by Evelyn J. Mocbeichel
With the recent passing of two iconic film actors, Robert Redford and Diane Keaton, we may think about the roles they played and how perfect they were for their parts. Winning nominations and awards proved that both critics and audiences agreed about their noteworthy performances.
As a long time movie buff, there are many iconic movies that are memorable and enjoyable all over again no matter how many times I watch them. If cruising channels looking for something to watch, there are some movies I immediately stop and watch the film, no matter what part it is up to at the moment. Off the top of my head, Dr. Zhivago, Gone with the Wind, My Cousin Vinny, Rain Man, The Way We Were, Saturday Night Fever and Singing in the Rain, to name a few that grab my attention when they come on the screen. While there are scores of actors that had long and illustrious careers and won Oscars or been nominated, often there is one role they are forever associated with when you hear their name that film comes quickly to mind. Even if the film was early in their career, the role they played has been etched into viewer’s memory. See if you can name the staring actor by the film he or she is associated with for an outstanding role.
QUESTIONS: 1) Who played the town sheriff in Jaws? 2) Who was the male lead in Grease? 3) Name the two stars of Funny Girl. 4) This handsome actor was often the male lead in several 1950’s romantic comedies with Doris Day. 5) During filming the 1960’s movie, Cleopatra, these two lead actors fell in love, left their spouses, and married soon after. 6) Two handsome male stars were co-leads in the western, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, a sensational hit, for the storyline and the stars in it. 7) On Golden Pond featured a father daughter duo together that went on to smash box office records. Who were they? 8) Any western fan knows the name of the star of True Grit. 9) Going way back to 1935, what two actors starred in the film classic It happened one Night? It can still be seen on channels featuring old black and white films. 10) Name the co-stars in the classic Casablanca. 11) Two fantastic films make this beautiful woman’s name easily recognizable for starring in My Fair Lady and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. 12) Rocky – Was written by and starred this actor.
ANSWERS: 1) Roy Scheider; 2) John Travolta; 3) Barbra Streisand and the Egyptian actor, Omar Sharif; 4) Rock Hudson 5) Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton; 6) Paul Newman and Robert Redford; 7) Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda; 8) John Wayne; 9) Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert; 10) Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman; 11) Audrey Hepburn; 12) Sylvester Stallone
There are so many fabulous films made over the years and if you haven’t seen any of these classics below, try to catch them on television or borrowed from your local library. The year the film was made is listed before the title. 1956 Marty – A touching love story starring Ernest Borgnine, which won four Oscars. 1962 – West Side Story. 1966 – The Sound of Music, starring Julie Andrews. 1976 – One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest starring Jack Nicholson as a prisoner sent to a mental institution. It won five Oscars. 1989 – Rain Man, fantastically cast with Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, his autistic brother in the film. 1991 – Dances with Wolves, another Kevin Costner standout film about a Civil War Soldier who befriends wolves and Native Americans. Also try to catch Costner in The Body Guard co-starring Whitney Houston. 1998 – Titanic. Even though we knew the ending, it was wonderful watching the romantic duo of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet with the soundtrack by Celine Dion. 2011- The King’s Speech. Colin Firth was outstanding playing Queen Elizabeth II’s father who took on the Crown when his brother stepped down. Her father stuttered and had to overcome it with a speech coach so he was able to address his loyal British subjects.