I don't wish to trivialise Anna and her role, but her apparently mute condition reminds me of Aqua Marina in Gerry Anderson's marionette series 'Stingray' - and the scene where Anna silently cries, turning to Peck for comfort, is like some of Marina's scenes with Troy Tempest. (Now, that really was a 'wooden' hero!)
superadoRegent's Park West (CaliforniaPosts: 2,656MI6 Agent
"No, I'm not that crazy" -Miller )
"...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
Shady, I ask again- is this scene (the fuses) what you mean about Niven going theatrical?
(In his book he claims to have been ill at this point and had to force himself to do the scene.)
In the commentary the director says Niven nearly died from illness. They nearly had to re-shoot most of the movie with a new actor, but Niven got well enough to do the remaining scene in the cave with the cannons.
The stuff with Anna here is borderline unsavoury. The various male characters are sort of squaring up to be the guy who's 'man enough' to do what needs to be done... while Papas is all along screwing on her silencer in the background. There's a really interesting character point with Niven... after goading Peck, to rub it in, he makes a last second attempt to stop Peck from actually shooting Anna...
The 'surprise' that it's the woman who shoots the girl is nominally re-played in FRWL (when it's Tania, not Bond, who kills Klebb).
Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 53 years.
Peck's final dialog with Niven here is kinda a mistep. 'By God, you got me in the mood to use this thing!' Beyond being overacting, it doesn't ring true. Peck is a pro here and he's allowing himself to lose his cool.
Agreed...I've always thought its a bit off. But I'm happy to accept it.
Peck's final dialog with Niven here is kinda a mistep. 'By God, you got me in the mood to use this thing!' Beyond being overacting, it doesn't ring true. Peck is a pro here and he's allowing himself to lose his cool.
Also: just noticed that Peck and Niven aren't wearing Nazi military boots like everyone else. They're wearing standard shoes. A goof?
They carry British submachine guns too. There is no need to since their silencers never work.
I wasn't intending 'theatrical' as in any way a criticism of Niven btw... he's Priestley's Inspector Goole, Christie's Poirot and Tarantino's Mr White all rolled into one... at exactly the point that the screenplay gets Brechtian! A high point of the movie!
Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 53 years.
Stavros is arguably the coolest character in the movie. Partly it's down to his silence.
He's the expert swordsman in THE SEVEN SAMURAI.
He's the knife expert in THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (and yes, I know this is a remake of the prior film).
He's the uber competent person who gets all of the cool moments. Usually this character dies in the third act so it's kinda surprising that he makes it until the end.
My memory is that he comes across as almost superhuman in Maclean's books.
Peck, here, as the quiet assassin of the German guards... he's sufficiently coldblooded to stand ground alongside Richard Burton in WED, or Connery's early Bond, despite his overriding moral complexion.
Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 53 years.
Stavros is arguably the coolest character in the movie. Partly it's down to his silence.
He's the expert swordsman in THE SEVEN SAMURAI.
He's the knife expert in THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (and yes, I know this is a remake of the prior film).
He's the uber competent person who gets all of the cool moments. Usually this character dies in the third act so it's kinda surprising that he makes it until the end.
My memory is that he comes across as almost superhuman in Maclean's books.
Comments
I bow to your superior knowledge.
The other 20% wish they did but were only given Lugers.
I bow to your superior knowledge.
Another series I loved as a kid.
We must all watch that soon, and count.
It's a pity for them that theirs weren't equipped with the 1,000 round magazine that Eastwood had.
Niven's just said "Party's over" on my screen.
(In his book he claims to have been ill at this point and had to force himself to do the scene.)
and with a more subtle moustache
Yes absolutely... brilliantly theatrical (and all the more impressive if he was ill)
(And once again, a hint of what his Bond might have been)
In the commentary the director says Niven nearly died from illness. They nearly had to re-shoot most of the movie with a new actor, but Niven got well enough to do the remaining scene in the cave with the cannons.
The 'surprise' that it's the woman who shoots the girl is nominally re-played in FRWL (when it's Tania, not Bond, who kills Klebb).
Agreed...I've always thought its a bit off. But I'm happy to accept it.
Many good tense scenes in this movie, BTW.
My memory is that he comes across as almost superhuman in Maclean's books.
Yup.