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Post by kims on May 29, 2023 15:07:57 GMT
How did some of these character actors continue being cast? Owen was Crosbie in the 1929 THE LETTER with Jeanne Eagels and trivia, Herbert Marshall played the murdered lover in this version, then Crosbie in the Davis version. He's the sinister prospector in CALL OF THE WILD, title character in SCROOGE, in MRS. MINIVER, RANDOM HARVEST, 1935 ANNA KARENINA, DARBY'S RANGERS and MARY POPPINS. He survived the transition to sound, survives the studio system.
He's not an actor mentioned when talking about the old film stars, but he had a great career. Great agent?
I'd compare him as far as career to Ward Bond. Someone in the nineties pointed out to me that the AFI top 100 films, that Ward Bond was in many of those films, more than any other actor.
Mildred Natick and Thelma Ritter had longer careers than most stars. And none of these actors played a specific type.
Did these actors stand out in the minds of casting directors?
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Post by topbilled on May 29, 2023 15:29:58 GMT
How did some of these character actors continue being cast? Owen was Crosbie in the 1929 THE LETTER with Jeanne Eagels and trivia, Herbert Marshall played the murdered lover in this version, then Crosbie in the Davis version. He's the sinister prospector in CALL OF THE WILD, title character in SCROOGE, in MRS. MINIVER, RANDOM HARVEST, 1935 ANNA KARENINA, DARBY'S RANGERS and MARY POPPINS. He survived the transition to sound, survives the studio system. He's not an actor mentioned when talking about the old film stars, but he had a great career. Great agent? I'd compare him as far as career to Ward Bond. Someone in the nineties pointed out to me that the AFI top 100 films, that Ward Bond was in many of those films, more than any other actor. Mildred Natick and Thelma Ritter had longer careers than most stars. And none of these actors played a specific type. Did these actors stand out in the minds of casting directors?
I don't think I am surprised that some of them had career longevity, especially the most talented character actors...but I AM surprised that some of them like Owen continued to get good roles in big budget 'A' pictures for so many years. Typically, they would go into decline, do parts at poverty row studios or else get stuck in B-films at the major studios, then either go back to the stage or reinvent themselves on television.
Reginald Owen seems to have defied the odds. |
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Post by kims on May 30, 2023 15:59:00 GMT
I looked to see if Owens has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame-no. I don't have the writing skills to complete the application. The submissions for this year are closed. Is anyone interested in trying to complete the application for next year? When I reviewed the list of stars on the Walk, Owens deserves a star more than some who do have stars. According to IMDB he was also a writer, his first film was a short in 1911! I'm willing to help, but as I say, I don't have the finesse for applications of this sort. Hoping someone will consider getting Owens a star.
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Post by topbilled on Jun 5, 2023 3:46:11 GMT
I looked to see if Owens has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame-no. I don't have the writing skills to complete the application. The submissions for this year are closed. Is anyone interested in trying to complete the application for next year? When I reviewed the list of stars on the Walk, Owens deserves a star more than some who do have stars. According to IMDB he was also a writer, his first film was a short in 1911! I'm willing to help, but as I say, I don't have the finesse for applications of this sort. Hoping someone will consider getting Owens a star.
I watched him in a 1932 precode today-- DOWNSTAIRS-- and he was fantastic with limited screen time. He never gives less than a perfect performance. |
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Post by kims on Jun 16, 2023 18:59:29 GMT
Last month I watched 3 movies in one day which had Owen in the films, which prompted me to start this thread. Still amazed how often he worked. In the Donat version of TALE OF TWO CITIES he was an attorney. This a.m. Garbo's ANNA KARENINA, he played Stiva. Did any other actor have as prolific career?
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Post by jamesjazzguitar on Jun 16, 2023 19:21:09 GMT
Last month I watched 3 movies in one day which had Owen in the films, which prompted me to start this thread. Still amazed how often he worked. In the Donat version of TALE OF TWO CITIES he was an attorney. This a.m. Garbo's ANNA KARENINA, he played Stiva. Did any other actor have as prolific career? Very few. E.g. Donald Crisp and Warren Bond come to mind. Owen was in 9 films in 1941 and 10 in 1942. I believe those were his most productive years, but in many other years he was in 7 - 8 films. TCM should do a what-a-character short for this fine actor. |
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