Hot. Kind of angry. So intense and clenched. (Watch his hands, and his gestures. They are fascinating.) Love the “Poor Judd is Dead” set, which has no meaning and appears about to fall over at any moment before it disappears into darkness. One of my favorite clips from the Judy Garland show (although there are so many to choose from.)
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I recently watched the Kevin Spacey movie about his life. I never knew much about him. Fascinating life. Weak heart, sister/ mother, Sandra Dee. I really enjoyed it. Probably because I usually like anything that Spacey is in.
He’s a riveting performer (Darin, not Spacey – I unfortunately do not share your regard for him) – there is another clip from the Judy Garland show where they do a duet, let me see if I can find it.
Easy to find! Here it is!
I have his greatest hits on my iPod, love his voice so much.
And there’s something so intense about his “Michael Row the Boat Ashore” – something so coiled, and sexual – and kind of dangerous.
I didn’t care much for the Spacey movie either but mainly because they missed so badly on Sandra Dee. Kate Bosworth played her as a blond bimbo. She wasn’t. I had an adolescent crush on her. Kinda still do. What always got me about her was her eyes. She had those dark eyes that could see right through you.
My real life memories of Bobby Darin consists mainly of a Laugh-In parody of Mack the Knife he did with Arte Johnson and the news of his death. Anything else I’ve seen came afterward. Really sad about that now. He was an original.
Sorry to follow a Rob with a Robert (like putting two comedians back to back, bad form).
Regarding this performance. I know nothing of Bobby Darin except for this clip. But I’m fascinated. There’s something very actorly about it. Like he’s channeling all the better (or at least some of my favorite) actors of the time I’m assuming this was recorded: Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum, but mostly, for some reason, Lee J. Cobb.
I so agree. It’s a Method performance. He’s dealing with something very personal. And I got Lee J Cobb, too, also from the “Poor Judd is Dead” set. But there’s a Night of the Hunter vibe too – he’s singing a spiritual, but there’s something quite dangerous and angry about him.