Keenan Wynn's drunk performance
is a bit ahead of its time. Very contemporary feel to his performance.
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MovieChat Forums > The Clock (1945) Discussion > Keenan Wynn's drunk performance
Wynn's performance was a real standout to me. It was a relatively subdued, more naturalistic version of a drunk; most depictions of drunkenness in this period were more over-the-top caricatures. Perhaps that is what struck the original poster as making it more contemporary.
I think The Clock is one of the most underrated films. The acting is superb all across the board, the script compelling, and the direction masterful.
I know exactly what you mean about "ahead of its time" - add a few f-words and it could have come out of a Scorsese picture. It's simply a very brash comedy performance that we are very used to seeing nowadays, but not so much in a picture of this age. Btw though "contemporary" means "of the time", so in this context would mean typical of 1945 - maybe that's what confused the second poster.
shareyes, such a scene-stealer!
drunks, i would say before ray milland's brilliant performance in The Lost Weekend, were often portrayed as the life of the party, real fun characters, but wynn makes him everything a drunk truly is. annoying, angry, funny, laughable, pathetic, all rolled up into a few minutes. i want to see a film based on his character.
One of THE greatest supporting actors!
shareAll the more remarkable when you realize that his whole scene is one take.
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"I'm vilifying you for God's sake - pay attention!"
I just saw this film and didn't realize it was one take until I read this. My, that's some impressive stuff! Definitely one of my favorite scenes.
shareKeenan Wynn does nothing but annoy me in this film. IMO, the scene goes on about three times too long. It's definitely the "popcorn/bathroom break" scene for me.
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I agree. The same with Angela Lansburys mother and her over the top eating scene.
shareYes, the lady is over-the-top and Wynn is quite good playing drunk. Michael Caine once explained the trick to playing drunk is playing a drunk guy who's trying to appear sober.
shareI thought she looked familiar, but never knew her mom acted.
share"Keenan Wynn does nothing but annoy me in this film. IMO, the scene goes on about three times too long. It's definitely the "popcorn/bathroom break" scene for me."
Same here. On the other hand I think the comedy with Alice's roomate and her boyfriend fits in and works perfectly.
I agree. I didn't like that scene at all. It was such an unnecessary scene, IMHO.
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Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen 🎇
I always considered it to be a seduction scene. He may or may not have been drunk or he was slightly tipsy but his main goal was to get the attention of the woman who was sitting at the counter eating who attempting to eat in a refined manner. Why would an older woman be at a lunch counter late at night? She was probably lonely and secretely liked the attention she was receiving by the drunk. Anyway it is a humorous, unforgettable scene.
We're on a mission from God.