Don Ameche 1908-1993
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Don Ameche
bkoganbing — 21 years ago(July 14, 2004 09:31 PM)
Don Ameche must have felt like the Boston Red Sox during his years at 20th Cen-
tury Fox. He was forever playing number 2 to Tyrone Power. They did two films
with Alice Faye, In Old Chicago and Alexander's Ragtime Band and the end Don
lost Alice to Ty.
He had a pleasant light, reedy tenor voice that was rarely utilized in films.
He did other films with Faye and other musical stars and supported them admirably. However it was that great non-singing role of Alexander Graham Bell
in that biographical film that became his signature part. For years folks would
call the telephone "the ameche."
He left Hollywood at the end of the 40s, he felt his career petered out and in
going to Broadway scored a remarkable success in Silk Stockings which Fred
Astaire brought to the screen. Ameche had been away from the movies to be any
kind of recognizable movie draw.
I remember Don Ameche first as a lad as the ringmaster of International Showtime. Ameche played the host of a show, taped in Europe, which exhibited
the best of circus acts in Europe. A light show, not much of strain which
called on Ameche to be a pleasant and genial host. He was that with charm in
abundance.
He drifted nicely into character roles after that unlike a lot of his colleagues
kept working to the end.
Ron Howard brought him into the cast of his hit Cocoon and Ameche played a
breakdancing senior citizen who's been fooling in alien waters. So many of his
colleagues slipped into oblivion it was nice to see this respected senior
citizen of Hollywood get that Academy Award. It may have been an Oscar awarded
for sentiment, but sentiment has its place.
Here's to you, Don Ameche, a great career, a great life for a worthy man, RIP. -
wlandolfi-1 — 20 years ago(October 30, 2005 04:20 PM)
When talking of Don Ameche, one must also mention TRADING PLACES as that was the movie that marked his comeback after having semi-retired and being away from films for some time. It is interesting t111co note that the role of Mortimer Duke, of whom Don Ameche played in that movie, was originally supposed to go to Ray Milland. However, Ray Milland became to ill and the part want to Don Ameche. I always felt he was good as one to the two Duke Brothers (Ralph Bellamy played his brother Randolph) and also, TRADING PLACES is one of my favorite films. TRADING PLACES was a big success when it came out in 1983 and as a result, Don Ameche went on to act in several other movies including COCOON and THINGS CHANGE until his death in 1993. In mentioning Don Ameche's later films, I also want to mention COMING TO AMERICA where he and Ralph Bellamy reprised their roles from TRADING PLACES.
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deborahwakid11 — 20 years ago(February 16, 2006 11:27 PM)
Hi, Bkoganbing:
Well, Don might have been number two for years, just like the two Sox teams. Well, both the Red Sox and the White Sox made it back to the top in consecutive years.
It took Don Ameche awhile because he did win that Oscar for "Cocoon." I'll never forget that break dance routine. I will also never forget when he got up to accept his Oscar, with Cher as a presenter in her spiked hairdo. I think Don was a little afraid of getting hit with Cher's hairdo.
I'll be interested in reading the biography when it comes out. Ameche was a class act.
Take care.
Deborah -
bkoganbing — 20 years ago(March 11, 2006 11:34 PM)
White Sox number two. I well remember Al Lopez and his White Sox in the Fifties
constantly in second place against the Yankees.
My best memory of the classy Mr. Ameche was International Showtime as the
debonair host of all those circus acts in the early sixties. I think that show
might have been responsible for the film Circus World.
I want to read that book when it comes out as well.
Bureaucrats need love -
lmchildress — 15 years ago(June 18, 2010 11:17 PM)
Right, the Bickersons, and I saw him at the St. Louis Muny Opera in the 70s in a revival of No, No Nanette. He had such a wonderful voice.
I watched Heaven Can Wait last night, which he did in 43, playing an old man who dies and goes to the devil, thinking he belongs in hell because he was serially unfaithful to his wife for 25 years. His charm made palatable a role that could have just been nasty; you really liked him in spite of it all, even though the movie was oriented toward the man, as is to be expected of those benighted times. You certainly could see how he managed to not lose his wife, in spite of everything. Puppy dog eyes. -
drxcreatures — 15 years ago(November 12, 2010 12:24 PM)
Growing up, I was always stoked to see Don in every film that I could. I am still sorry that he passed on, even though I knew that was coming. I loved his acting and WOW he was handsome, always.
http://www.cgonzales.net
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http://www.drxcreatures.com -
bkoganbing — 12 years ago(November 18, 2013 06:35 PM)
The Bickersons were the foundation of soooooooooooo many situation comedies,
everyone who worked in them, including Lucy and Ricky owe Don Ameche and Frances
Langford.
I wish he had done Silk Stockings, but that wasn't meant to be.
Pitters Go Into Your Dance