More often than not do I read of a once-in-demand Golden Age of Hollywood actor taking a role in some dreadful movie for the paycheck. But I always liked Walter Pidgeon's contribution to this film. So I was wondering if anyone knows how he felt about the whole thing.
shareForbidden Planet's 1956 theatrical debut was the first time I ever saw Walter Pidgeon in a movie. I was 7.
It was an auspicious beginning to my appreciation of his work, and I can't have been the only very young viewer who came to feel this way.
I don't know what Mr. Pidgeon's thoughts were about his role here, but he already was taking character and supporting parts by that time, in his late 50s.
He received top billing in this film, which was developed and produced at his long-time cinematic home, MGM. The script was pretty damned literate for its genre, and the production values were top-notch.
He may not have been the romantic lead, but his character was absolutely pivotal. What actor of any age wouldn't relish playing a major role as a sympathetic "bad guy"?
I hope Mr. Pidgeon saw it this way.
I agree. And this was my first viewing experience of his work. A very fine actor.
shareNot to mention that this was an almost literally Shakespearian production, considering it was based on The Tempest.
However he felt, I think Pigeon did an excellent job.
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He received top billing in this film, which was developed and produced at his long-time cinematic home, MGM. The script was pretty damned literate for its genre, and the production values were top-notch.
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The original draft of the script included an invisible monster on Mercury. There's no doubt it was dreadful. How it mutated into Cyril Hume's homage to Shakespeare is not known.
shareDo you think Forbidden Planet is dreadful?
shareHe died well after the film had been elevated to classic status, so I would think he'd be justifiably proud of his work. Leslie Nielson has some interesting recollections of working with Pidgeon in the film in a 1991 interview.🐭
shareI've never thought of Pidgeon as a top-rank actor (though he did give good performances here and there). Dr Morbius is certainly not one of his best roles. The problem is that the script is more melodrama than drama.
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