Mickey said in his autobiography "Life is To Short" that "the less said the better," about Quicksand, which he said was aptly named...it didn't help his career, and he was gypted by his associates out of what little money the movie made.
I think it is one of Rooney's best films from the the 1950-1975 timeline, and can't understand his disdain for the movie.
People change. Rooney was probably heavily into drugs at that time. It wasn't until the early 60s that he became religiously devout. At that time, it was a role that he felt he had to take. I suspect both He and Lorre were in a drought period. They had both been in big productions. I don't think, other than Beat The Devil, that Lorre ever did anything big in the last couple decades of his life. I also think that this was the end of Rooney's major roles. He never had the big roles that he had in the 40s ever again - on film. Perhaps, Rooney is being a little resentful, because he felt he probably had to do this low-budget film. I think, though, that it is one of his best roles. Certainly, this one showed the most depth.
shareI sincerely concur with both of the above comments.
"Do not let thorns in your side become nails in your coffin".-Bruce Richard Bundy 10/2006
I have always figured that this was a deliberate attempt by Rooney to overcome his Andy Hardy image and get into more adult roles. I agree that it is one of his best.
I was born when she kissed me. I died when she left me. I lived a few weeks while she loved me.
I ca`nt say why,but somewhere sometime ago it seems that it became fashionable to knock Micky Rooney.I think it began long ago and got raised into this generation through such spoofs of Micky like Danna Carvy did on Sat.Night Live.It`s like I mention to people this movie and his others or even his name and people roll thier eyes.I really wonder how many of them really have seen the mans work? Micky Ronney in his time was a great actor. There I said it and I stand by it wholehartedly!
"Do not let thorns in your side become nails in your coffin".-Bruce Richard Bundy 10/2006
You won't get any argument from me, pal. I even suffered through Night At The Museum, and incredibly Mickey still has it.
I was born when she kissed me. I died when she left me. I lived a few weeks while she loved me.
I have`nt seen that movie yet.Now I will aided by the knowledge you imparted to me.I know of that movie,but never knew Micky was in it? I`ll go rent it next time my kids are over.Thanks,-Bruce
"Do not let thorns in your side become nails in your coffin".-Bruce Richard Bundy 10/2006
Bear in mind that I am not recommending Night At The Museum other than the likelihood that your kids will like it (assuming they're pre-teen....well, I think many teens also enjoyed it....and to marvel at Mickey Rooney who's one of the three night watchmen who are losing their jobs....he does make his scenes worth watching. Well, it did have good SFX too.
I was born when she kissed me. I died when she left me. I lived a few weeks while she loved me.
I heard/read that "Night at the Museum" was`nt liked as much by the critics as it was at the box office.The story and premise is a good one and I think that`s what drew people to see it.I will bear this in mind when I view it.Yes my boys are 10&8.My daughter is 4.Where does your signature line come from Alan?I like it and can relate to it very much.Sincerely,-Bruce
"Do not let thorns in your side become nails in your coffin".-Bruce Richard Bundy 10/2006
Hey, pal, glad you like the signature. For all unfamiliar with the movie, it's become one of my favorite all-timers...In A Lonely Place starring Humphrey Bogart whose character has that particular line. I very much hated discarding my former qote from Double Indemnity, but decided to switch to this one to honor this one which has been overlooked until recently. It's a different type role for Bogey who portrays a screenwriter suspected of murder. I definitely recommend it to everyone reading this.
I was born when she kissed me. I died when she left me. I lived a few weeks while she loved me.
Yes,that phrase just rings of truth.I`ll look around for that Bogart movie you mentioned.What was your previous signature line? Whe do you live Alan?
"Do not let thorns in your side become nails in your coffin".-Bruce Richard Bundy 10/2006
My last signature quote was:
"Yes. I killed him. I killed him for money and for a woman. I didn't get the money and I didn't get the woman."
I love that quote because not only does it sum up the movie (In the case of Double Indemnity, (I don't consider it a true spoiler...almost everyone knows the plot anyway and you pretty well know it from the very beginning but are hyotically drawn to watching it even knowing pretty well what's going to happen) but in a way it sums up the totality of film noir. Sure, it doesn't fit a lot of film noir movies, but it does fit the fatalistic mood expressed in the film noir style.
I was born when she kissed me. I died when she left me. I lived a few weeks while she loved me.
I have always figured that this was a deliberate attempt by Rooney to overcome his Andy Hardy image and get into more adult roles. I agree that it is one of his best.I'm no authority on Mickey Rooney but I'd agree that he was very good in Quicksand. I thought he struck the right notes most of the time, in a role that could easily have been overacted by lesser talents.
