Posted on 03/14/2023 1:11:43 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Few comedy actors can claim to have had such an impact on the world as the late Robin Williams. He began his career as a stand-up comedian and became well-revered for his improvisational and impressional skills through the 1970s. Williams’ work throughout the 1980s saw him traverse to the big screen as he scooped up accolades left, right and centre for his acting talents.
Williams is remembered as a comedy actor, but just as quickly as he could make us laugh, he could make us cry. Towards the late 1980s and early ’90s, his acting roles began to take on a more serious tone. Beginning with 1987’s Good Morning, Vietnam, Williams showed he could take on a more serious tone to bring due gravity to a story.
He would build upon this side of his talent in subsequent dramas like 1989’s Dead Poet’s Society and 1997’s Good Will Hunting, the latter of which saw Williams win his first and only Academy Award for ‘Best Supporting Actor’.
While Williams found his footing in comedy, he had always dreamt of becoming an actor. After graduating from high school in 1969, he studied theatre at California’s College of Marin for three years, having dropped out of an initial political science course at Claremont Men’s College.
Over three illustrious decades on the big screen, Williams discussed a few of his acting heroes, but above all, Peter Lorre surfaced as his most pivotal influence. “One of my favourite actors of all time, although he doesn’t necessarily play villains, is Peter Lorre,” Williams once told Louisa Mellor of Den of Geek. “I once asked him, ‘Mr Lorre, what is it like to act?’ and he says [Peter Lorre impression] ‘I don’t act, I just make faces’. But him with those eyes, him in M, oh God, that’s one of the greatest portrayals ever.”
Lorre was a Hungarian-born American actor who became famous after starring in Fritz Lang’s 1931 movie M as a depraved serial killer who preys on young girls. Over the next three decades, Lorre would become world-renowned for portraying evil characters. Other noteworthy roles include Abbott, the criminal mastermind in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much and the first ever James Bond villain, Le Chiffre, in the 1954 TV version of Casino Royale.
Although Williams rarely portrayed evil characters in his movies, he was enamoured with Lorre’s ability to morph into such electrifying caricatures. For this reason, when Williams was gathering impression ideas for his role as the Genie in Disney’s 1992 animated retelling of Aladdin, Lorre’s name popped to mind.
In one of the scenes, the Genie contorts into a range of characters as he tries to befriend the titular character. Among the impressions, viewers recognise the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, William F. Buckley, Jr, Robert De Niro and Jack Nicholson. For one of the impressions, Williams morphs into a green, evil-looking creature and gives his best impression of his “evil” acting hero.
-- Peter Lorre, Beat the Devil (1953)
“You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre contemplating a crime” is one of the great song lyrics.
He was the best against Bogie.
And that song also mentions Bogart.
And Robin Williams got Joe Biden way before everybody else did.
“Rambin’ Joe Biden” (Language)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHHUkTRFvew
Who is more of a weasle ... Peter Lorre or Elisha Cook Jr ?
I love ‘Year of the Cat.’ It’s evoking of a ‘Bogart movie’ is probably most of the reason... it also brings to mind a relationship I had in SF in 1976 when that song was on the radio. Her ‘street name was ‘Mantra’ and she was a mime. Oh what a time that was.
Peter Lorre as Ugarte, the villan who “murdered the Couriers carrying the Letters of Transit that was the key to Casablanca was essential to that movie..
Lorre wasn't a villain in THE THREE STRANGERS and the only one who more or less comes out okay in the end.
Lorre and Greenstreet in THE VERDICT play against their usual roles and a film that should be seen by those who enjoy a well written, interesting movie.
I guess you never saw The Big Sleep.
Well, that was the writers. They had superb writers. John Huston and Truman Capote.
Who is more of a weasle ... Peter Lorre or Elisha Cook Jr ?
I guess you never saw The Big Sleep.
Arsenic and Old Lace, “sign here Dr. Einstein.”
The Maltese Falcon! It’s what dreams are made of.
The curse of my existence is the “heroes” [or, if you like, just “movies”] that I see,
And I can’t do much for them not doing very much for me.
I can’t identify with Magnum, P or I —
Schwarzenegger, Harrison Ford, and Michael Douglas leave me bored.
Mel Gibson is too rugged, Matthew Broderick’s too cute,
Clint Eastwood is so cocky, I could punch him in the snoot.
No, I’ll look back in time to a gentleman sublime,
Whose wit and style are seldom mentioned —
[in Lorre voice]
— But never failed to attract attention!
When I grow up, I want to be Peter Lorre,
I want to snivel and sneer in a nasal whine.
I want to cring and curse, and maybe threaten worse —
[in Lorre Voice]
— And if that doesn’t work, I’ve got a laugh that’ll petrify your spine!
Who wants to be a handsome, stuffy playboy?
Who wants to face the bad guys all alone?
The last thing that I need is to be a romantic lead,
I want to grow up to be Peter Lorre and steal the girl for my own!
When I grow up, I want to be Peter Lorre,
I’ll tell Nemo where Kirk Douglas went to hide.
[in Lorre voice]
Now, I didn’t mind old Kirk, but Ned Land was such a jerk,
And between a mad scientist and a jock, who would you want on your side?
I want to sell the Bird to Sydney Greenstreet,
I want to cheat with Vincent Price’s wife,
And if I want more kicks, I’ll make Mister Moto flicks,
I want to grow up to be Peter Lorre and have A Wonderful Life!
[in Lorre voice]
I could’ve starred in that, too!
[in Lorre voice]
When I grow up, I want to be Peter Lorre,
I’ll stalk the streets of Dusseldorf and Pairee,
Waiting for some dame who has no sense of shame
To foolishly make that one mistake and hang around with me.
I want to whistle music from old operas
As I am slowly strangling some pre-teen,
I long for days gone by,
[in Lorre voice]
And that winking, blinking eye,
I want to grow up to be Peter Lorre,
You pretty boys are gonna be sorry,
I’ll be the best Peter Lorre you’ve ever seen!
— Is it too late to audition for “Gollum”?
credits
Tom Smith from Who Let Him In Here?, released January 20, 1991
The first remake stars Bette Davis and the story is somewhat different from the other films.
LOL...it's the blackbird, that "dreams are made of".
Peter Lorre and Vincent Price in “The Black Cat”
Top notch fun.
Tales of Terror
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056552/?ref_=fn_al_tt_19
Fritz Lang’s 1931 movie M,
Otto Wernicke played the part of Inspector Karl Lohmann(Fatty) in both M and “The Testament of Dr. Mabuse”.
I am surprised the WOKE crowd has not been screaming bloody hell for his portrayal of MR MOTO as they did for Warner Oland playing Charlie Chan.
My personal favorite is still BEAST WITH FIVE FINGERS.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.