Archive for August, 2011
You are currently browsing the Anatomy Of A Classic blog archives for August, 2011.
7
Aug
2011
Supporting Actor Spotlight: George Sanders
Name: George Henry Sanders
Famous Roles: Addison DeWitt in All About Eve (1950), Lord Henry Wotton in The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945), voice of Shere Khan in The Jungle Book (1967).
Trademark: His voice – smooth and rich with a sophisticated English accent. Excelled at playing the villain.
Awards and Achievements: Won the 1950 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in All About Eve. Also authored two crime novels and released an album entitled The George Sanders Touch: Songs for the Lovely Lady.
Why We Love Him: His voice! When portraying a villain, his voice is deliciously evil and seductive. Joseph L. Mankiewicz knew what he was doing when he selected Sanders for the opening narration of All About Eve. His voice over sets the tone perfectly for the snarky, biting dialogue that is to come.
2
Aug
2011
The War Room: The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
I’m sure most of you classic film fans have already seen The Best Years of Our Lives, but for those of you new to classic film this is a must see! This film isn’t set on the battlefield, but instead tells the story of the soldiers after the war is over.
The Plot
Three World War II veterans return home at the end of the war in hopes of restarting their lives where they left off. Sergeant Al Stephenson (Frederick March) comes home to his wife (Myrna Loy) and two children only to find that he feels like a stranger around his own family. Captain Fred Derry (Dana Andrews) returns to his wife (Virginia Mayo) that he married just before shipping out and barely knows. Fred is a decorated Air Forces Captain and bombardier, but is unskilled as a civilian and has difficulties finding and holding a job. Homer Parish (played by nonprofessional actor Harold Russell) lost both hands while in the Navy and struggles with the guilt of burdening his fiance with his disability.
What I like about the film
The Best Years of Our Lives is extremely moving and emotional. It’s message about the hardships war veterans face after returning home is just as relevant today as it was 65 years ago. Harold Russell is one of the highlights of the film and puts in an amazing and genuine performance as Homer despite not being a professional actor. Russell lost both hands while serving as an Army instructor and was discovered by director William Wyler who saw him in a film about rehabilitating war veterans. Russell deservingly won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and also an honorary Academy Award for his performance and service.
There is one particular scene that has stuck with me in particular. Dana Andrew’s character Fred visits an airfield that has been turned into an aircraft boneyard for hundreds of aircraft. The imagery of the planes waiting to be scrapped and turned into manufactured homes mirrors the fate of the returning servicemen who must reform their own lives. The scene is haunting and sobering, but ends on an uplifting note.