I have to agree on the ending. Actually, my feelings were mixed. I did very much want things somehow to work out right for Mickey's character,but it still just didn't set right.
"Do you mind if I call you Chico?"
Yeah, I know what you mean. Mickey's character was a good egg and I'm sure a lot of the audience were rooting for him to claw his way out of the quicksand. On the other hand, his likeability would've made a tragic ending that much more powerful. Oh well, it was still a pretty cool little movie up to that point. :)
shareThis discussion is totally inaccurate. Rooney was to go on to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting actor in the middle 1950's and of course won an Emmy for the television film "Bill" in the 1980's. His career has had its ups and downs but is filled with tremendous dramatic performances. The great Olivier himself considered Rooney to be one of the finest dramatic actors he had ever seen in motion pictures. Broad statements regarding the legacy of great actors shouldn't be made unless one is completely familiar with their work.
shareThis movie wasn't bad, but even bad movies form the old days are interesting portraits of the time. I liked the part about how he got further and further in debt. It seemed like in those days it was harder to get a loan. I also thought the movie was surprisingly realistic. It didn't have Hollywood production. It was about an "average person". It wasn't the attractive side of California. It was more the average side of California. For that, it deserves interest.
shareRooney, real name Joe Yule, didn't like this cuz they promised him a dance number and all he got for a bonus was a 15 pound bag of dried sardines.
Nothing is more beautiful than nothing.
Peter Lorre actually made quite a few big films after Quicksand. Among them...
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Around the World in Eighty Days
Silk Stockings
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
And of course the Poe films with Vincent Price.
Also he also worked endlessly on television in the 50s and 60s.
Doug
Unbeknownst to many of his admirers Lorre once thought about becoming a nude dancer however only thought about it and "nevermore".
Nothing is more beautiful than nothing.
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Or more accurately Mickey Rooney was mad because it did not further his career and he pretty much didn't get paid what he was owed. Wouldn't not being paid for the work you do make you mad? Think about it.
shareYes, Mickey didn't like it and neither did Minnie.
Nothing is more beautiful than nothing.
Great response jeremy3. I'd also be apprehensive of Mickey's concern over his character's criminality in this movie. He was enjoying years of that Andy Hardy clean-cut reputation and now that the war was over 1950 was a pivotal time period in virtually all culture as we entered a promising second half of the 20th Century which held so much promise after the mistakes of the previous 50 years. I would expect Mickey was hungering for a post-war persona that could make use of the all-American image he had honed so masterfully. Patriotism was still very much in the air and I would expect Mickey Rooney (as opposed to Humphrey Bogart and others that had also honed their noir-esque, underworld and criminal characters) would have preferred to develop more noble characters, although the psychological underpinnings of this role made it a very propitious opportunity to go head to head with a master such as James Cagney and come out the more interesting character. I thought it was a great departure from his clean-cut image. Thank God for roles like Army in Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962. WHen I think of Mickey I like to remember him in that role rather than Andy Hardy. Of course, I think Ed Wynn was the quintessential Army (the character that cow-tows to Maish Rennick), especially when Keenan Wynn played together with his son Keenan who portrayed the Maish character in that original Rod Serling Playhouse 90 production. But when Mickey Rooney took the role. he gave it such an incredibly powerful and originality that it's senseless to compare. They're both masterpieces. But all in all, it's a shame Mick didn't dig playing Dan Brady since this is a very cool movie.
shareI think you nailed it about both Rooney and Lorre.
shareShame he didn't like the movie, because I found this the be the most awesome performance of his entire film career. I was just astonished that he could pull it off and it forced me to rethink Mickey Rooney's talent. he should have said nothing at all, as it will now detract from my enjoyment of my next viewing of this Noir masterpiece.
Yes, derek, it's an "awesome performance", intense and fascinating. Should be studied by students of serous acting. The deeper he gets the more intense it gets.
"Did you make coffee...? Make it!"--Cheyenne.
Micky Rooney helped a lot of his fellow performers such as Judy Garland, Lana Turner, Ava Gardner. He was in movies before they were and shared how to find the camera and get across even when one's character wasn't the focus of the scene.
"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne
I'm with Mickey on this one. It was a cheap movie that you could tell was shot quickly by a so-so director. I like it for its camp value but that's about it. It's not great a film-noir and the ending is laughable.
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Me too! I enjoyed very much.
The Divine Genealogy Goddess
Agreed. I am not a big fan of his but I think he was perfect in this role. It is a pretty good B flick.
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