MovieChat Forums > Marlon Brando Discussion > "The Godfather" of Method Acting

"The Godfather" of Method Acting

posted 9 years ago by cinemaddix
7 replies | jump to latest

Back when acting in film was still melodramatic and theatrical, Brando was one of the first actors to go method for increased realism in his performances. Brando helped pioneer one of the most popular acting methods and if it wasn't for him we might not have some of today's iconic method actors.

I actually just started up a YouTube channel called CinemAddix and we recently uploaded a video called "Top 10 Craziest Method Actors" which includes Marlon Brando. I'm trying to get my channel to grow so I'd greatly appreciate it if y'all could check it out! If you enjoy it, be sure to subscribe. If you don't, any constructive criticism is welcomed. Thanks so much for your support!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvPY7DKlTw4

[–] MovieFella23 9 years ago

Good video. I enjoyed it. Love method actors.

[–] mickeeteeze 9 years ago

Thanks! I will check out your YT.

[–] saskia520 8 years ago

Yes, I liked it and subscribed. I'll return and watch more as I have time. Thanks.

[–] ZFox00 8 years ago

He was not a method actor. Look back and you can see him say of Lee Strasberg something to the effect of being a librarian, not an acting teacher. He always identified Stella Adler as his acting teacher, who very much despised the very concept of method acting.

[–] jackbnimbleharvardblue 8 years ago

If he was the godfather, Paul Muni was the grandfather!

[–] mickeeteeze 8 years ago

Ha! Paul Muni! I read somewhere once many years ago (in a BOOK in a library: remember them? LOL) of Brando holding Muni in high regard.

Interesting thing about Muni. Coming from yiddish theater background, the studio tried to market Muni as a 'non monster Lon Chaney'. He was apparently well 'old schooled' in applying make-up for different roles.

Shame he's largely forgotten today.

Strange irony regarding Muni? His Tony Camonte in "Scarface" is largely viewed by modern audiences as being so 'stagey' and 'over the top', it dates the film too much.

Yet, they love Pacino's interpretation. As do I, except, apart from the 50 years of stylistic changes, I believe they both approached the part more or less the same way. Like a caricature.

[–] liscarkat (18886) 6 years ago

Pre-Brando acting was not all "melodramatic and theatrical". There were many excellent, naturalistic actors in the 1930s and 1940s. Brando himself was often melodramatic and theatrical, and his primary imitator, James Dean, was such a ham he should have changed his last name to Hormel. The mythology surrounding "method" actors is laughable nonsense.