Five Actors I Dislike (Classic Hollywood)
1. Norma Shearer – Don’t like her. To me, she is the worst example of a silent actor transitioning to sound. Not that she has a horrible voice, but her gestures are too grand. She just rubs me the wrong way. I am also highly suspicious of anyone’s film career when that person is married to one of the heads of the studio.
2. John Wayne – I’m so not impressed with him. He’s the iconic cowboy? So what? Historically, “cowboy” was the term used for Black cattle hands. (The “boy” part of the term should be a clue.) Second, as Americans, we tend to idolize the “cowboy,” which was a creation by early filmmakers and not a true reflection of the mythological “Old West” we have come to believe it is. And John Wayne was just not a great actor. Overrated.
3. Gary Cooper – Frankly, I don’t see the big deal with him, either. While I can see that he would be considered attractive, he never struck me as talented. His presence isn’t much, either.
4. Joan Fontaine – Now, my sister would argue that this is just because I am so fond of Fontaine’s sister, Olivia de Havilland, and there is probably some truth in that. However, I’ve seen several films with the lesser de Havilland (as I affectionately call her) and she has no presence and one facial expression, which is to look constantly perplexed whether she is afraid, confused, in love, happy, sad, or whatever the situation may be. She has had the advantage of starring opposite Cary Grant, Laurence Olivier, and Orson Welles and she cannot stand up to them. It’s sad, really.
5. Grace Kelly – This may be considered a blasphemy but I don’t think she was that great an actress. I’m sure she was a lovely person and I was very sad when I heard about her death. But, she was more celebrity than actor. And Rita Hayworth married a prince before she did! Kelly’s performance in the films I’ve seen have not really impressed me.
2. John Wayne – I’m so not impressed with him. He’s the iconic cowboy? So what? Historically, “cowboy” was the term used for Black cattle hands. (The “boy” part of the term should be a clue.) Second, as Americans, we tend to idolize the “cowboy,” which was a creation by early filmmakers and not a true reflection of the mythological “Old West” we have come to believe it is. And John Wayne was just not a great actor. Overrated.
3. Gary Cooper – Frankly, I don’t see the big deal with him, either. While I can see that he would be considered attractive, he never struck me as talented. His presence isn’t much, either.
4. Joan Fontaine – Now, my sister would argue that this is just because I am so fond of Fontaine’s sister, Olivia de Havilland, and there is probably some truth in that. However, I’ve seen several films with the lesser de Havilland (as I affectionately call her) and she has no presence and one facial expression, which is to look constantly perplexed whether she is afraid, confused, in love, happy, sad, or whatever the situation may be. She has had the advantage of starring opposite Cary Grant, Laurence Olivier, and Orson Welles and she cannot stand up to them. It’s sad, really.
5. Grace Kelly – This may be considered a blasphemy but I don’t think she was that great an actress. I’m sure she was a lovely person and I was very sad when I heard about her death. But, she was more celebrity than actor. And Rita Hayworth married a prince before she did! Kelly’s performance in the films I’ve seen have not really impressed me.
Comments