Time Out - Oliver Reed Acting Lesson

In this clip from the 1985 BBC documentary series In at the Deep End (1982-87), the great British actor and notorious hellraiser Oliver Reed (February 13, 1938 - May 2, 1999) teaches broadcaster Paul Heiney about acting (for the latter’s subsequent role as an evil German mercenary in the 1985 film Water starring Michael Caine) in what appears to be Reed’s home, at the time this was filmed. Even though Reed’s initial instructions spark some hilarious reactions between the two, there might actually be a bit of useful information here that could seriously benefit less experienced actors. When the lesson comes to an abrupt end because of Reed’s frustration, notice he cannot help but grin as he throws the young man out of his house. That levity and the camera still being present would indicate this entire episode was purposely staged for humorous effect, which if so, it surely achieved.

Capturing a Golden Moment #22: Bad Day at Black Rock

Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)

Director: John Sturges

Scene: "Getting chilli"

This famous scene is spotlighted because it packs as much of a wallop as the beating dished out here by our hero John J. Macreedy (played with his customary thorough commitment by the legendary Spencer Tracy). Doubters of the one-armed man’s fighting method’s effectiveness (including at first, the star himself) might be surprised to know that a Marine instructor who saw the footage after completion told Tracy the karate blow if intentionally carried out, would have killed his adversary. Trivia buffs might also be aware of Tracy’s Oscar nomination for Best Actor in this film being denied a win by the same year’s competing performance by Ernest Borgnine (here playing Coley Trimble) in Marty. Finally, here’s a Trivia Question: As of this date, who is the only cast member of Bad Day at Black Rock still alive?

Bad Day at Black Rock is available on Blu-ray here:

Bad Day at Black Rock [Blu-ray]

Starring Spencer Tracy, Robert Ryan, Anne Francis, Dean Jagger, Walter Brennan

Buy on Amazon

Treasure Trivia: Quiz #8

Treasure Trivia:

The Cinema Cafe has a chat room on Facebook that readers are welcome to join here. On Mondays, we have a movie trivia game called "Match-up Mondays" where the object is to name the common denominator between all of the films pictured and correctly identify them. 

Like Quiz #7, each film has a memorable scene taking place at a similar site, only this time, instead of a pawnshop, it is a place (in one form or another) where most of us have likely frequented. Can you name the films shown and the locale each of their scenes has in common? Feel free to use all available resources. The first person to correctly identify all of the films and the common denominator here will receive a Region 4 (Australia) DVD (legitimately licensed from Universal) of The Great Gatsby (1949)! 

Here are the 6 films (Good luck!):

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.