MovieChat Forums > Judith Light Discussion > This century's Barbara Stanwyck

This century's Barbara Stanwyck

posted 19 years ago by schweinhundt1967
4 replies | jump to latest

I'm really only familiar with her work on SVU,so my opinion is,by definition,limited and probably somewhat biased.Still,take it for whatever it happens to be worth.
Initially,she came across as a first-class virago.A martinet,a monumental egotist,a back-stabber,and the kind who would pass off all of her mistakes onto subordinates,and take the credit for their achievements.This is the kind who survives in a beauracracy.And she did that part so very well.Dripping with venom,vicious,and a real man-eater.The kind who would emasculate a guy just to see how sharp her knife is.Well,after all,somebody has to be the villain.In comparison,we had the chance to see the female D.A.'s as sympathetic heroines.
Well,now she's moved up to the bench.And,seeing as how her pervue has changed,she's seemed to have mellowed a tiny bit.
My guess is that ,after all,someone has to play these parts.And she does it so well.

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[–] widescreenguy 19 years ago

the whole L&O package has to be my fav television serieses (dat a real woid?)

talent like Judith Light keeps it fresh and 'realistic'.

my fav scene from who's the boss is the emerging-from-the-shower scene.

I wonder if she really did a full frontal for Tony Danza, the expression on his face !!

[–] PearlJam_Girl 19 years ago

"I wonder if she really did a full frontal for Tony Danza, the expression on his face !!"

She did. She said that she wanted a real reaction from him and she got it. Tony had no idea she was going to do it. She's got guts! She totally rocks.

- - - - - -
"I can present scientific studies that my cat is trying to kill me in my sleep!"

[–] thecaros6 18 years ago

Her character had probably endured a lot of "good ol' boy" belittlement and dismissal. Liz Donnelly seems like one who's been through it all, and come out the victor. Maybe since being elevated to judge, she feels more secure and validated, and can mellow out a bit. I have this whole fantasy background of her coming up through a tough working-class Irish family--her mother died when she was very young, she's the only girl in a family of misogynistic males, her father and two of her older brothers abused her sexually, her third left her alone physically, but berated and belittled her viciously. She made good through excellent grades, scholarships, loans. She kept her focus and reached her goal of making a safe life for herself, and prosecuting sex crimes is a continual quest for justice not only for the Special Victims, but also for herself...I see her as being gay, less from nature than nurture--or lack thereof. She's certainly not very fond of men; her background has taught her that they're the enemy. Arthur Branch with his Southern conservativism must bring out the full fire in her, ohhhhhhh yeah...Not sure, but methinks I see a subtle yen for Casey, who probably doesn't reciprocate. Rather than condemn her, I've always wanted to take "Liz" into my arms and rock her gently and say, "It's okay, baby, it's okay. You're safe now..."