Burt Lancaster (November 2, 1913 – October 20, 1994), was best known for his athletic build and smile. After first performing in "tough guy" roles, Lancaster reinvented himself in late 1950s and performed in more challenging roles, and became one of the best actors of his era.
Personal Quote:
On Kirk Douglas. "We both came from, sort of, well, shall we say, humble beginnings. We were both young, brash, cocky, arrogant. We knew everything, were highly opinionated. We were invincible. Nobody liked us".
Lancaster made six films over the years with Kirk Douglas, including:
I Walk Alone (1948), Frankie Madison, returns to New York after 14 years in prison. Noll Turner, Frankie's former bootlegging partner, is now a wealthy nightclub manager, and Frankie is expecting him to honor a promise they made when he was first arrested.
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957). Is a film starring Burt Lancaster as Wyatt Earp and Kirk Douglas as Doc Holliday, the story is about the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, in Tombstone, Arizona. The film was based on a real event which took place on October 26, 1881.
The Devil's Disciple (1959). Takes place in a small New England town, during the American War of Independence, Dick Dudgeon, is mistaken for minister Rev. Anthony Anderson, and arrested by the British. The minister's wife, Judith, mistakenly thinks that Dick, is in love with her. Taken to see the British commander General Burgoyne, Dudgeon is ready to die for his beliefs.
The List of Adrian Messenger (1963). Messenger, asks a friend to check into a list of names before leaving on a trip. After his plane blown out of the sky, his friend checks into the list, each person seems to have died in mysterious circumstances.
Video 1 of 10.
Seven Days in May (1964). The President, manages to get a nuclear disarmament treaty through the Senate. Jiggs Casey, a Marine Colonel, finds evidence that General Scott, the head of the Joint Chiefs, is not planning to wait. Casey, goes to the president with the information and the conflict begins, with each side not sure who can be trusted.
Lancaster and Douglas, are reunited for their final movie, Tough Guys (1986). Harry and Archie, are released from prison, now old enough to collect Social Security. But, their ideas for retirement, is to see if they can get away with a train robbery.
Although Douglas, was always second billed under Lancaster, in these films, with the exceptions of, I Walk Alone, in which Douglas played a villain, their roles were usually the same size, and in Seven Days in May, Douglas' part was larger but, much less dramatic than Lancaster's.
Lancaster, also asked his close friend Nick Cravat, to perform in his films. They co-starred together in nine films: The Flame and the Arrow (1952), Ten Tall Men (1951), Crimson Pirate, The Crimson Pirate (1952), Run Silent, Run Deep (1958), Scalphunters, The Scalphunters (1968), Airport (1970), Valdez Is Coming (1971), Ulzana's Raid (1972), The Midnight Man (1974) and Island of Dr. Moreau and The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977).
Lancaster starred in three films with Deborah Kerr: From Here to Eternity, Separate Tables, and The Gypsy Moths.
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Lancaster -- what a man, in every way. He is the epitome of masculinity of screen. Douglas too, but in a different way. If I had to pick, I'd say Lancaster -- loved your pick of videos, Dawn. Lovely post.
ReplyDeleteBurt Lancaster, was very handsome and he took over the screen with power only a handful of stars did. Thank you, Becky.
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