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"Those Fat Bellies with the big cigars arent gonna make a monkey outta me, i can BEAT 'em!"
Kirk's unforgettable final scene in "Champion"
"I wanna strap 'em in the electric chair and pull the switch myself!"
Kirk and Eleanor Parker in William Wylers classic cop-drama "Detective Story". I would describe Kirk's performance in this film as one of swirling, almost non-stop, gut-wrenching intensity! For any actor to hold their own with Kirk in this film is a major testament to their own talent and Eleanor Parker, Willliam Bendix (yo ho!!!!) Lee Grant, George MacReady, Joseph Wiseman and a whole plethora of great character actors do just that, but it is Kirk's film from start to finish and to think he wasnt even nominated for an Oscar as best actor for this film was a really HUGE oversight by the Academy that year!Kirk as Vincent Van Gogh in a publicity still for Vincent Minnelli's magnificent 1956 technicolor production "Lust for Life". Certainly one of Kirk's most courageous performances, apparently he had a hard time "shedding" Van Gogh after production wrapped! Kirk got his 3rd and final oscar nomination that year but lost once again, this time to Yul Brunner for the "King and I". It was a major Oscar upset as Kirk was pegged by all to be the clear cut winner, but . . . *sigh*
A great shot of Kirk as the thoughtful Colonel Dax in Stanley Kubrick's shattering anti-war masterpiece "Path's of Glory". An absolutely unforgettable film with a beautifully understated performance by Kirk Douglas who often described Kubrick as a"talented shit"
Kirk as Spartacus, probably the role he is best remembered for today. An important film for a number of reasons, most notably because Kirk, as producer of the film, decided that blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo would receive full screen credit for the first time in about a decade, thereby shattering the blacklist once and for all. Also important to note is that this was the last Hollywood production Stanley Kubrick would ever be involved in. The film has it flaws but is certainly a rousing epic entertainment with a fine cast, great action scenes and a magnificent Alex North score. And who can forget the classic "I am Spartacus" scene!!!
Kirk as modern-day Cowboy John W. Burns in David Miller's "Lonely are the Brave". This is always the film Kirk names as his personal favorite. A sensitive, understated and realistic performance in a film that has garnered a cult following over the years with its themes of the individual vs. society, authority and the onslaught of progress. The final scene is emotionally devastating, bring your hankies!!!!!!
An absolutely awesome shot of Richard Widmark, to me a very underappreciated actor, I mean, who can play a giggling psychopath better, you tell me! He is completely unforgettable in "Kiss of Death", "Roadhouse" and "Pickup on South Street" (to name just a few) but was also excellent in several enjoyable westerns and war films as well.
Speaking of a guy who was adept at playing a psychopath, here's Lawrence Tierney! I've had a special admiration for this guy ever since i saw his great performance as "Joe" in Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs", so after that i had to go and discover his early films like "Dillinger", "Devil Thumbs a Ride" and Robert Wise's ultra-hard-boiled Noir "Born to Kill". Tierney convincingly plays a psycho killer in all 3 of those!