The most complete film actor of all time

the first time I saw him was one of those Hollywood canteen movies. He walked in and walked out, speaking to an actress.
I ordered Chain Gang and Scarface (which I had heard of) to see what they were like, anticipating they would be good (they are).

Bette Davis once said an actor has to leave something of themselves in their role and that Muni submerged himself too much, becoming unrecognizable.
This may be what contributed to his becoming lost to younger generations, while Davis wasn't. Nor was Spencer Tracy or Jimmy Stewart, two more who are always recognizable in what they do.

In Chain Gang, he looked like Robert Forster, but again, Forster is always notable in his roles.

This makes me think of Meryl Streep. Oscars and nominations won't matter if the audience doesn't realize it is her.

By comparison again, Angela Lansbury is still the same in her parts, but her roles are overly diverse as well. Sweeny Todd (the A&E musical), to Little Gloria to Murder She Wrote to Bedknobs to Manchurian. A diverse lineup, but she's still detectable.

At least he couldn't be accused of under-acting.

"What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence."

Agree

"Bette Davis once said an actor has to leave something of themselves in their role and that Muni submerged himself too much, becoming unrecognizable.
This may be what contributed to his becoming lost to younger generations, while Davis wasn't. Nor was Spencer Tracy or Jimmy Stewart, two more who are always recognizable in what they do."

Thx for sharing that. That might be true now that I think about it. Paul Muni never attained the recognizable stature of other Hollywood favorites despite giving some of the greatest performances.