Classic Films
Related: About this forumA Tribute: The Films of Actor Kirk Douglas *Exclusive, RIP
(10 mins). ~ Clips of films and interviews with acting giant Kirk Douglas. ~ Over the course of a career which spanned more than six decades, Kirk Douglas has appeared in all manner of productions, but it was his friend Lauren Bacall, who he met at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, who helped him to get his first feature-film role in THE STRANGE LOVE OF MARTHA IVERS. Douglas' popularity would soar just a few years later with his starring role in CHAMPION as boxer Midge Kelly, which earned Douglas his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
Douglas would go on to appear in films such as ALONG THE GREAT DIVIDE, DETECTIVE STORY, THE BIG SKY, THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, ULYSSES, LUST FOR LIFE, GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL, PATHS OF GLORY, and THE VIKINGS, but he's probably best known for starring in SPARTACUS, Stanley Kubrick's sprawling historical epic. By publicly crediting Dalton Trumbo as the screenwriter of SPARTACUS, who had been blacklisted thanks to McCarthyism, Douglas also helped to bring an end to Hollywood blacklisting.
Following SPARTACUS, Kirk Douglas would appear in LONELY ARE THE BRAVE, SEVEN DAYS IN MAY, THE HEROES OF TELEMARK, THE WAY WEST, THE BROTHERHOOD, HOLOCAUST 2000, SATURN 3, THE FINAL COUNTDOWN, TOUGH GUYS, and much more. Douglas also voiced Chester J. Lampwick, the true creator of Itchy & Scratchy, in an episode of The Simpsons. A true screen legend; you will be missed, Mr. Douglas. (Published Feb. 6, 2020).
- Douglas with Lauren Bacall in 'Young Man with A Horn' (1950).
- Hollywood Reporter, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kirk-douglas-dies-spartacus-670526
- In 'Lust for Life' (1956) Douglas as Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh.
msongs
(70,231 posts)appalachiablue
(42,995 posts)mountain grammy
(27,344 posts)Thank you, thank you so much for posting. Having myself a good cry now.
appalachiablue
(42,995 posts)Seeing these clips and his introspective talks is so moving. Here's his official website biography, what a life.
The anger he speaks of you can really see in his films, how intuitive he was to use it as an asset. Versatile in his roles Kirk was outstanding in 1950s tough guy films, historical epics like 'The Vikings' and more.
My siblings who were literary also did acting; a serious love culture and art runs in the family.
In another recent post I mentioned that I met him briefly when young at an event for a film debut where I was working as a docent.
After he bumped into me a bit in a hall passage I was fairly annoyed but I soon got over it, lol. In RL he has that distinctive presence, intense look with fixed eyes, and excellent physique and carriage.
** KIRK DOUGLAS WEBSITE, BIOGRAPHY **
http://www.kirkdouglas.com/biography/life
mountain grammy
(27,344 posts)His performance in Paths of Glory is my favorite, but so many more..
Thanks for that link.
DumpTrump20202020
(109 posts)He broke that wretched Blacklist with "Spartacus".. He not only co-starred, but produced it as well.
There's a lot of interviews that have been uploaded since his passing on YouTube... Good stuff!