MovieChat Forums > The Fugitive (1963) Discussion > David Janssen's smile

David Janssen's smile

posted 11 years ago by Snusmumrikken
9 replies | jump to latest

I keep noticing this very short smile he often does. He just smiles for a second or 2. When he smiles, you see his cheeks come up and a second or 2 later, he stops smiling. A little funny observation.

[–] jmars35264 11 years ago

To me his smile is of a man under extreme duress which david played to perfection in this series.

[–] loughsprng 11 years ago

He did indeed and when you watch him in other shows like Richard Diamond or Harry O you realize how versatile an actor he really was.

He was equally convincing in each of these three different roles. I only wish he could have had a longer career and we could have enjoyed more of his work.

But I'm thankful for what we have. He's one of my favorite actors to watch.

[–] edestci 11 years ago

He provides a huge smile to Suzanne Pleshette, in "All the Scared Rabbits".
But generally is always sad.

[–] karchad 10 years ago

Well, there were reasons behind the set as to why he would give a huge smile when seeing Suzanne Pleshette....

[–] butterflycomb-1 11 years ago

Love when he smiles a very special man. I sorry, but Lt. Gerard ugh.... Dr. Kimble kinder than I would have due the pants off Gerard for all that obsessing for 4 years.

[–] wheresjohnny 11 years ago

Yeah, he did that quick smile quite a bit. It was so fast that I'm not sure he could consciously do it without it seeming fake. So, maybe it was something he did naturally and his bosses said to keep it, that such a quick smile fit a character who was so troubled all the time. The Fugitive had a smart producer, Alan Armer, who was probably one who encouraged him to do it. I know Armer wanted Roy Thinnes to vary his performance a little more in The Invaders and Quinn Martin got annoyed that Robert Lansing rarely smiled in 12 O'Clock High. I'm not sure that Janssen did it in some other roles, but I think he did. But I've noticed it a lot on this show and I bet other fans have too. It worked well. It made him more likeable.

[–] phrumpster 11 years ago

A smile bordering on a wince.

Poets are made by fools like me, but only God can make STD.

[–] drew-415 10 years ago

Kiefer Sutherland does the same smile on 24. He graces you with a brief smile before reurning to his inner torment.

[–] movies789 10 years ago

It's not only a flashing, split-second smile - more of a self-conscious grimace - but he flicks his head around to glance furtively from side to side as he does so, like a nervous tick. I always think: great way to attract attention and raise suspicion.