Slating The Sound Of Music…..again
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SaraGooner — 13 years ago(November 23, 2012 12:44 AM)
I think it's like Alec Guinness and Star Wars. I've heard that, contrary to popular belief, he didn't actually hate Star Wars, but was annoyed that as a veteran actor he being remembered mainly for a sci-fi with, even as a SW fan I gotta admit, lame dialogue. Kevin Bacon is the same with Footloose (Although he's far from veteran). I think it's like this with Christopher Plummer and Sound of Music. He's been in so many more serious movies and yet one stands so much higher than the other and that is a cheesy, albeit classic, musical where you don't even hear his real singing voice. He appreciates the value of the film and appreciates Julie Andrews though. He probably came to hate it a bit as it has probably haunted his career a little, even after the Oscar.
"Screw you guys, I'm going home!" -
webbot87 — 13 years ago(January 27, 2013 09:20 PM)
The guy is just weird. I'm not surprised that he doesn't like the fil2000m because he found the role very boring. It was not a bad role to play at all. He just likes unusual roles. Look at how strange his role was in 'Rock-a-Doodle'.
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melus_612 — 13 years ago(February 25, 2013 10:25 AM)
I think he should be more grateful about The Sound of Music since it's the movie that made him a "legend" as they call him in Hollywood. Without it, he wouldn't be what he is, and he still talks crap about it.
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utilitysinger — 12 years ago(August 20, 2013 05:29 AM)
Again, according to his book (and subsequent interviews) he took the role as an opportunity to get vocal training; his intent was to do a musical of Cyrano, which he did indeed do on stage years later. He also was lured by the chance to work with Julie Andrews, who he'd seen onstage in My Fair Lady and was enamored of her talent.
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carolyn297 — 11 years ago(August 16, 2014 05:01 AM)
There's a lovely chapter in his book about the Sound of Music. Apparently he watched it many years later at a childrens party and he said 'it was the best of its genre, warm, touching, joyous and absolutely timeless.' And at the premiere he was torn between the thrill of recognition and the sheer vulgarity of it all. I think he is a wonderful actor and has done a massive amount of theatre and some fine films. To me, he is not just remembered for Sound of Music, maybe only to those who like Julie Andrews and popular culture, and are who cant be bothered to find out more about his other work.
SOM is actually one of my favourite films but I don't bitch about the comments made by the actors and the Hallmark remark which is often attributed to Christopher Plummer was actually said by Doug McClure. -
Soodinum — 11 years ago(October 21, 2014 08:20 PM)
I've never seen it, and for CP having, to be asked about it constantly for years must be annoying. For a working actor, it must really seem to overshadow the huge amount of work he's done since. I'd be pissy too if I were him.
2000
'Then' and 'than' are different words - stop confusing them. -
utilitysinger — 10 years ago(September 04, 2015 05:41 PM)
While the age difference between the real Captain and Maria was greater (his 47 to her 22), it wasn't a marriage of convenience. He loved her very much, and while she didn't love him when they married, she grew to love him. Read some of the books by the real Maria von Trapp, they are very interesting.
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CZJFan87 — 10 years ago(June 21, 2015 01:13 PM)
I don't get why he underestimate5b4s that masterpiece so much.
I've seen a lot of Plummer's work and this is by far, not only the best movie he has ever been, but also his gratest work as an actor impressing his character (and iconic one, by the way) with subtleness, power and depth. Since then, he has never reached such mightiness even if he has done a lot of great performances. -
fiatlux-1 — 10 years ago(December 20, 2015 05:28 PM)
I've always wondered why the heck Plummer trashes that film.
Its the only reason a lot of people even know who he is!
He's slightly memorable in other roles, such as "Dolores Claiborne" or "A Beautiful Mind".
But he's nothing special, he plays the same role in every film.ironically except in "The Sound of Music"!
I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus.
Didn't he discover America?
Penfold, shush. -
JaneThree — 9 years ago(October 04, 2016 11:30 AM)
I actually agree with you about his acting.
I think trashing the movie is just his schtick. There's a story of him being picked up at the airport, everyone warned not to mention "Sound of Music", and before you know it he's at the hotel playing piano and singing "Eidelweiss."
Here's my theory. I have (or had, haven't tested it out in a long time) a good bit of acting talent (as many people do). I had a GREAT acting teacher, who taught a lot of well-known people as well as aspiring and unknowns. She herself was a fantastic actress (she was very fierce in person, but loveable and funny on camera). One of her sayings was you have to "use yourself" when you act. You don't have anything else. She means your own heart, instincts, even your own personality. "You" b68is obviously what sets you apart from someone else in the role. It doesn't mean your choices shouldn't be appropriate for who you are playing, but you have to invest "you". It may feel boring, because it's "just" you, but if it's real, it's more interesting than a lot of technique and tricks.
I think it took Christopher Plummer years to use himself in his roles. That's why so much of his earlier work is criticized as "opaque." He had a classic look, a classic voice, he had confidence, he understood dialogue, etc. But he never showed us who he was. He left himself out of it. I think that's why he was so eager for "big" parts and preferred the stage. He wanted the role to show off in, but really, if he used himself, HE could make the role. And that's what he did in Sound of Music, although I don't think he appreciates it. It stands out from his other film work of the time, because he makes a connection with Julie Andrews, and is right there in the moment having fun, connecting, using himself, using what she's doing. With her, he's very natural. Then look at his other work from that era, from Stage Door to Daisy Clover to that war movie, and it's just - meh. He's fine, but not distinctive.
Or you take that bloated epic he was in, playing Commodius. Now, of course he's impressive. He's handsome, has presence, an edge, etc. But what a fake performance. When he is talking softly and then abruptly almost screams, it's like "Yeah buddy, I could see you planned that change of volume three days ago in your dressing room." Of course, plenty of actors plan things, but that's not what you should take away from the moment when they do it. You should believe them, that it's here and now. Anyway, with him, it's like he's doing an imitation of something "natural", instead of just being.
Still later in life, he did "After the Fall" with Faye Dunaway, and it's like watching a good looking suit play the role. A soap opera actor. He didn't bring anything to it of HIMSELF. He's earnest, he's trying, but he's not engaged.
Somehow when he got old, he now lives more through what he does, and you feel him now. He's fortunate he had Sound of Music, because that film made him a name, and that name sustained him as a star, made him an attraction, and gave him a bunch of opportunities until his renaissance came along and he was able to finally take advantage of it.