Dana Andrews in Where the Sidewalk Ends: The long closeup where he writes the letter. You only see his face, but you totally believe that he is writing off-frame, writing and thinking up what to write. And having feelings about what he is writing. One of those moments that looks so simple, so easy, but takes an enormous amount of skill and self-belief. Excellent acting. Andrews is so good at playing a man who’s all torn up inside, covered by a tough almost cruel exterior. Here, with the camera right in his face, he lets us in on what’s happening inside.
That face! He’s so good.
I know, right?
I can think of nothing to say except … “swoon.” More Dana Andrews, please. ;-)
Totally swoon-worthy!
Yes, I have to do more – I’ve been watching a lot of his stuff recently. LOVE him.
Great take on a wonderful scene. I also love the way Andrews shakes off his somber mood when he receives the call at the restaurant with Gene Tierney. It’s a great scene too and it’s all done internally, but we can feel it.
// It’s a great scene too and it’s all done internally, but we can feel it. //
Great observation! He is so good at that internal stuff. I mean, in Laura – the way he flings himself in the chair when he’s by himself with the portrait … it’s SUCH a sexy moment, sexy-tormented that is – and it’s not even a closeup. But we can tell EVERYthing from his mood, his body, the whole thing.
I need to watch Sidewalk again!