Favorite Performance?
For me, it's Ace in the Hole.
shareIn the little-known screen adaptation of G.B
Shaw's "The Devil's Disciple", of all obscure things.
It's one of the few films where he showed a sense of humor and a light touch, he's thoroughly funny and charming, his usual heavy-handed intensity is quite absent and not missed. He even blew Sir Laurence Olivier off the screen in this one, surprise surprise! Although Olivier later said that his personal problems were overwhelming him at this point, and he regretted doing a bad job with a beautifully written part.
I ran across this movie unexpectedly a while back. I was surprised a film with the powerhouse trio of Burt, Kirk and Larry isn't more well known. I don't recall LO's performance being "off" but in a way he did stand out as his speaking style (from what I recall) seemed very formal.
There is a theory here that Revolutionary War films rarely seem to play well, and this may have an instance of it. Still, just seeing the three of them plus whoever the love interest must have been, it seems like a fun lark of a film. The title is a bit harsh though, and off putting.
"The Devil's Disciple" was a financial disaster at the time and has attracted little interest over the years, which is a pity because it's a damn good film with Douglas's best light performance. It's not a perfect film, Olivier's role of Gen. Burgoyne does fail to be as devastatingly witty as it usually comes across on stage.
It's a mystery to me why the film failed. The play is well-known, I'd seen it as a teenager and read it during my Shaw phase, but I suppose the title could have turned off conservative American audiences in spite of the all-star cast.
Spartacus
shareSpartacus
shareAce in the Hole. Kirk is not one of my favourites but he’s exceptional as the anti-hero of Billy Wilder’s dark, cynical classic.
Runners-up would be Paths of Glory, Out of the Past and Champion.
Same here!
share