I like lists!
So for that simple reason, here is a random selection of six of my favourite movie characters listed in no particular order of preference – I’ve already thought of about 50 or so more, so this will definitely be continued......................
Let's start off with Sister Ruth (Black Narcissus) – When it comes to a highly strung nun driven to madness and attempted murder by lust and sexual repression, you don’t get much madder (and downright scary) than Kathleen Byron’s portrayal of Sister Ruth in this classic and (for it’s time) controversial British movie.
Talking of controversial British movies (were we?) how about Billy Bright and Rod (The Football Factory) – None of the characters in The Football Factory are supposed to have anything even vaguely resembling redeeming characteristics, least of all Billy Bright (played excellently by Frank Harper) who is the sociologist’s template post 1980s football hooligan; white, middle aged, good job, good house, good car, wife, kids etc coping with a mundane life through right wing ideals and scraps with rival football firms, organised with military precision. Being as he is little more than an overgrown schoolkid, Bright has some of the best scenes (the ambush of the Stoke fans on the way to Liverpool – “Get the beer safe!”) and sharpest dialogue (the whole “hold out your hand” scene and the verbal sparring with rival Fred as their sons play football against each other) Although he is basically a violent sod you wouldn’t want to cross at the best of times, in the context of the movie, Bright is an entertaining and often very funny character.
Rod (played by Neil Maskell) is the portly, soft spoken ladies man who has some of the best scenes and lines in the whole movie (his explanation given to his ‘posh’ girlfriend as to why he can’t miss the upcoming Millwall cup match and pre match scrap in order to meet her parents? - “I’m male”) and he shows a genuine bond of friendship with the central character Tommy (Danny Dyer) Rod is a good old fashioned cheeky chappie and wind-up merchant, made totally believable by Maskell.
Chief Martin Brody (Jaws) – Along with Quint (Robert Shaw) and Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) , Roy Scheider’s put-upon Police Chief Brody makes up a triumvirate of superbly portrayed characters who go a long way towards making Jaws (especially the second half when they are the entire cast – apart from the rubber shark of course) the most exciting film of all time. Brody is singled out here for (amongst many great moments) the comedy relief of the ‘son copying Dad’s body language’ scene, the classic line; “We’re gonna need a bigger boat’, and what is for me my favourite cinematic moment of all time; “Smile you son of a…” BLAM!!
Next up is Billy Bibbit (One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest) – Is there a single character in this movie that isn’t one of the greatest movie characters of all time? It was the story within the story of the confused, anxious and ultimately tragic Billy Bibbit (brilliantly played by Brad Dourif) that moved me the most the first time I saw this film and still does, every time I watch it. There is a normal, happy and loving young man in Billy fighting to get out and McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) may be the only one who can see this. Sadly, through McMurphy giving Billy the chance he needs to shake off his insecurities and become ‘a man’, both of their fates are tragically sealed. Rarely has there been a more genuinely sympathetic character in a movie, and just to ice his cake completely, Billy completely steals the brilliant fishing trip sequence from everyone, even Jack himself.
My final choice for today is a John Wayne character, J.B. Books (The Shootist) – My late and very much missed Dad (1926-1989) and my oldest brother Brian were / are big fans of The Duke so I feel some trepidation at choosing a Wayne character for this list, as there are so many of his movies I have yet to see, or would need to see again to fully appreciate some of the legendary figures he has played.
J B Books (the hero of Wayne’s last movie from 1976) is as mighty a character as any I have seen of his. I have read that, although in poor health, Wayne was yet to contract the cancer that would eventually kill him when he made The Shootist (despite having suffered with cancer previously) so it is unlikely that he would have known it was to be his last movie. Watching it now years after his death, the character (a veteran gunman slowly being eaten away by terminal cancer) is made far more poignant because of the similar realities that lay around the corner for Wayne himself. Perhaps it’s unfair to single out a character for this reason (but come on, this is only Colin’s blog, not the sodding Oscars!) but for the record, the character of Books makes this list on his own strengths for many reasons, but I will pick out the touching courtship with his landlady (Lauren Bacall), the friendship with and mentoring of her impressionable son (Ron Howard) and most moving of all, the ‘second opinion’ scene with Dr Hostetler (James Stewart), oh and of course the gunfight at the end – what Wayne western would be complete without at least one gunfight?
I’m enjoying putting this list together, so I may well add more of my favourite movie characters later in the week.
More to follow
Col
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