The death of Karl Malden may not amount to a hill of beans....Wait. wrong classic movie.
THE classic movie, with which Malden would forever be associated with throughout his long career was "A Streetcar named Desire," for which he won an Academy Award (for best supporting actor) for recreating the role of Mitch, Blanche's unsuitable gentleman suitor in the original Broadway production.
Otherwise mostly known for his distinctively bulbous nose and role
as Michael Douglas's partner in the TV series, "The Streets of San
Francisco," Malden had the sort of rich and varied character-actor
career that seems almost impossible today. His many movie credits range
from "On the Waterfront" (another Oscar nomination) and "Baby Doll" (in
which he was inappropriately hitched to the title character) to
"Patton" (as Gen. Omar Bradley) and "Beyond the Poseidon Adventure"
(don't worry about it). The important thing is, he was stalwart and
talented and managed to stay employed throughout a long and
occasionally distinguished career, including a stint as the president
of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the Oscar people)
from 1989-1993.
Thanks for the memories. The NYT has a pic gallery here:
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/07/01/world/20090701-MALDEN_index.html
and an 'appraisal' note from their 'reviewer' here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/03/movies/03appraisal.html?_r=1&ref=arts
I too would want to vote for 'Baby Doll' as his most memorable role. Just too excellent to watch. Yes, he was not the leading man type, but that's what made him delicious to watch, always reaching for the character in "Baby Doll'. It was one of Tennessee Williams modestly successful forays in films, and quite a cause célèbre at the time too. An unusual period piece to be certain, it was quite remarkable for the times, and was yet another Williams' small gems of southern storytelling, as realized by that ever reliable sob Elia Kazan. But all of it seems like describing a bit of the Pleistocene now. No one really tells complicated emotional stories with films much anymore. At least not any of the big studios or production companies. And fewer & fewer American Indy's too. JMP
Really good commentary on 'Baby Doll' from the Huffington Post. It was Williams' first original screen play, and was filled with his full on 'southern Gothic' & tragic dark humor mode.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kim-morgan/black-malden-moan-baby-do_b_224581.html
JMP
I liked Karl Malden because he proved you could have one helluva potato nose and still make it in Hollywood. He was that rare actor who looked like a real person, not a male model. If Karl could make it in the movies, I figure there's still hope for me.
His "Streetcar" performance was very good, but I'd still pick "On the Waterfront" as his best ever.
I can't believe no one mentioned his performance in Pollyanna. Ok, maybe that's just me and my ridiculous fascination with old Disney movies starring Hayley Mills. He also showed up on The West Wing, which just seals the deal with me that he's bona fide Hollywood gold.
Karl Malden was a great actor and his passing being virtually ignored by today’s media is really disgusting.
As most people have said about him, he didn't look like a typical playboy, but more like the nice man who used to live down the street from your grandma. He wasn't a scene stealer, but always made his presence know. RIP Mr. Malden.