Well the best, by far, is Mick Jagger in Freejack ... Ha! Kidding! I think that's my vote for worst.
As for the best, don't know really. Two who come to mind for some reason, even though I've only seen them in small parts, are Tom Waits - who put in what was probably the best performance in the otherwise execrable Bram Stoker's Dracula - and Morris Day - just based on those brief parts he had in Purple Rain. He demonstrated really good comic timing and was just overall a far better actor than, say, Prince, any of the members of his band, or Apollonia Kotero.
I can only assume that, when considering likely candidates for "Worst" so far, everyone has either 1) not seen, or 2) blocked from their memory Glen Campbell's "vivid" performance in the original TRUE GRIT--- One had the feeling that much of his scripted dialog must've hit the cutting-room floor. . . 'cause every time he spoke it brought the moment to a screeching halt. It may be the biggest gulf I've ever seen between being able to sing with expression and then speak with expression. . .
Selenarch, by "musicians" I meant singers, bands...
I've never seen either of the Beatles films but I think I've seen every Elvis film - poor Elvis wanted to be a proper actor but he was forced to keep making those musicals.
On the subject of Frank Sinatra - my father thought Sinatra was a better actor than a singer.
And yes, Madonna was pretty dreadful (and she'll be 60 on Thursday...SIXTY!!)
As far as Best goes--- the obvious ones are folks like Bing Crosby and Doris Day, who were career band-singers early on, and of course went on to become huge, legitimate A-List movie stars. We just forget that their roots were as musicians.
Oh! Phil Harris! Started out purely as a band leader/singer, right? On Jack Benny's radio program? A replacement, in fact. That massive personality and character just couldn't be constrained into one discipline, though--- Ham tends to expand to fill the available space (or something like that)-- ha!
The Beatles, all of them, are great in 'A Hard Days Night', slightly less great in 'Help' and 'MMT'.
Not a big fan of Madonna's music, but she's pretty good in 'A League Of Their Own'. Ice Cube is good in the Barbershop movies. I'll echo Edo's opinion of Tom Waits, good in every film I've seen of his.
I've always thought Siouxie Sioux could have done movies, since she has such a strong visual presence in photos and music videos.
When I was a youngin’ I saw the stage performance of JC Superstar. I assume Yvonne Elliman (?) and the dude from Deep Purple had the leads? Quite good!
HB - Phil Harris??? You get the Old Time Radio Award!!! “Hey Jackson...”. Love It!
In January 2017 the BBC broadcast "The Man Who Fell To Earth" on what would have been David Bowie's 70th birthday. I saw that film twice on TV in the '80s and both times I fell asleep so I was glad to finally see it all the way through.
Madonna was good in "Evita" but that movie was 100% singing so she was in her element.
Excellent topic Colin! I was a big fan of The Who in and around my high school days, and would catch almost anything they appeared in. Roger Daltrey appeared in Tommy, Lisztomania, etc but I only really liked him in McVicar which also had a great soundtrack.
For some reason I always thought Kris Kristofferson was good in his roles.
Sting never shined as much as I thought he should in his roles. From Quadrophenia to Dune, I expected more. Not bad - just not as much of a star in film as people expected.
At some point we should probably discuss TV or film stars that became musicians! I have to believe there is less success there...from Bruce Willis to William Shatner! Although I do like the Monkees who are kind of an amalgam.
Martinex, I actually like Sting in Dune (but then again, I like that movie as a whole - which apparently most people don't) - he seems perfectly suited to playing a sneering villain.
Colin Jones already mentioned Bowie; he was the first one that came to mind, though I've never seen "The Man Who Fell to Earth". I agree that Sinatra was a pretty good actor; From Here to Eternity is a classic.
Art Garfunkel was pretty good in Carnal Knowledge (though I tended to lose focus on him or Nicholson whenever Ann Margret was onscreen) and I've heard good things about James Taylor and Dennis Wilson in Two-Lane Blacktop, but I've never seen it.
I recall reading somewhere that on his tax returns (or Social Security registration?) Sinatra identified himself as "actor" rather than "singer/musician". And I've always thought he was pretty darned good in films that weren't Ratpack Romps.
Y'know, I haven't seen it, but Bjork made a pretty highly-regarded (and largely unseen) independent dramatic film several years ago--- and the reviewers were generally quite impressed with her performance in a very demanding and grueling role.
Jimmy & Tommy Dorsey also starred (as themselves) in their own biopic in the mid-'40's. Although the rather short film follows a typical small-town-boys-make-it-good formula, it mercifully is little more than a vehicle for music and jam-sessions-- 'cause them two fellas are scary-bad screen-actors. . . even when tasked with being their own selfs. . .
When we get into "singers as actors", my mind, of course, immediately goes to Elvis. He did become the standard but during his heyday, he did have competition from Frankie Avalon and Bobby Darin. You could also throw Annette Funicello in the mix but I have never thought of her as a singer, per se.
