MovieChat Forums > Busting (1974) Discussion > Does Elliott Gould Ever Stop Chewing Gum...

Does Elliott Gould Ever Stop Chewing Gum in this Movie?

posted 12 years ago by jonchopwood
4 replies | jump to latest

This has to be the most irritating performance by a "major" actor I've ever seen. He's just playing his standard shtick, plus chewing gum constantly. How could Peter Hyams, the director, have allowed this? Watching it up through the court room scene, it struck: Elliott Gould is a terrible actor. He was just a one-note trick pony whose stardom flamed out after one year (1970).

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"Why do people always laugh in the wrong places?"
--Trapper John McIntyre

[–] BobGunn 11 years ago

If I'm not mistaken, at one point he's even chewin' gum while having a smoke at the same time! Which I'd imagine would taste pretty disgusting, but I found it hilarious. :)

I didn't mind his performance at all, personally. Really enjoyed the movie.

[–] oscarunger 10 years ago

I think Gould was doing a continuation of the Long Goodbye routine, just not smoking now chewing gum, I thought he was great here

[–] activista 9 years ago

@Jonchowood

Who the hell cares who's chewing gum in a movie? Nothing "irritating" about Gould's performance---I thought it was very a realistic portrait of a cop who's getting past frustrated that his efforts to bust the bad guys on the bottom are going for naught, along with hie partner, who's similarly frustrated about the same thing. Both Gould and Blake showed an easy and laid-back chemistry throughout the film, cracking funny and cynical jokes/comments on their situation, which made the film more fun to watch. Too bad they never did another film together, because they actually made a good team in this flick---really enjoyed it.

[–] Prismark10 8 years ago

Gould did what he did best at the time.

His counter culture persona.

It's that man again!!