Tyronne
Tash Jayasinghe
Cibbuano
Burt Lancaster
January 16th 2008 03:13
The Brute Artisan.
Burt Lancaster
The devilish grin, the strong bone structure, hearty laugh and staggered line delivery of Burt Lancaster has become his legacy. A stunning specimen of macho physique standing over 6 ft tall, he was a Hollywood tough guy that refused to be molded and pushed the boundaries of his thespian talent.
Born 1913, into a life on the streets of N.Y Lancaster learnt to fend for himself at a young age. A passion for gymnastics led to him joining the circus while still a teen and a lifelong addiction to acrobatics grew. Later, he often had contract that included a set of high bars in his accommodations while on set.
Taking a fall and sustaining painful injuries is what forced Burt to quit his highwire vocation. Joining the army he discovered the USO during WWII and entertained the troops in Europe.
His return to U.S soil saw him try his hand at acting and after being noticed in a bombing broadway play he was cast in the lead of his first film Ernest Hemingway’s The Killers (1946) which made overnight stars out of him and his co star Ava Gardner.
the Killers
Blessed with instant recognition the technically unskilled actor taught himself the art of characterization, his natural charisma and athletic presence compensating for his lack of range.
Lancaster also impressed in noir thrillers like Criss Cross (1949) and I Walk Alone (1948). Famously becoming the swashbuckling hero in The Crimson Pirate his years of training invaluable for his stunt work. During the 50’s he did a number of high profile adventures and westerns like The Flame and The Arrow, Vera Cruz, Apache, Run Silent Run Deep and the Devil’s Disciple. In Trapeze he got to show off his graceful prowess under the big top.
Criss Crossing genres
Balancing those low brow but entertaining affairs with some gritty drama’s that have since become classics. In 1953 he was nominated for an Academy Award for his part in the Pearl Harbour preamble From Here to Eternity. Sweet Smell of Success came in 1957 to more monumental acclaim and as the cut throat JJ Hunsecker.
The 1960 were off to a running start and in that year Burt Lancaster won an Academy for best actor as evangelist Elmer Gantry. His reputation now established as both box office draw and an exceptional entertainer continuing with more meaty parts in Judgement at Nurmeberg, and A Child Is Waiting.
With his Oscar next too Elizabeth Taylor
Working with Director John Frankenheimer a number of times Birdman of Alcatraz and Seven days in May being the top two collaborations . he also costarred with Kirk Douglas 7 times of the course of his career and I walk Alone and Seven Days in May are the finest.
That scene in From here To Eternity
Temperamental, a vocal liberal activist and strong minded his extra curricular activities included civil rights work and later his work with AIDS charity he was awarded man of the year.
His personal beliefs were a major factor in his film choices and bored of the Hollywood game he set up his own production company and took control of his career. Travelling to Italy in 1963 to work with master Director Visconti on The Leopard. Despite its lack of box office dollars this is considered by many to be his most notable achievement ion front of the camera.
Trailer for The Leopard
Returning stateside to make a few bucks in edgier traditional fare he signed on for Richard Brookes the Professionals, which took the western into new more realistic terrain.
Near the end of the decade he took on a daring challenge as Ned Merrill in the ahead of it’s time social statement The Swimmer. Covering the same territory that would be mined again twenty odd years later with Falling Down it is a thoughtful work boosted by the stars understanding of the moral.
Watch the trailer for The Swimmer
The 70’s saw a drop in notoriety but no sign of slowiong down the workload. His more notable enteries during the period being the cold war spy yarn Scorpio and the first JFK assassination conspiracy thriller Executive Action. Also the 1978 anti Vietnam film Go Tell The Spartans stands the test of time.
Pushing his weight around on Scorpio
Though later Peckinpah’s swan song The Osterman Weekend and Lancasters reteaming with Douglas one last time with Tough Guys are considered curios, his last brilliant turn came with Atlantic City in 1980.
Failing health saw his decline begin in 1983 when he had a triple bypass that he never fully recovered from. In 1990 a severe stroke left him partly paralysed with a speech impediment, Burt Lancaster died October 20 1994.
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Comment by Luke
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I think if there was ever a need to have Burt Lancaster feature in the plot of a film he could be played by Clancy Brown - who actually looks and sounds like Lancaster and is a good actor too.
Comment by Tyronne
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I find Burt to be very misjudged as nothing more than a tough guy actor. he had a skillful talnt for charcters and like you said "he rules so hard" in The Leopard.
My favourite is The Swimmer and Sweet Smell of Success and "Seven Days in May". Though Vera Cruz is one hell of a western.
Wasn't Clancy Brown the Kurgan in the original Highlander? If so i see the physical resemblance.
Thanks for the feedback