Abrupt, brusque, and halting was the exact character needed for the role. I don't think we're supposed to particularly like him or identify with him.
I'm far from wealthy, have been jealous at times, but I've been at the homes of very wealthy people, I'd be an a-hole to behave like Mike did when he arrived at the mansion. As I'm older now, I cringe at his character's behavior, it somehow seemed more acceptable when I was a young punk.
He resented the upper class and felt no need to cozy up to them, that was one of the many things that makes this film so wonderful.
Most of the most hilarious, over-the-top scenes in the film played out to the audience of the naive and outspoken Mike and cynical Liz. Note the number of times Mike and Liz try to politely excuse themselves and are invited to stay.
But, actually, now that I think of it. Conrad Veigt totally disrupted the tone of the film Casablanca. He acted like a damned Nazi. I'd also throw in that Peter Lorre kind of creeped me out..
:^)
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Merrida
9 years ago
I understand about the context, his approach to the upper class, etc. So I'm fine with the character's essence. But it's Stewart's delivery, not what he says but how he says it. He's just so blustery and boisterous and loud. I get that he's not one to relate to the rich.
But I'll admit I am just an all-round not a Stewart fan because in all of his movies he plays the same, with the same delivery. In every movie he's got this loud and obnoxious way of speaking.
So the position of his character makes a great deal of sense for the evolution of the plot, it would have been kinder to the ears to cast someone who did not feel the need to bellow his lines so haltingly.
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sul-4
9 years ago
How would you have cast it differently?
For example, in the musical remake, Sinatra plays the Mike role quieter and more cynical, but then EVERYBODY in that film is half asleep.
I see the Stewart Mike's over-the-top loudness is intentional, it's a sort of hatred and a cover for his innate sense of inferiority.
That Philadelphia household was very boisterous already! The rant that Mike goes through when he arrives at the house is totally eclipsed by the outrageous Diana show...
Not trying to convince you, really, you admit you don't like Stewart.
I don't either, but it's because of his politics, not his acting and roles.
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Merrida
9 years ago
It's a fair and good question, but thing is, I'm not sure how I'd have cast it if I was given an option. I think my thing with Stewart is that in every movie he's in he's always playing a loud and obnoxious blustering person. Diana's little ballet and piano still stayed subdued even though it was theatrical. There's something specific about Stewart's voice and delivery that rubs me the wrong way.
I can understand playing the character as a person who dislikes the privileged upper crust society, and can be snooty. But goodness, I can't seem to think of any better descriptive than boisterous and blustery. He seems to speak (throughout the whole movie) louder than everyone else, and, in another movie I recently saw, "Bell, Book and Candle," he does the same thing (even over the top compared to Jack Lemmon's bongo playing craziness, which is surprising).
Perhaps it is simply my dislike of Stewart's acting style in every movie I've seen him in that just adds to this. I'm not sure.
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sul-4
9 years ago
well, that's going to describe most of his best known films from that era, Mr Smith goes to Washington, It's a Wonderful Life, even Made for Each Other, but he has his quieter films, Harvey, Destry Rides again, and Pot of Gold.
We all got our likes and dislikes, some ppl rub us the wrong way!
For me, I can't watch Kevin Costner! yuk!
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Merrida
9 years ago
I think that's more of what it is.
And by the way, I'm right there with you. Something about Kevin Costner rubs me the wrong way too. I've only seen glimpses of movies he's been in (the only one I watched all the way through was Waterworld, and, well, uh, yeah....).
I never got the hoopla about him either. But yes you are right. No one can please everyone, and sometimes it's just the little things, like pitch, cadence, delivery, etc. C'est la vie.
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Sic vis pacem para bellum.
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