tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752457333383090137.post1627658662011645042..comments2024-03-22T05:48:33.690-07:00Comments on Uncensored John Simon: FASHIONJohn Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876490457067235124noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752457333383090137.post-24767838796832915492017-02-18T08:30:17.940-08:002017-02-18T08:30:17.940-08:00I love Kate here. And, the young Malkovich. Both t...I love Kate here. And, the young Malkovich. Both terrific. I'm a huge Dustin fan as well, but not as Willy. He's not right for the part. It's hard to put my finger on why. I didn't like him when I first saw him in it, and now after watching it again, it validated my first impression. You may be right about toning it down for television. Yes, I agree with that. Miller made it clear he didn't think Hoffman would be right for the part either. See Wiki for that quote. <br /><br />Hoffman was too small for the part of Willy Loman. He was too Jewish, as well.The Lomans were an athletic family. Big people. I know Miller had a semi-Jewish background, but I never saw Willy as being THAT Jewish. I could be wrong about this observation, but that's the way I view it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752457333383090137.post-51291095944537533912017-02-17T13:28:56.366-08:002017-02-17T13:28:56.366-08:00Wikipedia:
“March's neighbor in Connecticut, p...Wikipedia:<br />“March's neighbor in Connecticut, playwright Arthur Miller was thought to favor March to inaugurate the part of Willy Loman in the Pulitzer Prize-winning DEATH OF A SALESMAN (1949). However, March read the play and turned down the role, whereupon director Elia Kazan cast Lee J. Cobb as Willy.” What a pity! Especially since a few years later March nabbed the role of James Tyrone in the original production of LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT!<br /><br />Dustin Hoffman is over the top. He’s playing a great role so he feels obliged to be great each and every moment, which ends up draining the life out of the character. Perhaps his approach worked on stage but in the TV movie the director should have dialed Dustin back. Way back. That said attention must be paid to Kate Reid, Uncle Kirky, attention must be paid!<br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VE_KSNww5U&t=7s<br />Joe Carlsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10925042164233399553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752457333383090137.post-31326941665982513352017-02-17T08:43:28.474-08:002017-02-17T08:43:28.474-08:00Here's the same scene from 1951. Fredric March...Here's the same scene from 1951. Fredric March and Kevin McCarthy. McCarthy stinks, but March is pretty good. The acting here is subtler. <br /><br />Start at about 1:40:00<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l823tqskYEAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752457333383090137.post-42943583701206516372017-02-15T14:06:28.809-08:002017-02-15T14:06:28.809-08:00Charley as psychopath? Hire Malkovich for the role...Charley as psychopath? Hire Malkovich for the role!<br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1lazBK1Pec<br />Joe Carlsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10925042164233399553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752457333383090137.post-79357265008162665282017-02-15T07:13:32.969-08:002017-02-15T07:13:32.969-08:00I didn't see it either. I was going by the rev...I didn't see it either. I was going by the reviews on Scott. They were glowing. I'm pretty sure he was the scariest Willy Loman of all time. Willy Loman on steroids, if you will. I don't know, I just had to go with George C. No one goes over-the-top like George C.---and makes it look okay. Look, if you're going to have a big-time schmaltzy melodrama, you might as well have over-the-top actors doing it. Miller had a sneaky sense of humor. Just look at the names of the characters. "Happy" "Biff" "Willy" Low-man??? The kids will always have that last name, implying, they too, will be losers in life.<br /><br />I always like to think of how to do a play from a play; like they did with "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern". My idea is to do one on Linda Loman after Willy dies. Biff and Happy move away, leaving Mother to fend for herself. She reluctantly gets involved with the next door neighbor, Charley. He, it turns out, is a psychopathic killer. That's as far as I've gotten on the pitch. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752457333383090137.post-63395730276709007502017-02-14T15:58:46.922-08:002017-02-14T15:58:46.922-08:00Just saw it at Redtwist Theatre in Chicago. The Du...Just saw it at Redtwist Theatre in Chicago. The Dustin Hoffman version is also on YouTube along with John Malkovich as Biff and the superb Kate Reid as the best Linda I've ever seen. Arthur Miller didn't like Hoffman in the role at all but I believe did like Brian Dennehy in the Robert Falls' production. I'm sorry I never saw George C. Scott. Joe Carlsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10925042164233399553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752457333383090137.post-55971351045780647752017-02-14T15:02:16.884-08:002017-02-14T15:02:16.884-08:00The best Willy Loman throughout history. (I've...The best Willy Loman throughout history. (I've seen most of these, Youtubed some, and went with critics on the rest)<br /><br />5) Phillip Seymour Hoffman <br />4) Frederick March<br />3) Lee J. Cobb<br />2) Rod Steiger<br />1) George C. Scott Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752457333383090137.post-49538783365678889022017-02-12T07:14:29.743-08:002017-02-12T07:14:29.743-08:00My favorite fashions by decade:
The 30s-40s---Not...My favorite fashions by decade:<br /><br />The 30s-40s---Not good. Military uniforms and burlap sacks. America was in the midst of a fashion crisis.<br /><br />The 80s---Again, not good. Mullets for guys, and teased up whacko hair for women. No thanks.<br /><br />The 90s---Getting better, but still not great. Who can make a fashion statement out of all black?<br /><br />The 2000s to present---Wear anything you like where ever you might have to go. Now, we're talking.<br /><br />The 50s---This was an okay decade. Rock and Roll, Rockers, Mods, crew-cuts, khaki pants. The American Graffiti look. Pretty good.<br /><br />The 20s---Nothing sexier than a Flapper. Loose dress, easy to get it off. Lots of lipstick; that short man hair. I would have loved the Roaring 20s.<br /><br />The 60s---Mini skirts, no bras, and lots of sex and drugs. Yeah, I think I'm starting to REALLY like fashion<br /><br />The 70s---The "Jackie Brown" look. I LOVE the Jackie Brown-look. Shorter mini skirts, no bras (again), even more sex and drugs. Yep, the 70s get my vote for best fashion decade!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752457333383090137.post-35921530502236813022017-02-08T15:13:49.780-08:002017-02-08T15:13:49.780-08:00Speaking of France, here's a great quote I fou...Speaking of France, here's a great quote I found today in the comments section of an article on the Islamization of France:<br /><br />"The primary attribute of the French character is their insistence that they are important. France is Willie Loman made into a country."noochinatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12584058407655395128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752457333383090137.post-39726333987632680082017-02-06T08:53:54.044-08:002017-02-06T08:53:54.044-08:00Surely the difference between the Duchess of Cambr...Surely the difference between the Duchess of Cambridge and Lady Gaga is the difference between fashion and costume. When she’s not performing, Gaga's costumes are tucked away in a trunk and she is every bit as stylish as the Duchess. Perhaps more so.<br />Joe Carlsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10925042164233399553noreply@blogger.com