Hi,
I think this was Burt Lancaster's best performance. I think this performance made his special as an actor.
Yes, I agree. This film may also feature Tony Curtis' best performance.
"Watch me run a 50-yard dash with my legs cut off!"
I'd say that this is Curtis' best role, but that Lancaster's best is in the hugely-underrated 'The Swimmer'.
http://thefilmwotiwatched.wordpress.com/
I never really liked Burt Lancaster until recently, first a few weeks ago when I saw Atlantic City and I thought he brought a lot of gravitas and naturalism to that performance as an aging man who wishes he was a gangster, a lovely performance. But today I saw a double feature of The Killers and The Sweet Smell of Success on the big screen, and I understand why he's so admired. The Killers I'd seen before and liked but thought Lancaster was just a little too naive, even for a fall guy. That didn't bother me that much this time, and seeing him transform between those 12 years, so I was able to much better appreciate his letter-perfect performance as J.J. than had I watched it on a small screen and still loved it.
I'd probably have to agree that it's his best performance, with the Louis Malle film getting an honorable mention.
"GOD--WAS--WRONG!"--James Mason, Bigger Than Life
I haven't seen enough of his work to determine a best performance. I would say that Sweet Smell of Success easily has his best presence. He didn't have to act, he had to loom. The shadows under his glasses and the deep pits in his cheek said more than most of his lines. His physicality matches imposing characters such as that. He was a little too sweet in The Killers, but again when he was destroying the room or getting into fights that sort of physical menace was brought out.
I hear the jury is still out on science.
I'd say that this is Curtis' best role, but that Lancaster's best is in the hugely-underrated 'The Swimmer'.
Yes, I have to second that as well. THE SWIMMER, from a physical fit athlete we see in the beginning to virtually a frighten little man in the end, Burt Lancaster (I feel), was at his best.
I should also mention COME BACK, LITTLE SHEBA, where he plays a man at least 20 years older than what Lancaster really was, but Burt just pulled it off beautifully.
yeah loved Lancaster in this and as for Curtis...WOW! such an underrated actor, brilliant!
shareBurt lancaster was exceptional in Sweet Smell of Success, but for me, he can never top his performance in Luchino Visconti's The Leopard.
shareit was certainly curtis' best. lancaster had so many great films it's impossible to name mumber one; although i don't think it was, 'elmer gantry.' i just seen, 'vera cruz,' recently; he was great. remember, 'trapeze?' there was young burt, middle aged burt, old burt...to many films to nail down one performance. like newman.
shareI've only seen him in this, "Sorry, Wrong Number" and "Judgement at Nuremberg". His acting was alright in "Sorry, Wrong Number", but the character he played in that was more often than not defined through his absence and what other characters had to say about him, so Burt didn't really get the chance to be interesting. I was however, quite impressed with him in "Judgement at Nuremberg", and although his role in that is quite different from the one he plays in SSoS, I found them to be equally good performances.
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Burt was excellent as always here, but "The Swimmer" remains my favorite Lancaster role in my favorite Lancaster film.
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I vote for The Leopard and Elmer Gantry.
shareAgree with comments about Lancaster in other films as well. I would say his performance in SSOS is one of his best ever, but is for me on the one-note side. I agree with the other comment that it's his best presence ever.
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