Why can't they have a real Asian actor instead of Mr. Silva? - The Manchurian Candidate (1962) Discussion

[–] MystMoonstruck 9 years ago

I know Frank Sinatra liked him as a person and an actor. Maybe he had influence over the casting.

I still recall a story that Henry Silva told about being stopped in traffic and having Sinatra yell from another car, "Hey, Silva! I'm going to be doing a movie! Would you like a part in it?" (or something close to that...) It turned out to be "Ocean's 11".

I do not understand people freaking out because they want the role to go to the "right race"! If that was so, Louis Gossett Jr. wouldn't have played Anwar al-Sadat, for which he had to wear makeup to change his color; Graham Greene wouldn't have played the non-Indian/Native American roles he has throughout his career; Dean Cain shouldn't have played Clark Kent/Superman! Anthony Quinn wouldn't have had a large share of his roles if he could play only Mexican/Irish! You would have someone of one race/ethnic group playing only one race/ethnic group?! Why limit it like that?

Actors should play roles if they are considered right for them. I miss the days before "PC" made most people just downright weird about trying to placate everyone.

(W)hat are we without our dreams?
Making sure our fantasies
Do not overpower our realities. ~ RC

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[–] BrianRaess_Is_FinallyGone 9 years ago

Posts like this are dumb. Since when did casting characters require the actor to match ethnicity, age or even gender?

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[–] llanwydd 9 years ago

<<Posts like this are dumb. Since when did casting characters require the actor to match ethnicity, age or even gender?>>

You're joking, right?

Anyway, on the subject of Mr. Silva, I think he did a very convincing portrayal. I'm trying to think of actual Asian actors who would have been as outstanding in that role and I can think of none. Bruce Lee or even Keye Luke could have done the fighting scenes but I can think of no one but Henry Silva who could have appeared so sinister.

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[–] BrianRaess_Is_FinallyGone 9 years ago

What about my post makes you think I'm joking? Silva isn't the first actor to portray an ethnicity other than his own. That's what actors do. They've been doing it for thousands of years. They'll be doing it for many more.

If one is going to complain about the actors ethnicity not matching the character's ethnicity, then why stop there? Why not complain about Angela Lansbury playing Laurence Harvey's mother when the actress was only 3 years older than him?

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[–] llanwydd 9 years ago

Good point about Lansbury and Harvey. I think Frankenheimer was counting on the audience's "suspension of disbelief" as they call it. There was little age difference between them but they managed to be very convincing. It never even occurred to me that they were nearly the same age until I heard it in the director's own words after I had been watching the film for years.

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[–] SirWizard 9 years ago

There are numerous instances of physically mismatched casting.
Ethnicity: Marlon Brando as Sakini in The Teahouse of the August Moon (American Caucasian as Japanese Asian), or Boris Karloff as Wu Yen Fang in West of Shanghai (British Caucasian as Chinese Asian).
Age: Jessie Royce Landis as Cary Grant's mother in North by Northwest (8 years age difference), Anne Bancroft as middle-aged cougar to Dustin Hoffman's college youth in The Graduate (6 years age difference).
Gender: Linda Hunt as Billy Kwan in The Year of Living Dangerously (female as male).

Still, it is the effectiveness of the portrayal that is crucial, as in my examples above. Unfortunately, I found Mr. Silva's portrayal of a Korean to be absurd and ineffective.

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[–] launlori 9 years ago

At that time in film they would often use white actors to play , Asian, Indian, etc. I find it horrifying myself but I have to remind myself that was common then.

One that stands out is Mickey Rooney playing the Japanese photographer in Breakfast at Tiffany.

I always notice this in older films .... It was a bad practice and I'm glad they don't cast like that anymore.

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[–] cowgoesmoo 9 years ago

...or Katharine Hepburn playing a Chinese woman in "Dragon Seed"...

There were two documentaries on Netflix, one on Asian actors and the other on American Indian actors, and how they were portrayed in the past and how they shaped stereotypes even today. The one on Indians was called "Reel Injun" but the name of the one on Asian actors escapes me... For example, in those old Westerns, you always see Indian braves with headbands. That's because they were portrayed by white actors wearing wigs - the headbands were necessary to keep the wigs in place when the actors were on horseback. They were interviewing some elderly Asian actors who got bit parts back in the 30s through 50s playing houseboys, gardeners, Japanese soldiers, whatever, but never a leading role.

I know this doesn't excuse it, but Hollywood then and now is about money. People back then would probably flock to see Warner Oland in a Charlie Chan movie. Would the box office sales have been as large with an actual Chinese actor? Maybe, maybe not... But I don't think the studios back then would have taken the chance. Even this year, there was a movie (it was so bad, I've forgotten the name) with Emma Stone playing a character who also had Vietnamese ancestry. Emma Stone is bankable in a starring role in a way that dozens of actresses of Vietnamese descent probably are not. I'm sure it will change someday... just very slowly.

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[–] nenue-1 8 years ago

The Charlie Chan movies were allegedly very popular in China at the time.

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[–] hodie1 9 years ago

Why was it a bad practice? It's ACTING. Jonathan Pryce was wonderful in Miss Saigon. And honestly, I feel lucky to have seen him in the production.

You do know that the female roles in Shakespeare's plays were played by men, right?

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[–] CarFish-jcbnyc 8 years ago

That's right. And look at all the straight characters who were played by actors that weren't.

Some people love being offended and "horrified". It makes them feel all saintly and holy.

"Facts are stubborn things" - Ronald Reagan

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[–] ShellOilJunior 8 years ago

Why would Charlton Heston play a Mexican. Why would Omar Sharif play a Russian?

As long as they look and sound the part it shouldn't matter.

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[–] Robbmonster 8 years ago

I know what you mean. Each time I see and English actor playing an American I am just soooo offended.

Never defend crap with 'It's just a movie'
http://www.youtube.com/user/BigGreenProds

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[–] blkhwk41 8 years ago

It was the early 60s.....who would you suggest ? That had some experience and name recognition.

the current resident of Our White House has a liberal socialist agenda which is Killing Our Country

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[–] whozisdude 8 years ago

Dude, it's called 'acting' for a reason. It is make believe. There are way more important things to worry about.

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[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] bear022013-588-696101 8 years ago

Give it a rest.

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