Voted Best Dressed Man in America nine times. Very recognizable and always wore a moustache. Staunch member of the John Birch Society. Said of the Marlon Brando school of acting " are grabbers,not lovers.If it wasn't that the script says they get the girl,they wouldn't. "
Were I interested in actors, I might attempt some research. But a fun way to post on a Saturday. Was the john Birch society a group to be feared or praised. As a young Democrat, I got the idea we feared them or actually hated them. Based on my change of heart, I can't say. I once started to research them trying to locate this evil. I did not find it. Brando gets high marks as an Actor. I have a DVD with him acting. Score is the film. De Niro and Brando and Edward Norton are in it. All of them were fine actors. Score has De Niro in love with some black woman. I do not recall her in other films. Norton really hit it out of the park. He acted goofy when needed and sane the rest of the time. I enjoy watching this movie and recommend it highly. Source Wikipedia. I had not heard of the man. As a kid, money was seldom there for a movie. I would mow a lawn when I wanted to see a movie.
At first I was very certain I had no idea. But your very first line. Cut and paste into google and this mans name comes up. He was a star prior to my birth in 1938. As a young kid, I went years and never saw movies. As I got into the able to pay for my own movies era, he was fading at that time. I looked over his movie resume trying to recall any I had seen. But I just quickly scanned the list. As to De Niro marrying a black woman, his life is his call. Not clear why he shuns whites though. Must not think well of them.
I shall look again at his movie resume. He was 48 years old when I was born. I perused his movies and can't recall seeing any of them.
He was an acquired taste to coin a phrase.He had an impact in nearly every movie he appeared.His mannerism,his distinct voice and ease of personality.He was generally likeable,and yet forceful. He appeared the ladies man,and also a gent among men. There are no More Adolphe Menjou. His only drawback was that he might not have been the kind of Grandpa every kid sought after.Because he was typecast. one of my favorite Menjou films is seldom shown : - Man on a Tightrope - { 1953 } starring the great Fredric March. March is the owner of a Czech circus who wants to escape the Iron curtain.His performers want out from the grip of Communism. Menjou plays a State functionary in charge of seeing to it no one tries to escape the Iron Curtain.It becomes a match of wits between the 2 men.Menjou is not really a bad guy,just has a cruddy job. He manages to walk the tightrope between obeying state orders or himself being in trouble to also taking his time probably knowing that Cernik Circus is ripe for a move to breakout { find the right moment to break free of armed borders and guards } while in their travelling circus caravan.I love that Movie. I'm a Czech ... Meself.
He was a Golden Age actor.If yer familiar with any of the Greats like John Barrymore,Gary Cooper,even Ginger Rogers or Sonja Henie then Menjou is your ticket.An Unforgettable actor. He was also a " hardcore Right-wing Republican ". Meaning a Great American. Just so you know Hollywood wasn't always a bastion of Liberal boot lickers.
I love old movies, they are just the best. He had eyes and knew how to use them. He had the authority of a gentleman and was a pretty natty dresser too.
I just watched him in Farewell to Arms. Gary Cooper was then a very young actor. Seeing Adolphe act reminded me of seeing him so long ago in something. Could have been on TV. Adolphe added depth to the movie.
Today I can find old movies on youtube. When I grew up, 10 cents was a lot of money for a child. I vouch for Gary Cooper and Ginger Rogers etc. I learned from Wikipedia he was a republican. Back when I was still a Democrat. Normally i was miles from any movie theater. And broke as a youth. So the movies I saw prior to the early 50s were few and far between.
He had that voice.An unforgettably strong voice.Like John Barrymore. But Barrymore { one of my personal favorite actors } had those faces. Could whip-up a countenance { facial expression } faster than a speeding bullet." I wouldn't Be in yer *ratty little *play,you cheap English ham." * no mistaking the Barrymore touch when it came to inflection of certain key words.
