I know everyone on here knows George C. Scott, but I think people under 40 probably have little memory of him or his films.
He made some good ones. My first memory of him was in a TV series called EAST SIDE, WEST SIDE where he played a social worker. It was the early sixties, can you imagine such a series today. And even then, it last one season.
My favorite movie role from Mr. Scott was in THE HOSPITAL. A very dark comedy about the perils of a hospital stay. How about you? Do you remember him and what was your favorite role?
21 comments:
One of my favorite actors. THE HUSTLER, PATTON, THE HOSPITAL, DR. STRANGELOVE, THE FLIM-FLAM MAN. Wonderful actor.
Well, yeah, DR. STRANGELOVE. And he even gets to dally with Tracy Reed.
Actually, sure, I can imagine EAST SIDE, WEST SIDE on tv today, inasmuch as THE GOOD WIFE is not altogether different in approach and appeal...and it's doing better than that series did (Cicely Tyson's role being the example of a non-stereotyped professional black women's role that everyone likes to ignore while trying to overcredit Roddenberry).
A bit surprised that no one has mentioed PATTON yet. A tour de force in pretty much every way.
Same one as you, patti. THE HOSPITAL is simply awesome with Scott working at his peak with one magnificent Paddy Chayefsky script. Other faves would be his PATTON, his Buck Turgidson from Dr. Strangelove, and his stints in The Changeling, They Might Be Giants, and his underrated William F. Kinderman from The Exorcist III.
He's one of my favorites as well, such passion and range. I really liked him in THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS as "Sherlock Holmes" and of course, Patton, Strangelove, and The Changeling. I need to see The Hospital.
Both of those were great choices, Patti, as was his Gen. Buck Turgidson in DR. STRANGELOVE, PATTON, ANATOMY OF A MURDER, THE HUSTLER, and his great performance in HARDCORE.
But I first saw him on stage in Central Park in the NY Shakespeare Festival's first production at the Delacorte Theatre in 1962 (they actually took us, from school) as Shylock in THE MERCHANT OF VENICE.
Jeff M.
Fans of Donald Westlake will remember George C. Scott in the film version of BANK SHOT. Scott's signature role has to be PATTON.
THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS was great pairing with Joanne Woodward. HARDCORE scared me to death. I guess PATTON is his pivotal role. He wasn't afraid to play funny, unlikable, nutty, nice.
Whgat a great actor. His performance is Hardcore was remarkable, and he single-handedly made Excorcist III a good movie. He also added a great presence to Anatomy of a Murder. Probably the best actor over the last 50 years (with Dustin Hoffman a close second).
He took it seriously. And Dave is right in comparing him to Hoffman. They both had gravitas and commitment to craft.
I love George C. Scott. I especially loved him in THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS in which he played a man who thought he was Sherlock Holmes. I talked about it on the blog a few weeks ago. He starred opposite Joanne Woodward.
I also loved him in THE LIST OF ADRIAN MESSENGER. These are the only two movies in which it can be said that George showed a 'softer' side of himself than was usual.
But in truth, I can't remember him ever giving a bad performance.
I even liked him as Ebeneezer Scrooge.
Yes, second only to Alistair Sims.
Sim, actually. Singular fellow!
He was fantastic. And what about THE CHANGELING? That movie messed me right up as a kid.
Here is his scene from ANATOMY OF A MURDER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vDT3D41Kos
He did so much dark material that it's almost forgotten how good he was in comedies like Dr. Strangelove.
Yep, THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS, STRANGELOVE, PATTON are the first 3 that come to mind for me. Not sure I ever saw HOSPITAL.
He made so many great movies and his presence made so many mediocre movies great.
PATTON, THE HUSTLER, HARDCORE, ANATOMY OF A MURDER, these are just a few of his real triumphs.
Buck Turgidson. There's a scene in the War Room where Scott almost loses it and shoves a piece of gum in his mouth. Priceless!
I think that he just did what he had to do … act. All the other stuff did not mean much to him.
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