MAC
No, this isn’t a post about the Apple of your eye(s), computer-wise — nor is this a post about a Mac big enough to contribute to a heart attack (calories/cholesterol-wise). This is about a guy who’s the apple of my eye, versatile actor-wise:
Today being MacMurray‘s birthday (August 30, 1908), I thought I’d honor the memory of perhaps the most underrated movie star of Hollywood’s Golden Era, starting with the above clip and continuing with the trailer for one of the most underrated films of his era:
Next, when it comes to film noir, it doesn’t get any better than this all-time classic with a powerhouse cast (including MacMurray, who was reluctant to play the role), director (Billy Wilder), and screenwriter (Raymond Chandler), from the James M. Cain novel:
Speaking of “Double” and classic films, how about two Macs (including Shirley MacLaine) in one of my all-time favorites….
We end with this from near the start of Fred’s career (before becoming an actor):
The Observation Post 
Rosaliene Bacchus 2:50 pm on August 30, 2019 Permalink |
Never saw any of these Hollywood classics. Will check them out when the opportunity arises.
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mistermuse 3:30 pm on August 30, 2019 Permalink |
It may be hard to find REMEMBER THE NIGHT (the full 1940 movie) online for free, but it does appear occasionally on TCM. It’s such a good film that it’s well worth paying for it if necessary.
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GP Cox 3:15 pm on August 30, 2019 Permalink |
He was always one of my favorites. A real down-to-earth kind a guy – but talented too.
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mistermuse 3:46 pm on August 30, 2019 Permalink |
Agreed. He was so believable in a wide variety of roles that he didn’t seem to be acting, compared to guys who essentially played themselves and were very good at it, like John Wayne (not to be critical, because no one “played himself” better, but he was no Fred MacMurray).
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GP Cox 7:14 am on August 31, 2019 Permalink
John Wayne (no disrespect intended), I’m afraid did not play himself – he avoided war and confrontation in real life.
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mistermuse 9:00 am on August 31, 2019 Permalink
Although my previous comment put “played himself” in quotation marks (to indicate that that was the impression, if not the reality, he gave), perhaps “played his own persona” would’ve been more accurate. In any case, he obviously lacked the wide-ranging acting talent of Fred MacMurray.
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Elizabeth 4:29 pm on August 30, 2019 Permalink |
I will love him always as the absent minded professor of my childhood.
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mistermuse 5:17 pm on August 30, 2019 Permalink |
May this childhood memory put a bounce in your step!
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calmkate 8:50 pm on August 30, 2019 Permalink |
Fred had charm and talent by the truck load … maybe I need to find these old classics, thanks for the reminder! Particularly liked that tribute to him by his ‘son’ ❤
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mistermuse 10:10 pm on August 30, 2019 Permalink |
You can’t go wrong with any of those three old classics, Kate, but unless you’re a film noir fan, DOUBLE INDEMNITY is probably the one you could put last on your list. In my opinion, the other two are ‘must-sees’ for ANY mature film fan.
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calmkate 1:45 am on August 31, 2019 Permalink
thanks for those clues .. as time allows 🙂
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mlrover 6:12 am on August 31, 2019 Permalink |
Wasn’t he in The Egg and I with C. Colbert? That movie made a star out of Marjorie Maine.
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mistermuse 9:58 am on August 31, 2019 Permalink |
Yes, he was. Marjorie Main was well known before The Egg and I (in supporting roles). For example, remember her in MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS and THE HARVEY GIRLS? Her film career dates back to the early 1930s, but I don’t think she became The Star in any film until the MA AND PA KETTLE series from 1949 to 1957.
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mlrover 1:17 pm on September 2, 2019 Permalink
My favorite line of hers from the E&I is at the table when she tells one of her horde of kids something and the answers back that it isn’t his name. She comes back with “Whoever you are, do it.” That’s paraphrasing but I still laugh remembering it.
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mistermuse 3:50 pm on September 2, 2019 Permalink
I haven’t seen the E& I in decades, so I tried to find a clip of the scene you describe. The best I could come up with is this trailer which includes part of that scene:
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mlrover 8:58 am on September 3, 2019 Permalink |
Thanks!!! I always admired Colbert’s energy on the screen. She often had a tension that mesmerized. And those big eyes. You must have enjoyed Fred in My Three Sons.
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Silver Screenings 6:22 pm on September 15, 2019 Permalink |
He was one of the best, Fred was. Comedy or drama – and singing, too!
Loved this tribute to one of my favourite actors. 🙂
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mistermuse 10:53 pm on September 15, 2019 Permalink |
Speaking of Fred and comedy, check out the clip from MURDER HE SAYS in the comments section of my Sept. 11 post NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS — it’s LOL funny!
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Thom Hickey 4:22 pm on October 11, 2019 Permalink |
Thanks
Great to see such a fine and under valued actor celebrated here.
Regards Thom
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mistermuse 5:38 pm on October 11, 2019 Permalink |
Thanks, Thom. I should do more posts on undervalued actors and actresses from Hollywood’s Golden Age. Problem is, almost no one knows who they are anymore!
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Thom Hickey 9:35 am on October 12, 2019 Permalink
As they say just do it!
You’ll have 1 faithful reader here for sure.
Thom
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mistermuse 12:32 pm on October 12, 2019 Permalink |
You talked me into it, Thom. It’s time to get my act(ors) together and do it! Perhaps I’ll even do a series of posts about them. Stay tuned.
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