dual personalities

I have posted a lot about movies recently, so you will probably be all, oh, another blogpost about old movies.

But today happens to be the birthday of the great character actor and Episcopalian John Carradine (February 5, 1906 – November 27, 1988), so how could I not?

Hatfield in Stagecoach (1939)

He had one of those truly amazing careers spanning 60 years (1930-1990) where he made literally hundreds of movies–by some counts over 300. He was in some of the best movies ever made in Hollywood (Stagecoach, The Grapes of Wrath)

As Casy in The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

and some of the worst (too many to count involving mummies, zombies and even sex kittens).

Dracula in Billy the Kid vs. Dracula (1966)

Well, he was a real working actor, and he had quite a range. He was even the voice of the Great Owl in The Secret of NIMH (1982)!

But he never was even nominated for an Oscar. They threw him a bone with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Sigh.

In honor of his birthday, I suggest we watch one of his good movies–

Caldwell in Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)

Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) or The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) or The Proud Rebel (1958) or The Shootist (1976) or even Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), a movie I like a lot.

His funeral was held at St. Thomas the Apostle in Hollywood. His ashes were scattered at sea.

And, yes, I will be watching at least part of Super Bowl 50–I can’t miss my Peytie Pie!

Enjoy the weekend!

*John Carradine