I will not scorn Boyd, as he did his best, and died quite young in his 40's, but had James Mason not been in this movie- it would not have been 1/4 the film it was. Mason's voice, expressions, presence is able to make even the most mundane of films watchable. His voice- he can read the telephone book and make it seem like Hamlet. Do you all agree that James Mason was a true original, and one of the greatest screen presence in history?
shareMason was indeed an incredible actor. His work in 20,000 Leagues made that movie as well, and watching him spar with the vigorous Kirk Douglas was a real joy.
Fact is, there was a generation of English actors that I always found top notch, and I think was the greatest group of male actors ever - Mason, O'toole, Olivier, RIchard Harris, Alec Guiness, Gielgud,Robert Shaw, Richard Burton, early Anthony Hopkins, and I'm still forgetting more, even slightly later ones like Michael Caine and Sean Connery. It may have been the crucible of WWII, or great acting schools and teachers, but that group of actors has never been matched since.
So true.
You might add Michael Redgrave, Jack Hawkins, Michael Hordern, Ralph Richardson.
Indeed Sir, give James Mason or Sir Alec Guinness any script, they will turn it into gold.
shareYou are so right. James Mason is superb - the only reason I would watch this. A friend of mine has the original movie poster and I always spare a moment to look at it and think how great JM was.
shareActually, my favorite Mason is a small role he did - Joseph of Arimathea - in "Jesus of Nazareth". He was one of those guest stars who gave depth to an already-great movie, and made the character come alive so that you wanted to learn everything you could about the real life person.
shareWhy wasn't he knighted?
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