Sargent or York
Who made the best Darrin?
I thought they were both dicks.
I thought they were both dicks.
[Rimshot] 🥁 [/Rimshot]
Also, neither one had a part in the film Sargent York...
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MovieChat Forums > Bewitched (1964) Discussion > Sargent or York
They were both similar looking so at times I forget which was which.
shareBoth were dicks. York in general irritates me more. However, Sargent's version of Darrin was less likeable
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They were both written to be dicks, but Sargent was indeed just less likable. I don't know if it was his portrayal or just his personality leaking through.
I think York's exasperated shtick made him seem more everyman. Sargent's authoritative style didn't work in this role.
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I agree, when he realized he was wrong, York's Darrin seemed more genuine when he apologized than Sargent did.
I still enjoy the reruns and watch both Darrins, but I think what constantly grinds my gears is that the character Darrin (either actor) is so against Samantha doing what is natural for her.
I know without that premise, there's no show, but it's still frustrating.
Never cared for the character that much. The fact that he couldn't accept Samantha for what she was, always stuck in my craw for some reason. Sargent seemed meaner than York though, so I guess York was a little better.
share Modica, you clearly don't get the show, although there's no law that says people have to like everything.
Darrin MORE than accepted Samantha; he simply wanted to live what was a normal life to him. Sam had
spent hundreds of years eating breakfast in Rome, lunch in Pairs, dinner in London. She had several handsome warlock
boyfriends. But it wasn't until she met this ordinary guy that she realized what was missing from her life.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to get up every day, tend to daily responsibilities, loving a mate, and leading
a disciplined life. Here, Samantha finally found happiness. As she put it, "If I didn't (feel satisfaction) I wouldn't
BE here."
If one watches the series closely from beginning to end, we first see that Darrin attempts to welcome Endora into
his home warmly. It is SHE who is dismissive, rude, insulting, overbearing and - eventually - threatening.
Though there were a few cordial moments between them (Tabitha's birth, for instance), she always barged in, never
knocked on the door, and ALWAYS wrecked havoc on his life. She even admitted in the season one Salem opener,
that she was "still working on it" (trying to break up the marriage, despite her love for Sam and her grandchildren).
It should be noted, too, that Darrin could be very sweet to Aunt Clara (who was really the only relative on Sam's
side of the family who accepted HIM). He also spent 98 percent of the on-camera moments caught up in some
dilemma caused by someone in Sam's family. Yet he stood by her.
Darrin wasn't supposed to be perfect. He was HUMAN after all. But he possessed enormous character. And his willingness
to stand up to individuals who could literally destroy him was a testament to his character.
As for the actors, there's no denying York was by far the greater talent. Even William Asher said this. But
Sargent was more than capable, and possessed an effective, dry humor that worked for the series.
Darrin had to be written that way or the show wouldn't work, but that doesn't change the fact that Darrin wanted Samantha to be something she wasn't, and that was often frustrating to watch.
There's literally nothing I wouldn't or won't do for my wife. If she was capable of magic, why wouldn't allow (!) her to make her own daily life easier or do things she enjoys?
Agree about Endora. She was a true meddler who pulled some very mean stuff on Darrin.
Agree about Endora. She was a true meddler who pulled some very mean stuff on Darrin.
Which is funny, because behind the scenes, Agnes Moorehead really liked Dick York, and resented Sargent for taking his place after York left the show. She sometimes took that resentment out on him too.
Elizabeth Montgomery, by contrast, was more comfortable working with Sargent, since York apparently developed a crush on her, which was unrequited, and that made having him around rather awkward sometimes (Dick Sargent developing a crush on her was never going to be a problem). York was lucky he never got anywhere with Montgomery though, as his wife stuck by him through his severe health problems the rest of his life, which she might not have done had York succeeded in having an affair with his more beautiful costar. share
Which kind of demonstrates the talent the actors had. You would absolutely believe York and Moorehead couldn't stand each other.
York, slightly.
shareI'm in the minority here but I like Sargeant. Yes York was working with a serious disability...which increasingly affected his performance. And this is why he left.
Sargeant played the prototypical husband of the era....who wasn't supposed to be warm and cuddly. Actually he did a very good job hiding being gay...which was a no-no back then. it would have gotten him fired. he was the better actor out of the two.
Husbands were not 'supposed' to be warm and cuddly of the era, a whole 50 yrs ago? If Sargent was not cuddly and handsome, it's due to Sargent, not a ''prototypical'' thing. (and he didn't seem to be hiding being gay; Sargent played himself)
shareI liked Sargent, because his Darrin seemed like he was his own man and was Samantha's equal. York's Darrin always felt like he was a perpetual victim and second to Samantha and her family.
shareyeah, Sargent seemed like a better match for Sam
shareI always thought Sargent was the more handsome of the two. He was more cool and a lot less exasperated with stuff that went on. Montgomery already played 'being cool' so they were a much better on screen pairing.
shareThe point of the sitcom was for him to be exasperated with the stuff going on. People do not seem to GET this show. York prevails in all depts.
shareYork came across as whiny.
shareI didn't get a sense of him being whiny.
share I'd be whiny too if my mother-in-law was constantly putting spells on me, e.g., making me vain, cheap, shrinking, ears growing, etc. lol
When Darrin first met Endora he made it plain that he wanted his marriage to proceed without witchcraft. He shouldn't have called it nonsense though. Endora got defensive and her feelings were hurt. He inadvertently insulted her whole way of life.
But it turned out to be a comedy match made in heaven. Darrin just couldn't help getting his digs in. He kept baiting Endora and she kept taking the bait.
Sargent
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