And I refer NOT to my arm. I speak of movies and television. You can thank Nancy Hatch for this post – she jogged my mind while I replied to a reply on my post of yesterday about Robert B. Parker.
If any of you are old enough to remember, there was actually a TV series based on the Spenser characters, called “Spenser: For Hire.” Robert Urich played Spenser. He was OK – I would refer to his choice as the one to play that role as “OK,” but not “Perfect.” However, the actor chosen to play “Hawk,” Spenser’s best friend, was Avery Brooks, and I gotta tell ya, casting doesn’t get any better than that. His looks had all the characteristics of the descriptions in the books, and not just his looks; Brooks played him to perfection. From the first time I saw him in that role, whenever I read a Spenser book, I saw and still see the face of Avery Brooks as Hawk’s face; his voice as Hawk’s voice. They are one and the same to me!
Unfortunately, casting in most other roles for TV and movies (or plays, for that matter) is seldom as good or even close. I recognize that everybody who “knows” a character first, before seeing him or her portrayed on stage or screen, sees the character differently in their minds. That is if, as a reader, you do imagine the looks and voice of the characters as you read. I always do – always have – since childhood. The “Little Bear” books by Maurice Sendak are a case in point. I know exactly what Little Bear sounds like, and he looks, of course, exactly as Sendak draws him.
How many of you were disappointed in the voices of the “Peanuts” gang when the cartoons first started showing up on TV? I have never really been able to enjoy them because they have never sounded right, and it throws the stories off-kilter for me. And as the children with the voices grew up, the voice parts were given to other younger voices as they were recast. Each was as unsatisfactory as the rest. Maybe that’s just me.
Interestingly enough, I think one would expect that if the portrayal is seen before the book or story or comic strip is read, then as one reads, you would expect to identify the actor with the part. That only occasionally happens for me, and never completely holds true. Sometimes, in fact, it becomes annoying, because quite frequently the book is so different from the movie that it can really throw me off. “Forrest Gump,” for example, as a movie bears very little resemblance to the book – they are two entirely different stories in my mind. I usually read the book first. Generally, because the book had come out long before even the idea of a movie from the book was considered, or advertised anyway. The following are some examples of my opinions of “Perfect Casting,” “OK” casting, and “Lousy” casting. Please, feel free to add your own, and agree or disagree in your comments:
Avery Brooks as “Hawk” – Perfect!
Tom Hanks as “Paul Edgecomb” in “The Green Mile.” – Perfect!
as a matter of fact, the ENTIRE MOVIE was PERFECTLY cast, from every main character down to the minors and extras.
“The Shawshank Redemption” – perfect casting. All the characters embodied the author’s descriptions and voices. As far as physical descriptions goes, the fact that a black man – Morgan Freeman – played “Red” in the movie (in the story, a red-haired white man), did not in the least take away from the accuracy of the casting, and only enhanced the movie.
I’m beginning to wonder how much control Stephen King has had in the movie adaptations of his books, because others of his – for instance, the mini-series of “The Stand” and the first movie of “The Shining” had some perfect casting. However, there were also, in both of them some OK choices, and a few truly Lousy choices. When “The Stand” finally came out in a visual form, it was too late to cast the actor that I had always envisioned in the role of “Stu Redman,” a way underrated actor by the name of Scott Glenn. However, by the time the role was cast, he was too old. Gary Sinise was Perfect, and an actor I find mesmerizing and versatile – just plain great, and he embodied the character. The role of his girlfriend, “Frannie Goldsmith” was played by Molly Ringwald. She was entirely miscast – in other words Lousy – not necessarily her acting, which was OK, but she just was not Frannie. Most of the rest were at least OK, and several more were Perfect: Ossie Davis as “The judge,” Ray Walston as “Glen Bateman,” Ruby Dee as “Mother Abigail,” Rob Lowe as “Nick Andros,” Bill Fagerbakke as “Tom Cullen,” and Jamey Sheridan as “Randall Flagg.” Others that were OK were Laura San Giacomo as “Nadine Cross,” and Matt Frewer as “Trashcan Man.” Unfortunately, that pivotal character of Frannie was indeed Lousy!
