Very fine actor Robert Duvall has passed. I greatly appreciated his work in the first two Godfather movies. Duvall had many other memorable roles. Check out “Network” (1976) and “Lawman” ( 1971), for instance. But there were many other interesting roles.
The early George Lucas dystopian science fiction film “THX 1138” (1971) featured Duvall as a drug-controlled inhabitant of an ordered, sterile future world. Duvall rebels against the strict environment and escapes to an outside world that is not harshly monitored and climate controlled and where all needs are provided. Is he equipped to survive in “The Wild”?
“The Killer Elite” (1975) finds Duvall as the scheming Hansen, a covert agent operating for the CIA who double crosses his partner James Caan in this engaging Sam Peckinpah directed Action/Martial Arts picture.
Rober Duvall contributed his considerable acting talent to quite a few moving pictures throughout his life and will be missed.
James Caan was an energetic actor who had a great run of movie appearances from the 1970’s to the early 1980’s. Caan started showing up in Westerns like “El Dorado” and oddball psychological pics like “Lady in a Cage” and “Games” in the 1960’s. His acting fortunes took a turn for the epic when he was cast in “The Godfather” (1971). Playing loose cannon Sonny Corleone, son of Mafia Don, Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) showcased Caan’s ability to go from a (relatively) tranquil state to kinetic maniac in the wink of an eye. Such explosive acting pyrotechnics would continue to be exhibited in “Rollerball”, “The Gambler” and “Thief”.
Caan was an iconic 1970’s screen presence. His contributions to the Silver Screen will be remembered and respected.
Spend this Labor Day weekend absorbing this 7 plus hour combination of Frances Ford Coppola’s two finest “Godfather” entries. There is a lot of footage included that didn’t appear in “GF I or GF II” that fills in some of the storyline and weaves these two productions together. Beautiful cinematography, outstanding acting and eminently watchable storytelling all combine to make this a 7 hour viewing experience well worth the effort put in. Coppola’s directorial masterpiece, in my opinion, and magnificent acting from Marlon Brando and Al Pacino. You’ve got three days. Watch it more than once!
A varied collection of unusual movie and music video clips.
