simon oakland - West Side Story (1961) Discussion

[–] friendoffilm 10 years ago

Yes, Simon Oakland did an excellent job of playing the nasty, bigoted cop, Lt. Schrank. The fact that he also called out the Jets' parents "tin-horn immigrant scum" backgrounds and flaws indicates that he was not only cruel, but it also indicates the fact that Lt. Schrank really didn't like the white European-American Jets that much more than he liked the Puerto Rican Sharks.

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[–] stevenackerman69 10 years ago

His character is the worst character in the film, because he is supposed to be a cop stopping this racist violence, yet he is racist himself. The thing about him calling out the Jets' parents' flaws comes from the original musical. He is really teasing them, like saying Action's mother is a whore.

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[–] friendoffilm 10 years ago

His character is the worst character in the film, because he is supposed to be a cop stopping this racist violence, yet he is racist himself. The thing about him calling out the Jets' parents' flaws comes from the original musical. He is really teasing them, like saying Action's mother is a whore.

Simon Oakland's character is one of the strongest in the film version of West Side Story, for precisely the reason(s) that you mention, stevenackekrman69. It's also true, however, that, in real life, cops are supposed to stop any type of violence, whether or not it's racist, and many cops, especially today, are racist themselves. Witness what's been happening in Baltimore, NY, etc.

I don't think that Lt. Schrank was merely teasing the Jets when he called them out on their backgrounds, especially when he said that Action's mother was a whore. The fact that Action tried to attack Lt. Schrank (but was held back by the rest of the Jets) obviously indicates that Lt. Shrank hit a raw nerve with Action.

Yes, all of this does come from the original Broadway stage musical of West Side Story.

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[–] stevenackerman69 8 years ago

Thanks for your comment. I think the exit line he says to Doc about trying to keep hoodlums in line and seeing what it does to you is relevant to many cops, even today. With all the *beep* they go through with punks who are even worse today, can you blame them for not thinking like he does? That was his reasoning.

As to when Action lunges at Schrank, which he also does on stage, remember, he is a person who doesn't like it when anyone taunts him or a member of his family. Look at when Tony calls them all a coop full of chickens and it is Action who says, "Who you calling chicken?" He didn't like that and was prepared to fight Tony for that. Or when that man in the alley throws the bottle down at them and calls them good for nothings, it is Action who threatens the guy. He is someone like the Joe Pesci character in Goodfellas, you don't mess with him.

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[–] mplo (2356) 7 years ago

You've made some excellent points about Action, stevenackerman69. Moreover, Ice, who ultimately took over the Jets gang leadership after Riff's death during the Rumble, was the only one who could handle Action. Ice had to keep him in check on a number of occasions, including at the Dance, and also when Action threatened the man upstairs in his apartment with a rock, when the Jets were in hiding from the police, after the Rumble and the stabbing deaths of Riff and Bernardo.

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[–] marktayloruk 8 years ago

Schrank,Krupke-sound vaguely Czech to me. "Immigrant scum"?

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[–] oprlvr33 9 years ago

Racism is a historical constitute dating back to even before ancient Rome. Hatred or fear among ancestral or ethnic differences is as old as bread (or dirt). Yes, Oakland excellently portrayed Shrank. However hating the actor for the role he or she portrayed only proves his or her outstanding talent.

Consider Larry Hagman (Who shot) J.R. Ewing [Dallas]. For years on, J.R. was despised, yet some fans had difficulty separating the actor from his TV alter-ego (Shoot -- there were even plot attempts to pop the actor off a couple times. It went as far as Hagman having to hire a personal bodyguard; his character J.R. was such a scumbag)

When you're good (and talented), you're just damned good

Peanutlee33

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[–] friendoffilm 9 years ago

When you're good (and talented), you're just damned good

They had some talented, and some damned good actors/actresses who played in this great, golden oldie-but-keeper of a classic film, as well as the original Broadway stage version of WSS.

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[–] marktayloruk 9 years ago

I wonder when Schrank said that he'd lend the Jets a hand if things got tough,did he mean it? I think he loathed the PRs even more than the Jets' families.

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[–] friendoffilm 9 years ago

I wonder when Schrank said that he'd lend the Jets a hand if things got tough,did he mean it? I think he loathed the PRs even more than the Jets' families.

Actually, Lt. Shrank sounded like he did mean it at first, but when the Jets refused to answer Lt. Schrank's questions regarding where the rumble was going to take place, he became really, really angry, and finally said "I'll find out where the rumble's going to be! But be sure to finish each other off before I get there! 'Cause if ya don't, I WILL!" These last three nasty commentary sentences on the part of Lt. Shrank revealed his true character, and his true hatred of both the Jets and the Sharks.

Again, however, Simon Oakland did a fabulous job of playing the role of Lt. Shrank, which is one of the reasons that I just simply couldn't see such a great, golden oldie-but-keeper of a classic film such as West Side Story being re-made...by anybody, including Steve Spielberg.

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[–] winy68 9 years ago

Let's start by saying his interpretation of this character was exceptional and anything else you ascribe to the character is debatable

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[–] friendoffilm 9 years ago

Let's start by saying his interpretation of this character was exceptional and anything else you ascribe to the character is debatable

Ha ha ha! Not only do I think that your overall attitudes/opinions are debatable, but they're like wet blankets.

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