The cast of the first adaptation of “The Shining,” was for the most part OK. Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall, while I would never have imagined either in their roles, turned out to be all right. However, the role of “Dick Halloran,” played by Scatman Crothers was another perfect choice. I was horribly disappointed that he was killed in the movie (not in the book) – but it certainly added to the shock value when I saw the film!
Speaking of Jack Nicholson, his role as the “Devil” in “The Witches of Eastwick” was indeed inspired, perfect casting. Cher – who also was in the movie said at the time the movie was released that “Jack has eyebrows that were created to play the devil!” She was right. Some of the minor characters were very well cast. The choices for the three “witches” were OK. They neither added nor detracted from the story.
I’ll mention one more movie (I could go on and on!), because Hubs and I discussed this tonight on our way back from choir practice: “Gone With the Wind.” The roles that I feel were perfectly cast were Clark Gable as “Rhett Butler,” Thomas Mitchell and Barbara O’Neill as “Gerald and Ellen O’Hara,” Butterfly McQueen as “Prissy,” and of course, Hattie McDaniel as “Mammy.” The rest of the cast was good. Hubs considers Olivia de Havilland as “Melanie” worthy of a Perfect designation. I give her an OK – but probably because I was not a huge fan of the stereotypical Southern Belle character she played. Hubs also gives Vivien Leigh as “Scarlett O’Hara” a Perfect, but I am ambivalent about her. Don’t get me wrong, she as very good, but having read a list of other actresses who were considered for the role has led me to believe that there was possibly another actress who would have been just that much better, to get a Perfect designation from me.
As I said, I could extend my list, but I will ask you to do that for me! I know there must be at least one or two who have their own ideas for the casts of the movies I’ve mentioned, as well as some other movie/TV examples of their own. Hey! How about the “Harry Potter” films? Lots of inspired casting in those!
Another related topic that could be considered is the casting of original TV/Movies – i.e., those that were not adapted from another source. I forgot to mention a favorite Broadway play, “1776,” that I saw with the original cast, and could compare with the movie. There were at least three perfects in that one, and one Lousy, but as I’m over 1200 words, I’ve written enough. . .
Your website is incredibly well put together. I am in awe!
I just looked at your home page and your picture page. Really good photography.
Its really nice to meet you and I will be back!
Indie
So glad you dropped by – come on over anytime!
Pingback: What’s Up? « Spirit Lights The Way
Perfect casting:
Boris Karloff as The Grinch (animated version).
Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West (The Wizard of OZ)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Hamilton
Fun post, Paula! Thanks.
A few more:
John Belushi (and most other cast members) ~ Animal House
Chevy Chase (and most other cast members) ~ CaddyShack
Chevy Chase (and most other cast members) ~ Christmas Vacation
In fact, the casting is probably why I want these movies as often as I do.
I’m with you on the Grinch and the Wicked With – they were perfect – as wel as Bert Lahr and Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, and Frank Morgan. Judy Garland waaas sweet, and I would say she was OK. BUT, I’m not exactly sure who I would cast in that role then. The most recent version, I rather liked Fairuza Balk as Dorothy. Also, Billie Burke was good casting.
As far as Animal House and Caddy Shack – neither movie appearled to me, and quite frankly, I think that just about any SNL alum could have played any of the roles, interchangeably, as the movies to me were basically one elongated SNL sketch.
But, the Vacation movies – I’m with you! Chevy Chase is the only one who could have done those movies, along with Beverly D’Angelo, and Randy Quaid! (I love him!) The children were all interchangeable – and really were! In Christmas Vacation, the parents – Doris Roberts, E. G. Marshall, John Randolph and Diane Ladd. William Hickey and Mae Questal as Uncle William and Aunt Bethany – both inspired, too! I think my favorite of all the “Vacation” movies’ secondary characters, was Imogene Coca as Aunt Edna!
