SSG: Spy/Spec-Ops Group discussion

Veering away from Eastwood momentarily, I'd like instead to pay tribute to a *real* actor who starred in a helluva lot of entertaining flicks.

I can't specifically recall Matthau in a WWII film but he covers just about every other genre. He's one of my all-time faves. Truly, Matthau --were he in his prime today--would easily out-act anyone currently working. He could play tough guys, smart guys, heroes, villains, supporting roles, and of course comedy.

See if you can name the flicks below. If you can identify at least two, I will be impressed, this is not intended to be a cakewalk.

Clues:
#1 is a western.
Films #2-#7 are all intrigue, crime, thriller, or espionage.
Films are listed chronologically between mid 1950s to mid 1970s.
Color b&w in these images is correct to the color of the film


1
(villain, uses a bullwhip)


2
(villain)


3
(villain)


4
(good guy)


5
(hero)


6
(hero)


7
(hero)

There's got to be other Matthau fans here besides myself. Don't tell me the world is now populated only by fans of Will Smith.

Think #3 would be Fail Safe.

#2 Charade..

#6 Taking of Pelham 123..

California Suite is another goooooood one..

Yah Double! You nabbed #3 and #2. Good man. That's the stuff.

But surprisingly, you FLUBBED on #6. Nope! That is not Pelham!

#1, looks like The Kentuckian..
#5 Hopscotch..

Excellent. You scored on #1. A man amongst men. Thought that would never get solved.

#5 is a GREAT guess but no. In fact I didnt even think to put 'Hopscotch' in the poll (it was written by Brian Garfield) but I overlooked it because in it, Matthau doesn't actually do all that much. Still, good to see him star.

#5= Charlie Verick..

N000OOOOoooooooo


you're hitting in every ring but the bulls eye

Bad News Bears! Not on your list but he played an incredible functioning drunk.

#5= The Taking of Pelham one two three....

Correct on #5!

one more!

Thats a great shot, sure like looking at those old movie stills..or the photos taken on set.

You did really well on this challenge...

#4 and #6 still open

Thank you, I'll try this one..

you know what is so different about today's stars? None of them are in *any* way distinct from each other.

Back in the day, (the 50s or 60s) a talented mimic like Frank Gorshin could get up on stage and run through a couple dozen impersonations of classic stars and every single one of them --John Wayne, Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Jimmy Stewart--it was obvious who he was sending up. Different mannerisms, voices, gestures. Each one vividly distinctive. Every single star had a signature look/sound and even their own posture. Gorshin could put an expression on his face, mimic one word in the star's voice and you could still get it. Wayne's drawl; Coopers laconicness; Jack Benny's raised eyebrows. Immediate recognition.

Today, there is no star who can be impersonated. They're homogenous and uniform. 'Impersonation' as a stage act has died. Stars appear in movies but they have no personalities. They have different haircuts maybe, but otherwise zero texture. Maybe Arnie--maybe Stallone--with their thick accents--are the sole exceptions. Gee, any others?

Even in the 1970s: Nicholson, DeNiro, Nolte, Dreyfuss, Duvall, Brando, Oates, Newman, Redford, Beatty, Hackman, Hoffman, Voight, Connery, Caine, McQueen, Caan, Sheen...all as different from each other as assorted stones in a display case.

I agree with you about that these new guys they just dont cut it, and most don't seem to have the hold you to your seat acting chops, like the actors we grew up on.

one of my favorite current crop of actors is Mads Mikkelsen, haven't seen his TV series Hannibal but have seen a few of his movies.. I like Michael Shannon as well both those guys have a command screen presence about them that seems like they steal the scenes in any type movie they do, be it from action to low key drama.

Howd you like what Patti Lupone did to that person texting during her play..great stuff..

That's the thing. Lots of older-era actors were not 'hunks' --this is the recipe every male actor today seems bound to follow.

Back in the day, there were overweight stars, 'older' stars, stars with odd-shaped or even horsey-looking faces, crazy-looking stars, cowboy stars who talked with heavy drawls; foreign stars with preposterous thick accents.

Look at how oddball all these individuals would appear today: Wallace Beery, Walter Brennan, Marie Dressler, Eugene Pallette, Mischa Auer, Lionel Barrymore. None of them could probably get five minutes of screen time. Heck even the Marx Brothers, just the faces of those guys would keep them off the screen in this era.

Absolutely, there is probably an academy award winner out there some place in some small town, doing local theatre but because she or he is not poster or magazine cover material, will never get the big time break.

Hey Double

"What the hell's so funny?"
"Its not spaghetti, it's linguini"
...
....
..... SPLAT!
"Now it's garbage"

That sounds familiar, can see someone, throwing the plate of it up againstthe wall... and the mess sticking...