This is easily one of George C. Scott's finest performances. His work in this film, which I first saw as a kid on TV, made an immediate fan out of me. That scene with the slumlord is unforgettable.
shareYeah, that was a great scene.
Kilvinski, the seen-it-all veteran, throughout the film takes everything calmly and doesn't let it get to him. But, the slumlord was just so unethical he just couldn't restrain himself.
Your right about Scott's fine acting, but you didn't mention his best scene, which also happens to be the best of the film. See my post, Beat Scene *****SPOILER*****.
shareSupposedly, both John Wayne and Scott turned down the lead role in Dirty Harry. When that movie was a huge hit and cemented Clint Eastwood's status as a major movie star, Wayne realized his mistake and made drivel like McQ and Brannigan to compensate.
Likewise, I always assumed The New Centurions was Scott's way of compensating, as well. I don't know if the success of Dirty Harry was the reason Scott took this role, but it certainly appears he made the right move, if not for his career, at least artistically. This is a much better movie and I can't imagine Scott giving a better performance in Dirty Harry with the aforementioned suicide scene being one of his most riveting.
His story was admittedly more interesting than Stacy Keach.
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