MovieChat Forums > The Actress (1953) Discussion > An Endearing Performance

An Endearing Performance

posted 16 years ago by shandy8
2 replies | jump to latest

Like many, I saw "The Actress" for the first time on TCM. Spencer Tracy, under Cukor's direction and with the charming autobiographical screenplay by Ruth Gordon, gave a performance I'll never forget. It was not only a treat to see Spencer Tracy in a movie I'd never seen, but also to discover him in such a great role. He brought many levels to this character.

I consider Tracy to be among the finest actors in cinema, and I recommend Ruth Gordon's 'The Actress' to anyone who appreciates this fine actor

"I love corn!"

[–] lubin-freddy 16 years ago

I also just saw it for the first time, but wasn't as impressed as I had hoped.

Some journal, I think "Film Comment" listed last year "75 Hidden Gems", among which was this little known film by a director I respect and enjoy.

I agree that the Ruth Gordon script was fine, and that Tracey was at his best. But I couldn't get beyond the casting of the women. Teresa Wright was just too young, and Jean Simmons was too old. But what really kept me from enjoying it more was the character of Ruth, who was just too untalented for me to care about her career. She was more of an impulsive teenager, who really shouldn't earn the kind of trust and faith that she does from her realistic father.

"Listen to the river
sing sweet songs
to rock my soul"

[–] netshopper-2 13 years ago

Pleasantly surprised by this film, especially the nice pace of the dialogue. Ruth's character needed some professional counseling by today's standard but for films of that time, the story was plausible. Spencer Tracy was great.