The Smiley Smile Message Board

Douglas just celebrated his 98th birthday and has listed his own personal choice of the films he's made. We more or less agree, but have added a few more. I mean, how could he not have Out of the Past...?

http://fridaynightboys300.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/kirk-douglas-favourite-kirk-douglas.html

For an actor often known for histrionic performances that have made him an easy target for impressionists, it's refreshing to note just how many of these films (and performances) are actually outstanding.

My personal faves:

Lonely Are the Brace
Out of the Past
Ace in the Hole
Paths of Glory
Seven Days in May

Gotta say, I kinda freaked out when I saw the tread title, thinking that he died - which considering his age would be expected. Very glad it's otherwise, too many greats have been dying lately.

Happy 98th Kirk Douglas!

Well, I gotta admire your inquiring nature - how do you know so many famous people, iin every field, be it music, politics or cinematography? I just now find out who is this Kirk Douglas. While we're at it, can you name your favorite films starring this guy? I'm sure, given how much you're a fan of his, you have seen them all. So?

A. Education and an inquiring mind, as you say - but it's no different from an interest in the BB - slightly less obsessive, if anything.
B. Seriously? You never heard of Kirk Douglas? You ought to stay in more.
C. I just did.

.

I'm quite surprised that you haven't heard of Kirk Douglas. You've gotta at least heard of his son Michael Douglas or daughter-in-law Catherine Zeta-Jones

In all honesty, if I were to sit down & make a list of films I've seen in total, the number would be somewhere around 300 with %90 being horrors. As for Michael Douglas, is it the guy who played in "The Game"? That one had interesting adventurous plot. Zeta-Jones, I've seen her in "The Haunting" & if I don't mix up, she was in "Chicago" (I liked it more for soundtrack, tho).

While we're here, can you tell me what's your favorite Kirk Douglas films?

They're in the top post and on the blog.

Michael's his son.

Truth be told, the only thing I've seen him in is an episode of The Simpsons where he voices Chester J. Lampwick. Would love to see Paths Of Glory though, and Spartacus is by far his most famous movie.

.

.

.

Hallie, wuzzup? Missed ya and yer Antics!

It's kinda like Mel Blanc - classic Disney voiceover actor - voicing cat Heathcliff in the 80s cartoon with 80s-sounding theme. Cool to know that old actors from the 40-50s try themselves in a new modern era, not just fade away reminiscing the past & comparing it with nowadays ("It's bad" & all that stuff). Nevertheless, I'm amazed that you would freak out for someone you never seen in the movie, never met to sign an autograph etc. I thought people feel sad only for those they were familar with via radio, having seen them in concerts/listened to albums (if we talk about musicians), read their biography, what have you. Maybe I'm alone on this & it sounds cruel to say, but grieving over EVERYone seems weird to me.

The guy's still alive, there's no grieving. But he's still a film legend, whether you've seen his work or not; and also one of the last surviving actors from his era.

I know that he's alive, I mean in general. There are people that leave "R.I.P" posts for every famous living being, like they are fans of everyone. Fair enough about "surviving", tho. I sure'd like to live that long.

Even if he was dead, it's not necessarily a matter of grieving, but rather showing some respect for the work of someone admired.

my favourite movie of his,????

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.  also with James Mason.

Bestest Ever.

RickB

"Admired" is the keyword. That was along the lines what I was meaning to express, but seems failed. As I said earlier, I brought up that example on the whole, no finger-pointing. I referred more to people who never dug into the works of a famous person, yet feel like making "R.I.P." posts in a thread dedicated to them. It's ubiquitous & shows off as spam. And you, obviously, have known Kirk Douglas an actor for years, read about him, (maybe) seen the interviews etc. So you would show respect.

F.ex., I'd never heard of Gil Scott Heron & Alex St. Clair - would it be logical to show respect for these people? With exaggerated "very sorry to hear"; "I'm very saddened" phrases. Or would it appear insincere, as if I want to show how kind is me, that I'm concerned about each famous celebrity's loss? Exactly.

I have heard some Gil Scott Heron - and liked it - so in his case, I would.

Well, color me ignorant, then. Circle of famous people I know is relatively small, even if we count every field, not music alone.

Kirk made some good ones.  He also came from an era where over-acting was [unfortunately] the norm.  He did some of that too.  Seems to me I recall a flick he made with Burt Lancaster where the two of them were playing a couple of old codgers trying to steal a train.  That ring any bells?  Maybe 15-18 years back?

Anyway.  If he can hang in there a little longer he'll soon be looking younger than Michael.  [who's health has improved...I hope]

I think it's awesome that a scene from one of his movies was the inspiration for the song "Big Girls Don't Cry"  :-D

  I remember watching something with Kirk Douglas and Henry Fonda called THERE WAS A CROOKED MAN on TV when I was in third or fourth grade. It's one of those movies that seems to have disappeared more or less. Would like to see it again.

There you go. Sorry about the subtitles...

http://www.veoh.com/watch/v115362585eZryGPs?h1=There+Was+A+Crooked+Man (http://www.veoh.com/watch/v115362585eZryGPs?h1=There+Was+A+Crooked+Man)

It was called "The Tough Guys" with Dana Carvey. Also Mel Blanc worked for WarnerBros. not Disney.