MovieChat Forums > Star 80 (1984) Discussion > Cliff Robertson? As Hef??

Cliff Robertson? As Hef??

posted 16 years ago by funnygy
6 replies | jump to latest

Watching this movie tonight for the first time, I was immediately struck by the miscasting of Cliff Robertson as Hugh Hefner. Robertson doesn't give a bad performance at all, it's just that he bears no resemblance to Hefner at all. It was strong enough that it kept pulling me out of the film. Fortunately Eric Roberts' brilliant, spot-on portrayal of Paul Snider more than made up for it.

Anyone else get this vibe? Again, it's not that Robertson isn't good, but casting him as Hef was just wrong.

[–] lambiepie-2 16 years ago

Actually...I found him perfect as Hef in this film.

He wasn't a "look-alike" but a "manner alike" and in those days Hef was more like how Robinson portrayed him.

There's no right, there's no wrong, there's only popular opinion.

[–] Studman_Productions 16 years ago

when are they gonna make a movie about Hef?

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] howells 15 years ago

I had read somewhere a long time back that Harry Dean Stanton was originally cast but Hefner objected to that and the more handsome and suave Cliff Robertson was cast instead. I agree he was miscast.

[–] stpbag 8 years ago

Eric Roberts doesn't exactly resemble the real Paul Snider, either (if you want a lookalike, I'd suggest Bruno Kirby). Nor is Mariel Hemingway a ringer for Dorothy Stratton. It's about the acting. In this regard,the actors nailed their roles.

[–] johnmiller (4011) 4 years ago

The whole point is to find the actor who can bring the character to life. Robertson did a great job.