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- “When liberty is taken away by force it can be restored by force. When it is relinquished voluntarily by default it can never be recovered.” — Dorothy Thompson
- “Art is theft, art is armed robbery, art is not pleasing your mother.” — Janet Malcolm
- “I’m one of those people who thinks you can have a happy life and still be an artist.” — Shelley Duvall
- “There’s a difference between writing about something and living through it. I did both.” — poet/novelist Margaret Walker
- “I believe what Camus says. When the curtain rings down, your job is done.” — Warren Oates
- Physical Media Booklet Essay podcast interview
- “My voice isn’t an instrument I can just hang up on a hook.” — Audra McDonald
- “You can’t be on top all the time. It isn’t natural.” — Olivia de Havilland
- “If I don’t feel it, I can’t play it.” — James Cotton
- “I don’t have to be an imitation of a white woman that Hollywood sort of hoped I’d become. I’m me, and I’m like nobody else.” — Lena Horne
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Category Archives: Actors
Walter Burns, In All His Glory
I love gifs, and this one is particularly mesmerizing. From His Girl Friday of course.
Transformation: Norma Shearer as Marie Antoinette
It is such a good performance. Brilliant, really. More thoughts about it here.
R.I.P. Julie Harris
When I was around 12 years old, I happened to catch East of Eden, one late-ish night on television while I was babysitting. I’ve written before about the effect that movie had on me, my consciousness, my awareness, all kinds … Continue reading
He’s Got Bette Davis Eyes
From James Baldwin’s The Devil Finds Work, an indispensable work of not only film criticism but cultural commentary and observation. Here Baldwin is on the effect that seeing Bette Davis on the screen for the first time had on him … Continue reading
R.I.P. Karen Black
And ….. She helped define for me what good acting was, what good acting looked like. I remember when I found out that she had written the songs she performed in Nashville. The whole cast wrote their own songs. I … Continue reading
Posted in Actors, RIP
8 Comments
R.I.P. Eileen Brennan
A great actress, ubiquitous in the films released when I was growing up. She made a huge impression on me in The Sting, her slope-shouldered profile, her weary walk, her bright lips, and her eyes that were tender and yet … Continue reading
Posted in Actors, RIP
5 Comments
“He Did a Fabulous Job with Presley, You Know.” – Howard Hawks on Colonel Tom Parker
In 1976, 80-year-old American director Howard Hawks was interviewed by the staff of Wide Angle I:2, including Peter Lehman, Marilyn Campbell, and Lynne Goddard. In his introduction, Peter Lehman writes: At age eighty, Mr. Hawks is an extremely alert, lively … Continue reading
R.I.P. Cory Monteith
Such sad news. I loved his performance on Glee, and the free openness of his voice and body language. He was beloved by his castmates. The clip above is from the pilot. I remember thinking at the time, Jeez, this … Continue reading
“[Tootsie] Was Never a Comedy For Me.” – Dustin Hoffman
Profound. Fiercely honest. “If I was going to be a woman, I would want to be as beautiful as possible.” Through acting, he really does enter into the female experience. He gets it. I remember him talking about this at … Continue reading
Mel Brooks on Meeting Cary Grant: “Anyway, lemme tell ya the PUNCHLINE.”
For Mel Brooks’ birthday. Superb. As Mitchell said in our conversation about Burt Reynolds, I love people who know how “to be funny on the couch”. Those who come out to promote themselves, sure, that’s fine. But someone who comes … Continue reading