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Post by snsurone on Dec 15, 2017 17:22:19 GMT
Largely forgotten today, he was one of the finest child actors in cinematic history.
He appeared in a couple of Disney films (SONG OF THE SOUTH, TREASURE ISLAND), but his greatest performance was in the classic film noir THE WINDOW.
Sadly, as with so many child actors, his career died out when he grew up, and he became a homeless drug addict.
He was found dead of an overdose in a vacant slum apartment by some children who were playing there.
What's even sadder is that his mother had been trying to locate him in order to inform him that his father had just died.
Such a tragic waste.
His history is similar to another good child actor, Scotty Beckett.
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Post by politicidal on Dec 15, 2017 17:27:07 GMT
Don't forget that he was the voice actor and model for Disney's Peter Pan.
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Post by snsurone on Dec 15, 2017 17:48:22 GMT
Sorry, I did forget.
Thank you for the reminder.
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Post by teleadm on Dec 15, 2017 18:28:39 GMT
His disappearnce into obscurity reminded me a bit of the fate of "Alfalfa" from Our Gang (the American movies, not the Britch) movies. What I've read is that he was a troublesome kid all the time, and quite the opposite of the roles he used to play. What kinda killed his career too was when he went into his puberty voice change and getting that teen pest called acne. I agree he was great in The Window 1948. Treasure Island 1950 has after watching it a few years ago dated badly, mostly because of many character or supporting actors overplaying, Newton and Bobby is just fine. The only "grown up" role I've seen him in was in The Scarlet Coat 1955, a movie that in my mind was a very interesting movie about the Benedict Arnold case, and a bit underrated.  |
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Post by BATouttaheck on Dec 15, 2017 18:29:17 GMT
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Post by BATouttaheck on Dec 15, 2017 18:36:40 GMT
SO DEAR TO MY HEART    Family story of a child who had to be removed from the theater because they were sobbing so badly at this one . |
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Post by BATouttaheck on Dec 15, 2017 18:41:40 GMT
he was the voice actor and model for Disney's Peter Pan. "Reference shots " for Pan.  He also performed as Pan on LUX Radio Theater |
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Post by BATouttaheck on Dec 15, 2017 18:43:41 GMT
Still available on YouTube and the Songs are included in the Sing-a-Long Dvd's even if the Disney Studio avoids the actual film.  |
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Post by mikef6 on Dec 15, 2017 19:06:48 GMT
Driscoll was the recipient of the Academy Juvenile Award. Here is the history of that award from my good friend, Wikipedia:
Bobby Driscoll was the ninth (of twelve) young actors to be given this honorary award. He was 13 years old at the 1949 ceremony. I have read articles that say that Driscoll was an “Oscar winner,” but he did not win in a competitive category. The same is true of Mickey Rooney who was given this award in 1938. It was on this basis that Rooney kept showing up at Oscar broadcasts that featured past winners.
Still, things may have changed for the better (at least in the movies) because many child actors are still working way into adulthood. (In TV, it seems, child stars still vanish once their show is cancelled.)
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Post by BATouttaheck on Dec 15, 2017 19:14:39 GMT
mikef6 Bobby Driscoll getting his award.  Thanks for the Wiki info
As an aside : Dunno about anyone else but, somehow I prefer to think of Bobby, and the other "sad ending" stars, being "happy " - and not have the doom and gloom be the focus of OPs but maybe that's just me  .
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Post by mattgarth on Dec 15, 2017 19:21:05 GMT
Bobby also played the youngest of the five Sullivan brothers (as a child) in the 1944 film about the Iowa siblings who all died together in action in the naval battle off the coast of Guadalcanal in 1942 aboard the U.S. Juneau.
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Post by teleadm on Dec 15, 2017 19:23:22 GMT
mikef6Do you happened to know when they stopped those mini Oscars awards?
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Post by BATouttaheck on Dec 15, 2017 19:36:49 GMT
Bobby also played the youngest of the five Sullivan brothers (as a child) in the 1944 film about the Iowa siblings who all died together in action in the naval battle off the coast of Guadalcanal in 1942 aboard the U.S. Juneau. The Fighting Sullivans I Figure maybe he is 2nd on the left ?  'nuther shot of the Brothers  or is that him on the floor ? |
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Post by mattgarth on Dec 15, 2017 19:39:13 GMT
That's him on the floor in the top picture, Bat.
Funniest scene is when he bolts from his First Communion rehearsal in church to join his battling brothers in a playground free-for-all.
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Post by mikef6 on Dec 15, 2017 19:41:23 GMT
mikef6 Do you happened to know when they stopped those mini Oscars awards? I know "when" but not sure "why." The last one went to Haley Mills at the ceremony in 1961 (for Pollyanna, a 1960 film). As for "why," 16-year-old Patty Duke won a competitive Oscar for the year 1961. Maybe the idea was born that actors under-18 should be treated as adults in nominations. |
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Post by BATouttaheck on Dec 15, 2017 19:44:46 GMT
Sullivan's is another one I've missed... looks pretty good .  |
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Post by neurosturgeon on Dec 16, 2017 2:40:58 GMT
Bobby's co-star, Luana Patten, was a bit of a local legend in my home town, where she was born and died.
While a student at Wilson High in Long Beach California in 1956, she was working as a box office cashier at the Lakewood Theater when it was held up. The movie playing was her first film, Song of the South (1946).
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Post by kijii on Dec 16, 2017 6:34:35 GMT
I just want to add my vote to The Window 1948.
It is a surprising thriller with Arthur Kennedy as his dad, Ed Woodry.
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Post by them1ghtyhumph on Dec 16, 2017 6:57:33 GMT
His appearance in Treasure Island is referred to on a number of occasions in the film 'Crumb'.
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Post by snsurone on Dec 16, 2017 21:00:46 GMT
Bobby's co-star, Luana Patten, was a bit of a local legend in my home town, where she was born and died. While a student at Wilson High in Long Beach California in 1956, she was working as a box office cashier at the Lakewood Theater when it was held up. The movie playing was her first film, Song of the South (1946). From what I've read, Luana Patten choked to death while drinking tea. How can this be possible? Maybe it was some kind of allergic reaction. |
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