#4264632 - 05/27/16 05:55 PM
Historical figures in film and tv
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PanzerMeyer
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There are quite a few famous/infamous individuals from world history who have been depicted by many different actors on both film and tv and while some performances were forgettable there are some that were so great and so compelling that you almost think the actor and the historical figure being played are the same person. For the latter, these are the first 10 that came to my mind,
1. Julius Caesar - Ciaran Hinds (Rome) 2. Marcus Antonius - James Purefoy (Rome) 3. Adolf Hitler - Bruno Ganz (Downfall) 4. Napoleon Bonaparte - Rod Steiger (Waterloo) 5. Abraham Lincoln - Daniel Day Lewis (Lincoln) 6. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson - Stephen Lang (Gods & Generals) 7. Queen Elizabeth I - Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth) 8. John Adams - Paul Giamatti (John Adams miniseries) 9. Richard Wagner - Richard Burton (Wagner miniseries) 10. Ludwig van Beethoven - Gary Oldman (Immortal Beloved)
Last edited by PanzerMeyer; 05/27/16 08:30 PM.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
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#4264666 - 05/27/16 07:28 PM
Re: Historical figures in film and tv
[Re: PanzerMeyer]
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Para_Bellum
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1. Julius Caesar - Ciaran Hinds (Rome) 2. Marcus Antonius - Mark Purefoy (Rome) 3. Adolf Hitler - Bruno Ganz (Downfall) 4. Napoleon Bonaparte - Rod Steiger (Waterloo) 5. Abraham Lincoln - Daniel Day Lewis (Lincoln) 6. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson - Stephen Lang (Gods & Generals) 7. Queen Elizabeth I - Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth)
Excellent choices. I would add Patton - George C. Scott T.E. Lawrence - Peter O'Toole Johnny Cash - Joaquin Phoenix Gandhi - ben Kingsley
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#4264709 - 05/27/16 09:32 PM
Re: Historical figures in film and tv
[Re: PanzerMeyer]
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462cid
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Miyamoto Musashi, played by Toshiro Mifune.
What kind of car is that? What does it matter? When I drive it, I'm Steve McQueen
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#4264712 - 05/27/16 09:47 PM
Re: Historical figures in film and tv
[Re: PanzerMeyer]
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462cid
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Anecdote from Robert Conrad about that.
Boyington was a tech advisor on the series. According to Conrad, he and Boyington were walking down the 'runway' on the set one day and were talking.
Conrad: It would have been something to have flown with you sir.
Boyington: Well Conrad I wish you were there too.
Conrad: I'm honored to hear you say that.
Boyington: Not to fly with. It's so I could have kicked your ass. You're an arrogant little SOB.
What kind of car is that? What does it matter? When I drive it, I'm Steve McQueen
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#4264719 - 05/27/16 10:06 PM
Re: Historical figures in film and tv
[Re: PanzerMeyer]
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Tarnsman
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Add on:
Jamie Foxx -- Ray Charles The cast of "The Kennedys"
Greg Kinnear- JFK Barry Pepper- RFK Katie Holmes - Jackie Tom Wilkinson- Old Man Joe Each of them alone and all together were totally believable.
George C Scott - Patton (Scott has basically replaced the real man in the public imagination). Jack Nicholson - Jimmy Hoffa
Last edited by Tarnsman; 05/27/16 10:07 PM.
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#4264818 - 05/28/16 09:27 AM
Re: Historical figures in film and tv
[Re: PanzerMeyer]
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Jayhawk
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Is this thread about accurate portrayal of historical figures or about actors delivering such a great acting performance that made the audience think the historical figure was just like that?
I ask because in many cases, the script alone was all but historically accurate (Salieri is a prime example of totally unwarranted character assassination done for the sake of the plot).
I'm curious how Kevin Spacey's portrayal of Richard Nixon is in Elvis & Nixon (haven't seen it yet).
Last edited by Jayhawk; 05/28/16 03:50 PM.
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#4264824 - 05/28/16 09:45 AM
Re: Historical figures in film and tv
[Re: PanzerMeyer]
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PanzerMeyer
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That's an excellent question Jayhawk and the scope of my original post was really geared for the latter. Obviously, any actor portraying an historical figure from ancient history is never going to be completely accurate. We may have some written accounts of what that historical figure's personality was like but most sources tend to be biased one way or the other.
Even George C. Scott's portrayal of Patton had one major change: the voice. The real Patton had a very high pitched voice and not the gruff and gravely voice that Scott used.
Last edited by PanzerMeyer; 05/28/16 09:46 AM.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
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#4264855 - 05/28/16 12:07 PM
Re: Historical figures in film and tv
[Re: PanzerMeyer]
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Henry Fonda - Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz (Midway)
James Cagney - Vice Admiral William F. Halsey (The Gallant Hours)
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#4264869 - 05/28/16 01:22 PM
Re: Historical figures in film and tv
[Re: PanzerMeyer]
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Interesting that except for Ms Blanchett and Ms Holmes, no women are in these lists. Then again most famous historical figures were men - the women behind them got much less attention.
There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the universe is for it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened.
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#4264962 - 05/28/16 06:42 PM
Re: Historical figures in film and tv
[Re: Legend]
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Interesting that except for Ms Blanchett and Ms Holmes, no women are in these lists. Then again most famous historical figures were men - the women behind them got much less attention. unless you are an axe murderer or something. Lizzie Borden (1975) - Elizabeth Montgomery I did not know there is a 2014 version with Christina Ricci
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