A few weeks ago on Leonard Maltin's podcast, Richard Donner was the guest, and he talked with Leonard about his career. For about half of the podcast, they talk about Richard's TV career before he got started with films in the 1970s. Then they talked a little about The Omen, Superman, and then The Goonies. Lethal Weapon was discussed for a bit, too.
There was also a discussion about Inside Moves, which features some characters with disabilities. Donner talks about casting Harold Russell in that film because he was a fan of his performance in Best Years of Our Lives. Donner tells the story that Russell wouldn't do the film unless they changed his character's name from "Hooks" to "Wings". I haven't seen this film yet but am putting it on my list.
Here's a link to the podcast if interested:
https://nerdist.com/maltin-on-movies-164-richard-donner/
Showing posts with label Harold Russell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Harold Russell. Show all posts
8/11/2010
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
Three servicemen return to America from WWII and try to resume their lives. The movie aims to focus on each of their stories equally.Frederic March is the family man (married to Myrna Loy) and Dana Andrews is a tough pilot. Especially memorable is the performance of Harold Russell as the returning sailor who lost his hands in the war.
Russell, who in fact was a double amputee, was awarded an honorary Academy Award for "bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans." He's really good, I would never have known he was not a professional actor.
Hugo Friedhofer's score for this picture is memorable and features specific themes associated with various characters and situations (also known as a leitmotif).
It is remembered as a film event that spoke to a generation; it was one of the Top 5 grossing films of that year.
I like Frederic March in the movie, but I always feel that James Stewart should have won the Oscar for Best Actor for It's a Wonderful Life that year.
Dana Andrews is in the film just as much as March is, and he's good as well. One scene I will always remember is when Andrews comes face to face with a conscientious objector at a coffee shop and almost fights with him.
With Teresa Wright, Virginia Mayo, Cathy O'Donnell, and Hoagy Carmichael. I first watched this movie in 1994.
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