|
Post by teleadm on Oct 8, 2021 19:52:20 GMT
A familiar face from 1949 and 2007, or between The Philco Television Playhouse 1949 and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 2007, that's nearly 50 years before the cameras of both television and cinema. Sometimes it looked like he never aged, looking the same with his bushy eyebrows. One of the great character/supporting actors, that we celebrate 100 years since their birth. James Whitmore (1921–2009)
During his long career both on film and and on television he earned two Oscar nomination, won an Emmy award, a Golden Globe award, a Spoken Word Grammy award and two shared Western Heritage Awards plus his name is on Hollywood Walk of Fame since 1960 (It's auguration) "I certainly wasn't the idol of millions. I just happened to get good parts. And so I wasn't worried . . . because I could see these character parts stretching on into the, you know, dim days of the future"
This year we also celebrate 100 years of his birth.
He did nearly anything... Battleground 1949 earning his first Oscar nomination, and grabbing a Golden Globe Award. As Gus in John Huston's The Asphalt Jungle 1950 He heard God's voice in The Next Voice You Hear... 1951. He brushed up his Shakespeare in Kiss Me Kate 1953 He fought giant radiated ants in sci-fi classic Them 1954. Considered by some fans as one the best Twilight Zone episode " On Thursday We Leave for Home" 1963 Followed by guest appearances of nearly every TV series. As the president of the Assembly in Planet of the Apes 1968 He corrupted his trust in Madigan 1968, but maybe Henry Fonda might forgive him... As the real General Halsey in Tora! Tora! Tora! 1970 Sorry for the bad pic, earning an Oscar nomination, and winning a spoken word Grammy, Give 'em Hell, Harry! (1975), later he also did a one man show as Teddy Roosevelt called Bully: An Adventure with Teddy Roosevelt 1978 Smoking a pipe while dissecting a body, in Frankie Boys last star vehicle The First Deadly Sin 1980 The Shawshank Redemption 1994 Thanks for watching! All kinds of opinions are welcome
|
|
|
Post by mattgarth on Oct 8, 2021 19:59:01 GMT
One film critic described Whitmore as:
"... the poor man's Spencer Tracy"
(he meant it as a compliment)
---------------------------------------------------
A favorite role -- as the tough Marine Sergeant ('Mac') in BATTLE CRY
|
|
|
Post by Captain Spencer on Oct 8, 2021 20:00:58 GMT
He was great in the 1996 horror movie The Relic.
|
|
|
Post by mikef6 on Oct 8, 2021 21:17:05 GMT
Love the guy.
I wonder if, sitting in that car next to Nancy Davis, he considered running for U.S. President.
|
|
|
Post by OldAussie on Oct 8, 2021 21:31:27 GMT
Great career. When ever I think of an American sergeant, it's Whitmore I see.
|
|
|
Post by mattgarth on Oct 8, 2021 21:45:54 GMT
He really hit all of the military services: U.S. Army -- BATTLEGROUND U.S. Navy -- TORA TORA TORA U.S. Air Force -- THE MCCONNELL STORY U.S. Marine Corps -- BATTLE CRY U.S. Army Air Corps -- ABOVE AND BEYOND
|
|
|
Post by politicidal on Oct 8, 2021 23:07:00 GMT
One film critic described Whitmore as: "... the poor man's Spencer Tracy"(he meant it as a compliment) --------------------------------------------------- A favorite role -- as the tough Marine Sergeant ('Mac') in BATTLE CRY Yeah, they're not wrong.
|
|
|
Post by phantomparticle on Oct 9, 2021 0:17:59 GMT
One of my favorite character actors who never gave a bad performance. The Tracy comparison is apt; both men were so natural on screen, you never caught them acting. His most unusual role may have been Black Like Me (1959), the true story of John Howard Griffin, a reporter and white southerner who changed the color of his skin and lived as an African American as research for a book. An unusually frank and strong drama for its time, and certainly a courageous gamble on Whitmore's part. There is a fair copy of the movie on Youtube.
|
|
|
Post by london777 on Oct 9, 2021 1:41:47 GMT
One film critic described Whitmore as: "... the poor man's Spencer Tracy" (he meant it as a compliment) A fair comment, I think, as well as being a compliment.
|
|
|
Post by jeffersoncody on Oct 14, 2021 20:37:48 GMT
He was a wonderful actor.
|
|
spiderwort
Junior Member
@spiderwort
Posts: 2,099
Likes: 9,420
|
Post by spiderwort on Sept 21, 2022 14:26:02 GMT
Hey tele, I don't know how this thread got by me, but I'm glad I've found it now. I loved James Whitmore. He was a fine and very watchable actor. I think all my favorites of his works have been mentioned -- there are so many, and in so many of them he stole scene after scene from the stars of each. But for some reason, the first thing that comes to mind when I think of him is BATTLEGROUND, his second film and his first Oscar nomination. What an actor!
I also wanted to share something about him that I'm sure most people don't know, which I learned from one of my old teachers, Jack Garfein. James Dean's first acting teacher was James Whitmore! Jack told us this, because he was trying to help everyone understand the importance of inner monologues in acting, and he used an example from Whitmore working with Dean to make his point. When Dean was having trouble marrying an inner monologue to the scene, Whitmore told him to forget that and just walk around and repeat the "pledge of allegiance" in his mind while he listening to the other actor's dialogue. Dean did that, and suddenly the scene came alive for him, changing everything, Jack said. After that, Dean was able to create inner monologues that were organic to every scene. And for the record, Jack knew Dean. Probably before, but definitely from the time he spent on the set of GIANT with his wife, Carroll Baker.
Final note: Jack said that James Dean credited James Whitmore's teaching with making him the actor he became. That says a lot about Whitmore, I think.
|
|
|
Post by Richard Kimble on Sept 23, 2022 5:29:04 GMT
Can't let a James Whitmore thread go by w/o linking this classic piece: Stealing scenes in 'Them'[ETA: Link fixed]There used to be a video on YT illustrating this but unfortunately it was taken down.
|
|