One of the most underrated actors of the 20th century.
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mmpabbott — 20 years ago(May 28, 2005 06:20 PM)
I completely agree. I think he's so wonderful! I've only seen him in "Mary Poppins" and heard him in "Alice and Wonderland" but I think he is so funny! A true comedic actor. I recently found out that he was up for the part of the wizard in "The Wizard of Oz" but he turned it down b/c he thought it was too small a part. Too bad really b/c I think he would have done a magnificent job in that movie.
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Goofy_Elfman — 21 years ago(August 21, 2004 07:47 AM)
This man was brilliant. He actually died on my Birth Date. June 19, and now I feel sad. I know it's not my fault and there's nothing I can do about it, but lol, it gets you. He'll be missed.
"I don't like so much freedom down there. It makes me tingly in my giblets." -
praxistens — 20 years ago(March 27, 2006 04:11 AM)
I've read that he had trouble memorizing lines for "Requiem." I think his very best role was as the dentist Dussell in "The Diary of Anne Frank." Some scenes where the rest are ridiculing him (because he's a fussy old guy that wants things just so) are almost impossible to watch. Wynn was incredible.
Then there's that Twilight Zone episode, "One for the Angels "
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lester-42 — 18 years ago(May 20, 2007 09:34 PM)
Ed Wynn was an actor who was way before my time, but I can remember seeing him as a little girl.
There seemed to be a sweetness and purity of expression. I don't mean that he was not pornographic(although he wasn't) but he seemed to be one of the most unselfconscious performers. Jus2000t seemed to have the ability to express whatever emotion he was aiming for very simply and directly. I suspect this is not something you learn, but something connected to the personality. -
Moonlighty — 20 years ago(October 29, 2005 01:56 PM)
I've only seen him in Mary Poppins and in the Diary of Anne Frank, but I was impressed by how different those characters were and how he pulled them both off.
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"I think the mistake a lot of us make is thinking the state-appointed shrink is our friend" -
bj_arni — 20 years ago(January 18, 2006 03:22 AM)
A really great actor.
"It's a Kodak Moment"
www.ibs-entertainment.tk
www.slasherdome2.cjb.net -
classicmoviecomedy — 19 years ago(July 04, 2006 08:56 AM)
Yes, he was good in the Disney movies, but check out his earlier work where he really had a chance to shine, like THE CHIEF (1933). He was also good in Jerry Lewis' CINDERFELLA.
He was also a brilliant dramatic actor as well. He played in THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD (1965), and gave perhaps his best performance in THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (1959).
Matt -
mitcherz — 19 years ago(July 11, 2006 07:07 PM)
I laugh everytime I see him in Mary Poppins. He played that character so well, and had a very infectious laugh. He seems like a very good man, and looks like he was a very fun person to be around.
"I have no interest in prisoners. Kill them all." -White Witch -
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herbsuperb — 16 years ago(September 11, 2009 08:01 PM)
I'm not quite sure what the OP means by "Underrated". I've almost never heard somebody say "I don't like Ed Wynn". Everybody who knows his work LOVES it. Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, and Babes in Toyland are to this day some of my favorite movies in LARGE part because of his contribution. The man is a marvelous actor.
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vinidici — 11 years ago(April 05, 2015 08:38 PM)
Yes, I agree Wynn would have been fine as the Wizard, but as it turned out Frank Morgan was perfect in the movie, showcasing his talents in multiple roles.
THE WIZARD OF OZ was Morgan's one shining moment of glory, and I wouldn't take that away from him for anything.