James Mason is one of those actors who was seemingly incapable of a less than impeccable performance, even when appearing in weaker movies. Always professional, elegant - and blessed with one of cinema's great voices.
1. Bigger Than Life
2. A Star is Born
3. Lolita
4. 5 Fingers
5. Julius Caesar
A Star is Born
Lolita
The Boys From Brazil
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
North By Northwest
Bigger Than Life (if you haven't seen this - run)
Lolita
The Verdict
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Now, there are MANY performances I haven't seen yet.
Bigger Than Life was such a tour de force... I guess it wasn’t a big success in its day but in hindsight it’s hard to believe that Mason wasn’t even nominated for the Oscar for this brilliant performance, one of the most harrowing portrayals of addiction I have ever seen.
shareIt's a great performance and a great film. I have become a huge admirer of Nicholas Ray after seeing this film. He obviously has brilliance in him.
shareRay was a great and singular filmmaker. I don’t love all of his films but they are all worthy of respect, and some are truly great. One of the most important American filmmakers of his era, certainly.
shareLolita
The Verdict
Cry Terror
North by Northwest
The Desert Fox
Worst: Boys from Brazil: that film was hilariously bad!
Boys from Brazil is indeed ‘hilariously bad’ as you say, but it’s a bit of a guilty pleasure. Olivier and Peck are at their hammiest. But I have to give Mason credit - he is as professional and polished as ever, and is the only one who sails through the ridiculous thing with dignity.
shareodd man out
the verdict
the desert fox
the boys from brazil
the fall of the roman empire