MovieChat Forums > Lenny (1975) Discussion > Valerie Perrine was a very underapprecia...

Valerie Perrine was a very underappreciated actress

posted 17 years ago by Kalamata
24 replies | jump to latest

Everyone has praised, justly, Dustin Hoffman's performance in this film, but I haven't seen a lot about Valerie Perrine's performance which was, in my estimation, tremendous. It's almost as if she is invisible. Ms. Perrine didn't always get the best parts, but in this one film she shows what a great actress she was. Another good-looking blonde (slightly older) contemporary of hers, Lee Remick (Days Of Wine And Roses, Anatomy Of A Murder), was also a terrific actress. They seem to be more-or-less forgotten when the list of talented women actors are discussed these days, but they shouldn't be.

[–] Goofy_Elfman 17 years ago

She was breathtaking in this film. The scene where Honey calls Lenny about the $200 and their daughter... heartbreaking. She was flawless throughout the whole film. Also, the interview scenes seemed so natural, as if she had lived through what her character did her whole life. I was truly impressed, and I'd never heard of her before. She rightfully deserved that Oscar nomination. I'm debating on whether or not I'd give her and Dustin the wins... I'm so attached to that film with Jack Nicholson as a private eye .

"I don't like so much freedom down there. It makes me tingle in my giblets."

[–] Kalamata 17 years ago

GoOfY,

You might take a look at W.C. And Me, the story of W.C.Fields and his relationship with Carlotta Monte who was - I believe - his last companion before he died. I was crazy about her - as were a lot of guys - because she was so cute, but she was more than that as we also knew and appreciated. The nude scene in Lenny blew everybody's mind, of course, but more than that it showed me not just her immaculate body but her freedom as an actress, her willingness to inhabit a part completely, as you have noted in your post. She was also in the original Superman though I don't remember what part she played.

[–] teejay6682 17 years ago

if you see that lenny bruce documentary that robert deniro narrated...can't remember the name now...they interview the real woman she plays and i have to say she nailed that character.

[–] FrankStanko 17 years ago

Good for you for mentioning Lee Remick...during the early scenes, I thought Valerie was a dead ringer for her.

And, yes, Valerie Perrine was brillant in this film. It's the little things...eating chips while being interviewed.

[–] ebolart 16 years ago

I agree completely. This might be the most "real" performance i ever saw in a movie. I knew nothing about the film before i watched it, and thought that the interview was documentary footage of the real person until Perrine turned up in the narrative scenes as well.

[–] fanaticita 16 years ago

Perrine was astonishing. She didn't hold back anything from this role, and really streeeeetched those acting muscles of hers. Can't say I've seen her in anything else. Too bad. She deserved a much better career.

[–] j_captain 15 years ago

Her portrayal was fantastic in this movie! Ofcourse the problem was she isn't THAT versatile. She played this role perfectly but I don't think she could have done more. And she never got the roles either due to either stereotyping or choice. But for this movie, she deserved an award for sure!

[–] IForgotMyMantra 15 years ago

She was very good in THE BORDER. Not sure what other interesting performances she gave. Superman was fun but campy. Nothing else really stands out.

[–] jimi99 15 years ago

Montana Wildhack!!!!

"SEDAGIVE?"

[–] spin73 13 years ago

I thought she was good in Slaughterhouse Five and Last American Hero. I guess I have to agree that she played a lot of similar characters but she did them all well.

[–] pachyderm 11 years ago

Absolutely - watch Slaughterhouse Five - great movie adaptation of the novel - Perrine as Wildhack is stunning!

[–] nosnojsirhc 15 years ago

she was very appreciated in her role of hot cop pulling over folks in The Cannonball Run...

[–] silverballs80 15 years ago

"Lenny" was, to me, one of those "total immersion" films, where I almost completely failed to notice the acting. Not because it wasn't great, but because it was so good that it wasn't until the end of the film that I remembered it was a film with actors playing parts. I watched it for the first time last night, and I want to watch it again soon, so I can take a little more time to appreciate the performances.

Perrine doesn't stick out to me from any other performances, but this one was definitely masterful. Then again, if she'd been anything less than spectacular she would have stuck out like a sore thumb next to Hoffman's Lenny.

Incidentally, "Little Voice," please forgive my public posting of this irrelevancy, but "irregardless" isn't a word. I only mention it because unlike ninety percent of IMDB users, your post suggests to me that you're a fairly literate individual, which leads me to suspect you may take a certain pride in these matters, and therefore may benefit from having it pointed out. The words you were probably looking for were either "irrespective," or "regardless."

I hope my mentioning of this doesn't cause offence, and I apologise whole-heartedly if it does. Please mail me if you are troubled by it and I'll remove this post from the board altogether.

your heartbeat is a countdown.

smile.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] silverballs80 15 years ago

With some degree of irony, reading through my own post again, I couldn't help but notice my use of the word "irrelevancy," which I suspect of also not being a word. I shall check this out.

your heartbeat is a countdown.

smile.

[–] geezabrek-1 13 years ago

Irregardless is a word in the English language used by us cognoscenti. A bit like the word "opporchancity" it is sometimes disapproved of by language purists, the kind of people who complain about beginning a sentence with a conjunction because some "rule book" says you mustn't. But it's a perfectly fine word with a rich pedigree, and it is poor form to pick people up on it.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 4 years ago

Regardless of what you believe, “irregardless” is not a word respected by literate people. I’m not picking on you. I’m contradicting your misinformation for the benefit of others. Prithee, feel free to wallow in your cretinism.

[–] filmprincess 14 years ago

Everyone has praised, justly, Dustin Hoffman's performance in this film, but I haven't seen a lot about Valerie Perrine's performance which was, in my estimation, tremendous. It's almost as if she is invisible. Ms. Perrine didn't always get the best parts, but in this one film she shows what a great actress she was. Another good-looking blonde (slightly older) contemporary of hers, Lee Remick (Days Of Wine And Roses, Anatomy Of A Murder), was also a terrific actress. They seem to be more-or-less forgotten when the list of talented women actors are discussed these days, but they shouldn't be.

I think she was just brilliant in this film; and you're right, perhaps she didn't always get the best parts, but she gave a knock-out performance in Lenny. To be honest, I thought she did a great job in Superman and Superman 2. (Yes, the part was a bit campy, but nevertheless, I thought her scenes with Gene Hackman and Ned Beatty were just stellar; and... they made me laugh.)

Finally, Lee Remick was another fine actress. I saw her in The Days Of Wine And Roses, The Omen, and many other films. Anyway, I'm glad you mentioned both of these very talented actresses. Thanks! ..........fp :)

"You nonconformists are all alike."

[–] jinxmap 14 years ago

If you are searching for the ultimate and perfect Valerie Perrine role, I think "Can't Stop the Music" says it all...

[–] 11 years ago

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