1935). Rusty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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