In praise of Anne Bancroft:

Posted on August 5, 2008 by sheila

Dan Callahan has a spectacular 5 for the day.

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18 Responses to In praise of Anne Bancroft:

  1. mitchell says:
    August 5, 2008 at 12:08 pm

    as u know..i spent a day at the beach with Ms. Bancroft…and she was the funniest, classiest,earthiest and msot gorgeous hostess that she could be…im a fan forever.

  2. red says:
    August 5, 2008 at 12:11 pm

    She sprayed bug repellent on you in a caring and bossy manner, and that’s all I need to know. Love her!!

  3. Alex says:
    August 5, 2008 at 2:03 pm

    Mitchell…..read your e mail.

    Sheila, remember the conversation we had about Bancroft in “Don’t Bother To Knock”? I adore Bancroft, and that was one of the best conversations we ever had about famous people.

    I mean honestly…was she really singing? Are ya singin’ Anne? Are ya?

  4. red says:
    August 5, 2008 at 2:06 pm

    hahahahahahaha

    i loved that conversation.

    You were like, “I love how Anne’s like, ‘I have to go do my set now …’ Ya do, Anne? Really?”

    hahahaha

    Also: I want that gig! To just sit in a bar, and then have a spotlight on me, as I float off to “do my number” … Best singing gig EVER!!

  5. Alex says:
    August 5, 2008 at 2:14 pm

    That’s right. No loud noises, no one begging her to sing “Over The Rainbow.” Just her, a spotlight, and 2 songs.

    She’s done.

    End of gig.

  6. red says:
    August 5, 2008 at 2:30 pm

    AND she’s booked for the whole night.

    I mean, in what club was this ever the case?

    Brill.

  7. Alex says:
    August 5, 2008 at 2:49 pm

    And honestly, did she NEED the microphone? The entire club was about as big as my bedroom. What…they couldn’t hear her near the door?

  8. red says:
    August 5, 2008 at 2:51 pm

    Also – she barely holds it up to her mouth ANYway … she carries the mike lazily, like it’s a cigarette or something … Like: hon, it’s a MIKE. USE IT.

    I love how the movie is not at ALL about the whole Anne-Bancroft-as-lounge-singer thing – but that’s all we can focus on.

    I’m guffawing.

  9. Alex says:
    August 5, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    I know. I know.

    And the brilliant thing is, she’s SUCH a great actress that you just know she spent TIME researching this part. Going to clubs, listening to records, lip synching like a madwoman. Practicing how to smoke and sing at the same time. Genius. This was obviously a BIG DEAL to her.

  10. red says:
    August 5, 2008 at 3:14 pm

    Right!! She wasn’t phoning it in or anything, she wasn’t “slumming” … She worked at it – “I am a lounge singer.” she told herself seriously, and probably worked on it with Lee Strasberg in a private session.

    hahahaha

    it just looks ridiculous!

    And her scenework is lovely in the movie – I still get choked up thinking about the expression on her face in the last scene when Marilyn Monroe emerges into the lobby. bancroft literally quivers with compassion in that scene … beautiful!!

    But her wandering around in a gown, wearing gloves and holding a mike …

    Sheer movie magic, I tell ya.

  11. Alex says:
    August 5, 2008 at 3:28 pm

    I LOVE that scene.

    The look in Bancroft’s eyes is stunning. It’s everything. And from all the stuff that’s happened beforehand with her and her boyfriend, and having to HEAR about Monroe’s character, she could have simply chosen pity, or scorn. But Bancroft is one of those actresses that knows the line between what’s expected of her, and what she FEELS.

    I always look at her and know she’s feeling something. No matter what she’s doing, there’s always something THERE. You know?

    I know it ma be trite, but honestly, that last scene in “Miracle Worker”??? And I don’t mean the ubiquitous: “She knows, Mrs. Keller!” I mean, that’s great and all, but there’s a smaller part, a simpler part where literally EVERYthing becomes clear to her in one moment.

    It’s when she REALLY discovers that Helen has been trapped in a world of silence and darkness and has really seen something wondrous. Bancroft simply holds on to Duke’s hands and says:

    “Oh, my Dear.”

    Still makes me cry.

  12. red says:
    August 5, 2008 at 3:53 pm

    Gulp.

    That is such a powerful performance. It’s like a marathon.

    “MAMA! PA-PA! SHE KNOOOOOWS!”

    Okay. I’m crying.

  13. Alex says:
    August 5, 2008 at 4:01 pm

    …and the slapping scene with the two of them in the dining room???

    C’MON!

  14. red says:
    August 5, 2008 at 4:07 pm

    That extraordinary scene goes on for about 10 minutes longer than you expect. You know? I keep expecting Helen to cave – and she WON’T – and neither will Annie … and man, it just goes and goes and goes … The trust those two actors had to have with each other. My God. It’s excruciating to watch.

  15. Lisa says:
    August 5, 2008 at 4:54 pm

    I’m laughing at the comments over there: “Sheila, it’s on tomorrow on TCM.” “You can watch this on TCM.”

    I want to whisper, “She doesn’t have a TV.” Heeheheheehehee

  16. red says:
    August 5, 2008 at 4:59 pm

    Lisa – I know!! haha Little do they know!

    I honestly don’t miss having TV but right now it’s really annoying -because that movie I want to see (which is going to be on TCM tomorrow) – is NOT ON DVD.

    Bah humbug. I have connections who can record it for me, but still: annoying!

    (sheila. get a tv.)

  17. Lisa says:
    August 5, 2008 at 5:26 pm

    Can you watch it from their website?

  18. red says:
    August 5, 2008 at 10:16 pm

    Good idea! (why don’t I think of these things??)

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