Victor Mature
Posted: December 8th, 2022, 10:32 am
https://www.silverscreenoasis.com/oasis3/
https://www.silverscreenoasis.com/oasis3/viewtopic.php?t=7159
There's a well known story about VICTOR MATURE who realized he was not allowed to join a country club because he was an actor. MATURE supposedly replied "I'm no actor...! And I've got 35 movies to prove it!"jamesjazzguitar wrote: ↑December 8th, 2022, 12:06 pm Great to see a fine actor like Victor Mature get some credit.
I agree. In fact, some time ago he really got some flack, saying they didn't like his face. He does have an interesting face. It borders something akin to an ugliness, but an attractive ugliness, not hideous or scary. I have a photo, a candid I believe, where he was chewing the fat with a secretary. She was very ordinary and regular, with a pleasant face. He was laughing and she was smiling and I take that he was amiable person.jamesjazzguitar wrote: ↑December 8th, 2022, 12:06 pm Great to see a fine actor like Victor Mature get some credit.
Interesting the idea of "being vulnerable without coming off as weak" that parallels my rather lame and surface take as he being "powerful." With Victor it may be that it blends with his natural persona. It must have been because other directors exploited that quality (as you point out). Not to take anything away from Victors action chops. How many of our super-cool actors like Eastwood and McQueen would be loathe to hear a director's say, "I want you to play this vulnerable but don't look weak." To cross over to Baseball, I remember Dizzy Dean telling the story many times on TV, being a manager and talking to a pitcher, "Don't give him anything good to hit. But don't walk him."jamesjazzguitar wrote: ↑December 8th, 2022, 3:13 pm In Mature noir films for 20th Century Fox, he was very vulnerable without coming off as weak; We see this side of his screen persona regardless of if he was on the wrong side of the law (Kiss of Death), or on the side of the law (Cry of the City. This side of Mature was put to good use by the director of these noir films: In Kiss of Death both the law (as represented by the DA), and the hoods (Widmark in his first role), exploit Mature's vulnerability, viewing this as a sign of weakness, but Mature ends up exploiting both the law and the hoods.
In Cry of the City, the hood, Richard Conte (my favorite role of his), grew up with Mature's detective character, and tries to uses that against Mature. Mature gives Conte just enough rope to trap him and prevail.
Kiss of Death is one of my favorite noirs. Used to show up on Fox Movie channel often.Allhallowsday wrote: ↑December 8th, 2022, 4:17 pm I love VICTOR MATURE particularly in KISS OF DEATH. My favorite part of his is in MY DARLING CLEMENTINE. But whatever part he's in, he makes the film better.
I own it on VHS!LostHorizons wrote: ↑December 8th, 2022, 5:08 pmKiss of Death is one of my favorite noirs. Used to show up on Fox Movie channel often.Allhallowsday wrote: ↑December 8th, 2022, 4:17 pm I love VICTOR MATURE particularly in KISS OF DEATH. My favorite part of his is in MY DARLING CLEMENTINE. But whatever part he's in, he makes the film better.
My Darling Clementine and I Wake Up ScreamingLomm wrote: ↑December 9th, 2022, 8:11 am I've only seen a handful of his movies but I always enjoy his performance. He comes across as so earnest and genuine. Reviewing what I've seen I apparently REALLY like him in historical epics. Any essential recommendations beyond these?
The Robe
Demetrius and the Gladiators
The Egyptian
Androcles and the Lion
Samson and Delilah
Violent Saturday