March 12, 2008
Speaking of Casablanca:
(as we were):
I want to thank the person (whoever you are) who sent me the huge biography of Peter Lorre off my wish list. I have no email for you, and am not sure of the name either - but I SO appreciate the thoughtful gift! The book looks like a treasure trove, and I'm excited to eventually read it.
It's funny: The marvelous SZ Sakall, also in Casablanca (and a million other movies), has MORE screen time than any of the other actors playing smaller parts in the film - including Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre - Peter Lorre is in the film for less than 5 minutes all together - but doesn't he leave the impression that he is all over that movie?? It HAS to be way more than 5 minutes!! But it's not. Kinda like that famous bit of trivia that Anthony Hopkins' performance in Silence of the Lambs adds up to less than 17 minutes of screen time altogether. I think it's about 16 minutes. Hard to believe. He is so omnipresent. It's the shortest performance ever to win a Best Actor Oscar. I still find it hard to believe that he's not in the movie for at LEAST 45 minutes! But he's not. 16 minutes.
A similar situation with Lorre's part in Casablanca, although he isn't the lead. He disappears early on in the film - but his part is crucial.
I love Lorre's oily slightly damaged persona - he's fascinating. Amoral. Blunted, somehow.
Anyway, nameless person out there who sent me the book: so nice of you. Much appreciated!
Posted by sheila | TrackBackAl Stewarts opening lyrics for "Year of the Cat" keep playing through my mind:
On a morning from a Bogart movie
In a country where they turned back time
You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre
Contemplating a crime...
Would believe it wasnt until this past year that I saw Casablanca in its entirety? I know I know! Uncultured fool that I am LOL! But I remember wanting to keep seeing Lorre, even though it was clear he was done in.
And while I soaked up Bogart completely, I also loved Paul Henreid - a friend of mine turned me onto him through "Now Voyager."
Posted by: Sharon Ferguson at March 12, 2008 4:44 PMLoooove Now Voyager - that's a movie I just saw recently for the first time. I mean, I had seen parts of it - the cigarette bit and all that - but I saw the whole thing. I think bette davis is just brilliant in it.
Oh - and Claude Rains is in it, too - if I'm not mistaken. He plays the psychiatrist in the beginning - am I right? I think he only has 1 or 2 scenes but he is, as always, impeccable.
Raines does indeed...I also recognized Mary Wickes...
that lighting of the cigarette was supposed to have been considered very sensual for its time...
Posted by: Sharon Ferguson at March 12, 2008 9:49 PMGlad to hear you received a copy of "The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre" as a gift! I'm a long-time fan of Peter Lorre's myself, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. You may also enjoy visiting the book's official website -- http://www.PeterLorreBook.com. Besides information about the book, you'll also find sections on Peter's movies available on DVD and two albums of photos and images of Peter and his movies.
Posted by: Cheryl at March 13, 2008 12:00 AM