Edward Arnold - Meet John Doe (1941) Discussion

[–] FeloniousMunk 10 years ago

That was his "shtick"...some character actors were always cast as cops, or gangsters, or thugs, or railroad conductors. Edward Arnold was always the fat, rich, connected prick. A politician, or a wealthy tycoon, or a rich guy who was a bastard, or some other kind of puppetmaster.

Change the accent, lose the glasses, bring him back from the dead...and you have the perfect studio pick for Chris Christie.

HONK if you love Jesus...
TXT if you want to meet Him...

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[–] PussyCrusher_Principal 10 years ago

Yes, he had the market cornered on these roles...loved him in You Can't Take It With a You as well.

Of course he played many different roles in many films, one of my favorite examples (of Arnold playing against type)is with Frances Farmer (and Walter Brennan, again) being in Come And Get It.

"Yes yes yes, the reason for the visit. Got it all deployed for you. Tastes the wares, Email."

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[–] athomed 10 years ago

But how well he played it, huh? To evoke that reaction from you. It's one of the highest accolodes an actor and the director who directs him/her can receive from the audience.

___
I'm going to ask him to show you to the door. Many people don't know where it is.

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[–] rtw416 10 years ago

Yes...he plays his rolls to perfection.One other roll against type would be Daniel Webster,in"The Devil and Daniel Webster" he was great against Houstons "Mr Scratch"...love that movie

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[–] rtw416 10 years ago

Thats HUSTON not HOUSTON

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[–] pjwoodall1 9 years ago

I watched Mr Smith Goes to Washington to be the perfect movie on election night and just finished Meet John Doe. Arnold is perfectly cast in both movies as the unscrulous business tycoon/publisher who turns public opinion against our hero. I had also forgotten about The Devil and Daniel Webster.

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[–] steely3000 8 years ago

Arnold plays a police chief in "Crime and Punishment". A good guy in that, opposite Peter Lorre.

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[–] toonce62 8 years ago

He is new Jerseys own chris christies father.

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