RARA-AVIS: Re: Dick Powell

From: jacquesdebierue ( jacquesdebierue@yahoo.com)
Date: 25 Mar 2008


--- In rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Moore" <moorich@...> wrote:
 
>
> Anyway, here is what Chandler wrote to Hamish Hamilton about the
> movie and Bogart:
>
> "When and if you see "The Big Sleep" (the first half of it anyhow)
> you will realize what can be done with this sort of story by a
> director with the gift of atmosphere and the requisite touch of
> hidden sadism. Bogart, of course, is also so much better than any
> other tough-guy actor that he makes bums of the Ladds and the
> Powells. As we say here, Bogart can be tough without a gun. Also he
> has a sense of humor that contains that grating undertone of
> contempt. Ladd is hard, bitter and occasionally charming, but he is
> after all a small boy's idea of a tough guy. Bogart is the genuine
> article."

Richard, thanks for this quote. That "tough without a gun" description is very apt. Also, his observation on containing the grating undertone of contempt is astute. The movie Harper, for example, was spoiled by Paul Newman, who could not contain the undertone. Anyway, Chandler was on to some truth regarding actors who play PIs.

Best,

mrt



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