MovieChat Forums > The Fountainhead (1949) Discussion > Was Coop Right For Roark?

Was Coop Right For Roark?

posted 13 years ago by joeparkson
12 replies | jump to latest

I'll leave aside the issue of his age. I think Coop went from totally misreading his lines to being spot on. Take the scene where Keating's in Roark's office making for his help in designing Courtland Homes. Sometimes Coop stands up and declaims his lines like he's a gasbag on the Senate floor, other times he tosses it off like he just thought of it. It's more effective when you underplay the lines, particularly when it's a scene of two guys in an office.
I thought the quarry and 'rape' scenes were the most effective.

I also thought Coop handled the long courtroom speech well. He seemed to understand what he was saying.

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[–] shandy8 13 years ago

I understand that Bogart was strongly considered for Roark, but I cannot envision anyone but Gary Cooper in this role. His age was no problem for me; he looked fantastic with Neal. His underplayed perfomormance really offset Rand's less-than-subtle screenplay making what could have been laughable lines ("I don't build in order to have clients. I have clients in order to build." would have sounded silly coming from a lesser actor).

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[–] 13 years ago

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[–] aciolino 11 years ago

I disagree STRONGLY, but respectfully.

I think Bogart would have mean monstrously good.

First of all, he would not have slept-walked through it the way Coop did, delivering his lines as if he would prefer removing his own gall bladder with an oyster fork than be making this film. I love Coop. But his "work" here is horrific.

Bogey would have given the role a more intense and visible passion, not to mention machismo. And humor, when called for. Coop was just. . . zzzzz..zzzzzz. . .zzz. . .

[–] manage-932-700755 11 years ago

It's been a while since I read the book and wartched the film. However, I thought Cooper was perfect in the role. He matched the physical characteristics of Roark, as describned in the book perfectly. Bogart could have seemed like a midget compared to the character in the book, especially playing opposite the tall, slender Patrica Neal. No, Coop was not intense in the film, but neither was Roark overly intense in the book. Roark's intensity in the book was more stubborness.

I guess I come down the direct opposite of your view on this, Joe. I just can't see Bogart at all in the role. But as I said, it has been several years since I read the book and watched the film. I'll have to see the film again and consider the Bogart option.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] KrystelClaire 11 years ago

No, the actor performing the character of Howard Roark should have been much much younger.

[–] KrystelClaire 11 years ago

Younger, and an actor who understood the part.

[–] first-things-first 10 years ago

It's been a while since I have seen the movie, but I thought Cooper was a miscast after reading the book. He came across as a cardboard character or stiff when playing the part of Howard. Howard in my opinion was reserved, intelligent, and lacked empathy. I will add that this performance would turn out to be perfect for High Noon. All alone, and not selfish but selfless.

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[–] 10 years ago

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[–] sass18 10 years ago

I always thought Gregory Peck would have been perfect for the part.

[–] marktayloruk (2378) 2 years ago

I thought Cary Grant but Peck could have done it. Would have best filmed in the 60s with.Patrick.McGoohan.