I am no fan of Ginger Rogers.Nor Fred Astaire.Too many costume { mostly formal wear } movies.The reason I made mention of Sonja Henie is because I miss her.I doubt you'll ever see one of her movies on TCM { Turner Classic Movies } let alone AMC { American Movie Classics } Forget about ordering one. Sonja Henie was not a trained actress { But an Olympic Gold Medalist }. She virtually stole the show in any part that was tailored for her. She was like a Real Life female version of Popeye,Only short. Full of spunk and athletic wisecracks.Very fun to watch.
I have not seen a Sonja Henie movie for a very long time - but she was not the typical star. She was short, muscular, and her ice skating was athletic, not graceful. I think it was her sparky personality that appealed. Like Carmen Miranda. A graceful and beautiful woman could not have pulled it off without looking ridiculous - like she actually believed herself.
Menjou was certainly one of those urbane types that could be menacing or amusing as required. Paths of Glory remains a "scar" for me - a classic anti war movie wtih Menjou as the epitome of a self serving cover their own arse at the expense of his men general.
I grew up where the theaters were few and by modern standards antiques. Well before technicolor so black and white was ordinary. As a kid, mom let me see movies such as hopalong cassidy or Johnnie Mack Brown or Gene Autry were in. The thrill of the cowboy chasing the indian was our fare. Gunfights where the guns seemed to never run short of ammo was the ticket. Mom took me to a drive in when I turned 13 to see the Thing. Scared the hades out of me as a kid. I saw the later thing and it was not quite so frightening. Can't tell you who the actors were unless I google it. Frankly Farewell to Arms with Cooper and Menjou was a lousy film as i saw this just yesterday. I enjoy Ernest Hemingway books and movies on his books too. Cooper did well and showed some emotion. Adolphe was at times amusing and other times showed he was indeed a good actor. A lot of the problem might have been the directing. Actors can just follow instructions. This is the Thing. Start at minute 5 where it really starts.
I remember going to the theatre every saturday for the kids matinee (10 cents) of cliffhangers with cowboys or spies and cartoons. Perhaps you remember "rocket man"?
Kinda but then her nickname was - Pavlova Of The Ice - as she made gobs of money touring with her Ice show.She may not have been as limber as an Oksana Baiul but more than made up for it with sheer tenacity.At one time in her life she was among one of the 10 wealthiest women in the world.Suffered a little from the sin of Pride,however. On the cover of Time magazine with the quote : " Most Always I Win "
- The Thing - { 1982 } was really good.I just got finished watching last Wednesday an episode of - The Fugitive - entitled " Nemesis " {1964} with Kurt Russell { as detective Girard's son }.Slim Pickens had a nice part as a local mountain man and deer poacher. Both Russell and Pickens were once products of Disney.
Heinie was the best female skater of her time, but wouldn't have been much more than a gifted amateur today. She did win one helluva lot tho.
1982 version of the Thing is in color and frankly improves on the film a lot. But the early movie of the same name was my first experience with science fiction in film that I recall. Later I saw the Day the Earth stood still and that too was in black and white and too thrilling at the time.
When I was a kid there was only Movie Thearte in the neighborhood. And it was Nice and Big.I think If I remember correctly it was one of the few in Cleveland that could actually play Wide Screen movies like Ben-Hur or Lawrence of Arabia.However I never went to that theatre w/o my parents.It was down the street from our Parish. I often wonder about that Theatre.I also never went to a Drive-in as a kid. Like in Happy Days. Again I just got thru watching a really intense movie with Sam Shepard in s small role and Casey Affleck.It starred a guy I'm not familiar with. Christian Bale.The movie was set in recent today.It also starred Woody Harrelson in one of his most disturbing roles.Like - Natural Born Killers - could be topped. The movie was - Out Of The Furnace - {2013}. The movie starts out in a Drive-in theatre. This is a big movie with powerful performances.It is rugged as hell and very believable.
I have copies of all.The original - The Thing - was probably the best sci-fi/horror of that year,by far.
Cinerama - filming a movie using three cameras simultaneously to create a wide, wrap around screen -- now that was a flash in the pan. I have seen How the West Was Won on TV and you can see the seams from the three films, and in close ups the editor has to pan back and forth among the actors or they are talking from off screen someplace.
