The Actors & Actresses Thread

Michael Caine

Never quite understood his megastardom. I think he's quite wooden, although he definitely has an imposing screen presence. How did he get chosen to act in so many classics or near-classics? At least I must give him credit for being hard-working and salute his longevity: 161 acting credits and still going strong.

Originally posted by NoEarthlyReason
Michael Caine

Never quite understood his megastardom. I think he's quite wooden, although he definitely has an imposing screen presence. How did he get chosen to act in so many classics or near-classics? At least I must give him credit for being hard-working and salute his longevity: 161 acting credits and still going strong.

He plays a certain kind of character - the sympathetic unflappable lower-class Brit - and plays it very well; and he was in his prime at a time (after WWII) when that character was in strong demand. He's very like a Sassenach Sean Connery - and by the way, I recommend The Man Who Would Be King. A right-pondian Paul Newman wouldn't be too far off the mark, either, except that they seem to be at other ends of the political spectrum.
Is he a great actor? No. He's a good actor, and often a greatly enjoyable actor, but not a great artist. Does he have to be a great actor to be a great star, though? I don't think so. He has to draw crowds, entertain them, and be sympathetic. He manages all three. And after all, he can act - he may not be Dustin Hoffman, but at least he's much closer to Hoffman than to Steven Seagal.

Originally posted by Shallow Blue
He plays a certain kind of character - the sympathetic unflappable lower-class Brit - and plays it very well; and he was in his prime at a time (after WWII) when that character was in strong demand. He's very like a Sassenach Sean Connery - and by the way, I recommend The Man Who Would Be King. A right-pondian Paul Newman wouldn't be too far off the mar ...[text shortened]... - he may not be Dustin Hoffman, but at least he's much closer to Hoffman than to Steven Seagal.

That's a very fair appraisal; he has a certain magnetism and authority, if not exactly gravitas, which must attract people to the films he stars in. I like the comparison with Sean Connery, although I much prefer Connery, who has greater versatility. Although I don't anymore watch repeats of The Italian Job, it's a role I thought Caine played brilliantly.

Nancy Kwan was so cute. I figure she should have been a major star, rather than just a borderline star-- and that only for a handful of years.

I still remember her late-night TV ads for Pearl Cream moisturizer when she was no longer getting film roles.

Humphrey Bogart, Alan Alda, And Stanley Kubrick were all better than average chess players.

Originally posted by woadman
Humphrey Bogart, Alan Alda, And Stanley Kubrick were all better than average chess players.

I've occasionally wondered exactly how good an average chess player is.

Alan Alda was great in MASH. Someone I know who has now become a lighting director seems to have modelled himself on the guy. I've never asked him straight out, but the resemble is striking, personality- and appearance-wise.

Stanley Kubrick lived not too far from me (not quite sure where though). Have a look for the video compilation of his "one-point perspective" shots (ie not the rule of thirds). It's an eye-opener (think it's on Vimeo).

Hadn't thought of this in years... my brother in his youth was a fan of Wallace Beery, who was already dead by then.

Two of my favorites are Morgan Freeman and Diane Lane.