MovieChat Forums > Henry Fonda Discussion > Top 10 performances

Top 10 performances


You Only Live Once (1937)
Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)
The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
The Lady Eve (1941)
The Ox-Bow Incident (1942)
The Wrong Man (1956)
12 Angry Men (1957)
Advise & Consent (1962)
Fail-Safe (1964)
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)

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Hank was always worth watching. Out of the ones you've listed that I've seen, Fail-Safe is probably my favorite, although Grapes of Wrath would be a very close second.

What do you think of Mister Roberts? I just rewatched it yesterday. IMO a great movie overall, even if it's hopelessly dated in some ways. Fonda was too old for the part ... but then again, Humphrey Bogart, Fred MacMurray, and Van Johnson were too old for their roles in The Caine Mutiny, another great WWII movie from about that time. Not really much of a problem in either movie, but there is one moment when it just doesn't work -- the fifty year old Fonda, as Roberts, says that he dropped out of medical school to fight the war. One passing moment that stretches credibility beyond the breaking point; I just roll my eyes at that and enjoy the rest of the movie.

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I really like Mister Roberts. One issue I have with even some of John Ford’s good films is that the slapstick is so clumsily included (complete with slide whistles and waa-WAAA sound effects) but here the comedy is quite natural and effective (okay, he only co-directed this one). Fonda is good in it, Lemmon is great but my favourite is William Powell in his last role as the doctor. Cagney is another favourite of mine so that’s another bonus for me. I don’t actually remember the line you mentioned but yes, that’s ridiculous. Lovely film, though and the ending hits home.

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