Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Listy things - Richard Widmark

My favorite Richard Widmark films:

1. The Alamo (1960)
2. Alvarez Kelly (1966)
3. Run for the Sun (1956)
4. Yellow Sky (1948)
5. The Law and Jake Wade (1958)
6. The Last Wagon (1956)
7. Warlock (1959)
8. Pickup on South Street (1953)
9. The Sell-Out (1976)
10. The Frogmen (1951)

I find it interesting doing these lists to see that I tend to have a strong sentimental attachment to the first film I saw someone in. In Richard Widmark's case, it was The Alamo, and I admit, I'm still a sucker for him in that film. Widmark is another actor who never turns in a bad performance. I've seen some rather odd movies he's been in (I'm thinking of A Talent for Loving here), but he is always great, playing smirking, violent bad guys as easily as upstanding good guys. My favorites are the rather greyer characters in the middle, naturally.


(next up... Kirk Douglas)

4 comments:

Patti said...

In our family, when it comes to those "bad boy" kinds of actors, my fave is Robert Ryan. (As you already are undoubtedly aware.) Daughter's fave is Dan Duryea. Son's fave is Widmark. He thinks Widmark is so cool. (I like him too, though not like I like Ryan.) My son, who has always been good with impersonations, loves to do that evil little laugh of Widmark's. He sounds just like him.

Did you ever see him in Kiss of Death? (It could have been his first role, but I'm not sure, without looking it up.) He was totally stellar in that role!!

Also, No Way Out...he was a horribly nasty racist. Wow, was he spectacular in that role.

Of the films you listed, I've only seen Yellow Sky and Pickup on South Street. Really enjoy them both.

Thanks for sharing your lists!

kate gabrielle said...

eek, I love Richard Widmark and yet I've never seen any of the films on your list!! I better hop to it!! :)

DKoren said...

Yep, Patti, I've seen Kiss of Death. He was very good in that! No Way Out I have not seen. That's on my list. I love how your family members all like different actors! Makes it fun.

Hiya Kate! Just realized six of these films are Westerns. LOL! Yeah, I guess I really like him in the Old West more than any other setting.

Hamlette (Rachel) said...

I've only seen 3 of these, and the only one I remember much about at all is The Alamo. Sigh. What am I doing spending all this time raising children when I could be watching movies?!?!?!? ;-) Just (mostly) kidding (except on really bad days like Thursday).