wadsy

Yesterday on TV I watched A Majority of One with Alec Guiness &

Rosalind Russell. Its not a great film & what struck me was how uncomfortable

Sir Alec seemed ( to me anyway) playing a Japanese businessman.

I wonder how many other great actors/actresses have maybe regretted taking

on a particular role. Many I would suspect!

rskershaw

I think Alec Guinness suffered changing times. He was respected as playing Prince Feisal in L.O.A., but was then vilified for playing the Indian Professor Godbole in 'A Passage...' twenty odd years later.
However, saying that his portrayal of Fagin was criticised as being anti-semitic way back in 1948, but I think that was more to do with the portrayal of Fagin rather than the actor who played him.

It is perhaps a subject of a new thread; whether an actor/actress should portray a character of a different ethnicity?

And what's all this about me having me leg off?

narabdela

It's always difficult if we try and impose our present day values on the past. Just look at Olivier's "Othello". I just looks ludicrous when you view it now.

rskershaw

I remember an English Lit. teacher talking about Olivier's stage portrayal of Othello (maybe at the NT?). He said Olivier came on stage blacked up like Al Johnson and was expecting him to start singing 'Oh Mammy'.

However, he never said what he actually thought of Olivier's performance.

Years later I saw Olivier's film of the play and was impressed, but I was conscious throughout that you can't really do this sort of thing anymore.

Could you imagine, say, Brannagh trying it now?

And what's all this about me having me leg off?

CaptainWaggett

Michael Gambon has said he would love to do Othello but it would be impossible now (thankfully, IMO). However those who saw his mumbling, inaudible performance as Falstaff at the NT a few years ago might well be relieved for other reasons...

Mark O

I recall reading that when it looked like Ian Charleson was going to be a major 'Star' after Chariots of Fire, 'they' thought it would be best if his first film role in the dirge of 'Jubilee', should be somehow forgotten and swept under the carpet and have 'Chariots' (wrongly) credited as his first Movie role.......

Mark

batman

I went to a production of 'Driving Miss Daisy' a few years back and the character of Hoke was played by a white man in blackface .... I knew one of the cast and asked if he had had to step in an short notice or something, I was told that he was the first person cast. Incredible. Needless to say it didn't work.

I wish I had claws.