Jack Palance, billed here as Walter Jack Palance, in his movie debut, performed a role worthy of a best supporting actor Oscar. His villain was driven, psychotic, ugly and mesmerizing to watch. It certainly was a performance indicative of his talent and future accomplishments.
It's sad that he was so ignored during his career. He deserved better.
i do agree with your statement that he deserved better during his whole career, but i really didn't see anything special about his performance on this movie. He was good, not great or "oscar-worthy"
shareHis face was certainly mesmerising to watch.
shareI didn't even realize that Jack Pallance was 'Blackie'. He looked so ugly and every time I saw him I wanted to kick him in the teeth for being such a dick. It takes an amazing actor who can be such a nice guy in reality, yet be so convincing as morally, ethically and physically disgusting person.
shareI agree. And so was Richard Widmark. He should have been nominated for Best Actor.
"Let us be crooked, but never common."