Paul Newman and Patricia Neal in “Hud” – another perfect casting job. Leslie Howard as Ashley Wilkes “okay”, good acting as always from him, aristocratic, but very British. everything about Clark Gable was great except his accent. Charlestonians, especially old families, had and have a distinctive accent they never quite lose.
Hubs ( another Ashley)
I don’t even give Leslie Howard an OK – but he wasn’t Lousy – just miscast. He did the best considering he was British and didn’t really attempt a southern accent. I also Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” were quite good – 1/2 way between Perfect and OK. But, Marlon Brando, Vivien Leigh (liked her much more here), Kim Hunter and Karl Malden in “Streetcar Named Desire” were perfect. And Marlon Brando, as The Godfather – perfect! Plus all the cast of “On the Waterfront.”
In 1776, the actors who were in the Original Broadway Cast (which I saw) were also very good in the movie: William Davis, John Cullum (always perfect in anything!), Howard Da Silva – all perfect. However, in the totally Lousy category in the movie was Blythe Danner as Martha Jefferson. while she is a good actress, she was completely and utterly miscast as Martha. Yuck! Ruined the one sequence she was in with Davis, Ken Howard (Thomas Jefferson – OK), and Da Silva. You can’t have everything!
I only read some of the books after seeing the movies, so I can’t say. Though I do agree about FG, despite reading that later. Tom Hanks was miscast as the book’s character but perfect for the film. I preferred the film; probably because I saw it first.
I thought most of the HP casting was okay, though Hermione wasn’t bushy-haired enough for me.
I’ve just finished ‘To Kill A Mocking Bird’ for the first time. I saw the film once, years ago, and don’t remember any of the cast bar Gregory Peck. Reading the book, Atticus was GP.
I really enjoyed this post but I have a complaint: you didn’t give me enough. 🙂
I think the HP casting was all inspired! Hermione’s lack of bushy hair didn’t bother me, because by the time I saw the first movie, I had forgotten that’s what she had! Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman (two of my very favorite Brit actors – Rickman as Sheriff of Nottingham in Costner’s Robin Hood redeemed the movie all by himself, in Sense and Sensibility – perfect – as was every single actor in that film version. And Maggie Smith – also, always perfect – The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, and on and on with her!.
I too saw Forrest Gump before I read the book, and I much preferred the movie, but I will say that the book was entertaining, though much more satiric, and in its own way even sadder. It was, quite simply, different – totally – than the movie. BTW, Sally Field was also Perfect in the movie.
I probably could do another entire post – maybe I will do a Part II one of these days. . .stay tuned1 😀
I did read “To Kill a Mockingbird” before the movie, and it was still pitch pePerfect – in every role in that movie. GP will always be Atticus Finch.
I try to avoid seeing a movie if I’ve read the book, with the exception of anything starring Colin Firth 🙂
with you on Colin Firth. Anything he does he is Perfect. “The King’s Speech” being only the latest example. He was great in the BBC mini series of “Pride and Prejudice.” Rest of that particular cast was OK, although I do think the other cast members (aside from Mr. Darcy) in the recent movie with Keira Knightley who I thought was wonderful, but perhaps too pretty for the role) were very good!
Geoffrey Rush – another Perfect actor, in everything he does! “The King’s Speech,” “Shakespeare in Love,” (another perfectly cast movie), and of course, “Shine.”
Actually my next movie-related post should be the casting of movies in general instead of book-to-movie casting. There are a lot more Perfect casting choices in original screenplays than in adaptations. Some of that has to do with the acting, but frquently just with the casting and/or direction.
I grew up with the Peanuts voices: it never occurred to me they might sound different, Paula! You have broadened my horizons.
And of course, the best casting of all time was Woodstock as Woodstock.
I really didn’t like them at all. “Snoopy’s” “wah-wah” and the adult voices were awful – another set of “wah-wah-wahs.” I grew up with the comic strip. I read, over the 50 years Schulz was alive, every single strip. They all had their distinct voices – including the adult (Miss Othmar – Linus’ teacher, never seen), Snoopy and Woodstock. I couldn’t imitate the voices (out loud) I hear myself, but I would definitely recognize them if I heard them! I haven’t yet!