Just read on the BBC News that Canadian-born actor Glenn Ford has been found dead at the age of 90.
I don't want this to become an obit column, but it does seem like we're losing an awful lot of great character actors lately. Ford was one of the few survivors of classic Hollywood: great professionals who arrived on a set prepared and cheerful, ready to go through the motions and give the director what they were hired to give. We're losing a whole generation without realizing it... but I guess they're all getting on in years.
Like many young people, I'll always remember Ford for his role as Pa Kent in Richard Donner's original Superman (his photo can be spied on Eva Marie Saint's mantle in this summer's Superman Returns). He only has two scenes, but he made an impression. Particularly the scene in which he imparts his last piece of advice to his son (soon to become Superman), Ford's simple honesty shines. It's the kind of scene that you don't understand at 10, that you fast-forward through at 15, that you forget at 20 and by 30 you're lingering over it.
"You are here for a reason," he says in his easy, wise way, "I don't know whose reason, or what the reason is. Maybe it's.... well, I'll tell you one thing, it isn't to score touchdowns." It's not Polonius, but it's close.
I know that Ford had a long and distinguished career, but you could do a lot worse than being remembered as a good father.
I don't want this to become an obit column, but it does seem like we're losing an awful lot of great character actors lately. Ford was one of the few survivors of classic Hollywood: great professionals who arrived on a set prepared and cheerful, ready to go through the motions and give the director what they were hired to give. We're losing a whole generation without realizing it... but I guess they're all getting on in years.
Like many young people, I'll always remember Ford for his role as Pa Kent in Richard Donner's original Superman (his photo can be spied on Eva Marie Saint's mantle in this summer's Superman Returns). He only has two scenes, but he made an impression. Particularly the scene in which he imparts his last piece of advice to his son (soon to become Superman), Ford's simple honesty shines. It's the kind of scene that you don't understand at 10, that you fast-forward through at 15, that you forget at 20 and by 30 you're lingering over it.
"You are here for a reason," he says in his easy, wise way, "I don't know whose reason, or what the reason is. Maybe it's.... well, I'll tell you one thing, it isn't to score touchdowns." It's not Polonius, but it's close.
I know that Ford had a long and distinguished career, but you could do a lot worse than being remembered as a good father.
| :: posted by Ian Dawe, 8/31/2006 | Comments (4) Links to this post |
4 Comments:
Glenn Ford was not only a fine actor, but a true HERO serving in WWII and in Vietnam. Many times when I have movie weekends at home, it is Glenn Ford movies I choose to watch NOT today's movies. Glenn was easily relatable and his prescence on the screen always made me feel like I was seeing a good friend. I'm deeply sadden by such a great loss and also sadden that the Academy never gave Glenn an honorary Oscar for his six decades in the movie industry and most of all his talent. It's an end of a golden era of fine classic actors which will never be repeated, but one thing we have left is a legacy of over 100 films for old and new fans alike to watch. God bless you Glenn Ford. You are my hero.
Angela Reeve
A true gentleman in these days where they are truly lacking. He was a kind and likeable man and I'm glad he was around during my lifetime. Thank you for it all Glen and God bless you!
Rob
Thanks everyone for remembering my father. He had an incredible career starting in 1937. Believe me, as the spokenman for our family, we don't understand why AMPAS, SAG or the AFI has never honored him. It's never too late for the sake of posterity, but I tried very hard while he was alive to have him receive the cudos he deserved for such a distinguished and varied body of work. It never happened but all of you, and we his family, have his films forever.
Blessings, Peter Ford
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