MovieChat Forums > The Martian Chronicles (1980) Discussion > Was TMC's Casting Director on Crack?

Was TMC's Casting Director on Crack?

posted 12 years ago by hmoorz
10 replies | jump to latest

I think the only movie Darrin McGavin was even remotely good in was when he played the Dad in the modern classic "A Christmas Story." When I recognized him in TMC I couldn't believe how appalling his acting was, even if played for comic relief. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks that.

Did anyone else find either his Sam Parkhill or Roddy McDowall's priest incredibly annoying?

I saw the original airing of this series as a wee sprog. It aired in Jan. 1980 so it was really filmed in the late 70's and therefore can't be blamed for its (lack of) special FX. This was a BBC production and England did not have an equivalent of ILM at the time, especially for a TV show budget.

Perhaps my memory is failing me but I don't recall the "fake Jesus" church scene. Maybe it aired in the UK but I think that scene got chopped for American TV audiences...

One thing they did right was the Martian sets, locations, & costuming. I remember as a kid always wanting to see more of the Martians and less of the boring humans bumbling about on Mars. When Rock Hudson's Wilder takes his children to the canal to show them that the Martians are their reflections in the water, did anyone else feel ripped off seeing that scene as a kid? As an adult now I can understand it's meaning but at the time I remember feeling really let down. lol...

[–] ryansassy1 12 years ago

I had no problem with the actors, except for the guy who played Col Wilder - I thought he was a wooden actor.

RE; the fake Jesus church scene, I did see that on the TV although I don't remember the earlier part of that story with the monks. The fake Jesus does stick out in my memory though.

And yes to answer your last question I also felt ripped off at that last scene when he shows the kids the "martians" in the water LOL. I wanted to know if they were supposed to travel back in time and live with the past martians. That is the only conclusion that really makes sense, because how else could one family of four repopulate the human race on Mars?

_________________________________
"I'm sorry, but.." is a self-contained lie.

[–] erikriveros 12 years ago

too funny...this was a childhood love of mine..so i got the dvd last week, saw it yesterday

HEART.BROKEN. definitely has not held up and apparently was only a good movie to a 7 year old..sad.

anyway, i agree darrin mcgavin was terrible...his worst scenes are in his cafe when the martian wants to give him the deed and then when he 'escapes' with his wife on the sand craft...cringeworthy.

it is better to have a gun and not need it, than to need a gun and not have it

[–] andremarshna2003 11 years ago

TMC had two casting directors Caro Jones US casting she would been behind suggestion and booking Hudson Casey etc etc .
The UK casting director was James Liggatt I suggest Jon Finch James Fauklner etc etc would be put forward by him.

Liggatt credits ranged from Hammer Horror to most of Kubrick's films made in the UK. Indeed Burnell Tucker was in The Shining which the UK casting was done by Liggatt.

I imagaine both casting directors would suggested performers for all the roles
I suspect a number of the roles cast would not have been been 1st choices or even 2nd choices.
Robert Powell passed on a cameo.

[–] richard.fuller1 11 years ago

I was 13 or 14 when this thing aired. Ideal age for this stuff. I thought it was good.

McGavin I have always liked since Nightstalker, so he didn't bother me here, and I remember enjoying his scene when I saw it on tv.

The Jesus bit was on tv, and I'll always remember it because for some reason, I just didn't perceive the figure as Jesus.

I don't recall much of McDowell. I remember him being shown in the adverts. Definitely recall more of Fritz Weaver.

[–] madpogue 11 years ago

Um, crack hadn't been invented in 1979-1980.....

[–] dbrockskk1 10 years ago

You're wrong.

suzycreamcheese RIP Heath Ledger 1979-2008

[–] Flags_of_Discontent 11 years ago

The only actor i felt that really nailed the character was Bernie Casey.

The actor who played David Lustig's father was decent.

Hudson had a few excellent moments but was otherwise average for tv.

McGavin(who i loved as the Nightstalker) was horribly miscast IMO.

[–] Enrique-8 9 years ago

Roddy McDowell spent decades been exceedingly annoying. He was cute as a kid, but his adult persona was so over-the-top that I couldn't help but cringe every time I saw him act.

Enrique Sanchez

[–] andremarshna2003 9 years ago

I met Richard Heffer who plays a RAF type in part one he says all the British casting was done by a points system more films and more filmed drama the more points you got Heffer had done some big films so he was awarded high points and in the end got the role.

[–] stanleyhetz 8 years ago

I think the only movie Darrin McGavin was even remotely good in was when he played the Dad in the modern classic "A Christmas Story." When I recognized him in TMC I couldn't believe how appalling his acting was, even if played for comic relief. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks that.

Did anyone else find either his Sam Parkhill or Roddy McDowall's priest incredibly annoying?

I saw the original airing of this series as a wee sprog. It aired in Jan. 1980 so it was really filmed in the late 70's and therefore can't be blamed for its (lack of) special FX. This was a BBC production and England did not have an equivalent of ILM at the time, especially for a TV show budget.

Perhaps my memory is failing me but I don't recall the "fake Jesus" church scene. Maybe it aired in the UK but I think that scene got chopped for American TV audiences...

One thing they did right was the Martian sets, locations, & costuming. I remember as a kid always wanting to see more of the Martians and less of the boring humans bumbling about on Mars. When Rock Hudson's Wilder takes his children to the canal to show them that the Martians are their reflections in the water, did anyone else feel ripped off seeing that scene as a kid? As an adult now I can understand it's meaning but at the time I remember feeling really let down. lol...

I enjoyed those actors in those roles. It's okay if you didn't like the casting, but the "crack" comment was childish.