David Bowie had a varied career in film. Sting is following a similar path. They both "play a role" instead of being in a movie to eventually sing a song. If you look at both the Divine Miss "M", Bette Midler and Barbra Streisand, many of their movies had them playing "singers". I will say that Midler in "The Rose" was outstanding. Crazy good. Barbra Streisand in "The Way We Were" and "A Star is Born" can't be missed. Not part of my collection but "Come on, TCM"!!! Fingers crossed. When I saw that Bradley Cooper was in the newest remake of "As Star Is Born" is was "Meh" but really intrigued by Lady Gaga.
I'll offer Kris Kristofferson in "Convoy" to pivot to actor/singers in movies based on songs. Kenny Rogers turned "The Gambler" into three movies, could be four. Reba McIntire starred in one and ended up with a small turn on Broadway and several TV roles.
I'll end with both Roy Rogers and Gene Autry.
I know I'm near the limit so I'll put the song in it's own post!!!
(I was blinded by the devil Born already ruined Stone-cold dead As I stepped out of the womb By His grace I have been touched By His word I have been healed By His hand I have been delivered By His spirit I Have been sealed.
I've been saved By the blood of the lamb Saved By the blood of the lamb Saved Saved And I'm so glad Yes, I'm so glad I'm so glad So glad I want to thank you, Lord I just want to thank You Lord Thank You Lord.
By his truth I can be upright By his strength I do endure By His power I've been lifted In His love I am secure He bought me with a price Freed me from the pit Full of emptiness and wrath And the fire that burns in it.
I've been saved By the blood of the lamb Saved By the blood of the lamb Saved Saved And I'm so glad Yes, I'm so glad I'm so glad So glad I want to thank you, Lord I just want to thank You Lord Thank You, Lord. Nobody to rescue me Nobody would dare I was going down for the last time But by His Mercy I've been spared Not by works But by faith in Him who called For so long I've been hindered For so long I've been stalled.
I've been saved By the blood of the lamb Saved By the blood of the lamb Saved Saved And I'm so glad Yes, I'm so glad I'm so glad So glad I want to thank you, Lord I just want to thank You Lord Thank You, Lord).
PS: "Leggo My Eggo"!!! PPS: "Bounty, the quicker picker upper"!!!
Sinatra was pretty good in everything he was in. Dean Martin, too, but he usually just played himself. I sort of liked Sting in Dune, but didn't care much for the movie.
Dexter Gordon, a jazz saxophonist, was actually nominated for Best Actor for his role in Round Midnight in the mid 80's, but he was basically playing himself....a jazz saxophonist. Gave his music career a nice boost, though.
As for Madonna, I've never been a big fan of anything she's done. When her songs used to come on the radio, I would change the station so fast that I actually went back in time a few seconds. 🙂
Actually, one who may not be really familiar here is the pianist/composer-cum-movie/television personality, Oscar Levant. He shows up in AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, and you wonder how on earth this really smart-mouthed, engaging character actor could be such an obviously gifted piano player ('cause there's a point where it can't be faked)-- and it turns out it was the other way 'round-! Very much like Groucho (in his television years) with his mastery of quick, to-the-bone witticisms.
21 comments:
Musicians acting in films - who are the best or worst examples?
By musicians, I'll understand singers as well.
Best: Frank Sinatra in The Manchurian Candidate.
Worst: Madonna ... in pretty much everything.
Well the best, by far, is Mick Jagger in Freejack ... Ha! Kidding! I think that's my vote for worst.
As for the best, don't know really. Two who come to mind for some reason, even though I've only seen them in small parts, are Tom Waits - who put in what was probably the best performance in the otherwise execrable Bram Stoker's Dracula - and Morris Day - just based on those brief parts he had in Purple Rain. He demonstrated really good comic timing and was just overall a far better actor than, say, Prince, any of the members of his band, or Apollonia Kotero.
I can only assume that, when considering likely candidates for "Worst" so far, everyone has either 1) not seen, or 2) blocked from their memory Glen Campbell's "vivid" performance in the original TRUE GRIT--- One had the feeling that much of his scripted dialog must've hit the cutting-room floor. . . 'cause every time he spoke it brought the moment to a screeching halt. It may be the biggest gulf I've ever seen between being able to sing with expression and then speak with expression. . .
HB
Selenarch, by "musicians" I meant singers, bands...
I've never seen either of the Beatles films but I think I've seen every Elvis film - poor Elvis wanted to be a proper actor but he was forced to keep making those musicals.
On the subject of Frank Sinatra - my father thought Sinatra was a better actor than a singer.
And yes, Madonna was pretty dreadful (and she'll be 60 on Thursday...SIXTY!!)
As far as Best goes--- the obvious ones are folks like Bing Crosby and Doris Day, who were career band-singers early on, and of course went on to become huge, legitimate A-List movie stars. We just forget that their roots were as musicians.
Oh! Phil Harris! Started out purely as a band leader/singer, right? On Jack Benny's radio program? A replacement, in fact. That massive personality and character just couldn't be constrained into one discipline, though--- Ham tends to expand to fill the available space (or something like that)-- ha!
HB
The Beatles, all of them, are great in 'A Hard Days Night', slightly less great in 'Help' and 'MMT'.
Not a big fan of Madonna's music, but she's pretty good in 'A League Of Their Own'. Ice Cube is good in the Barbershop movies. I'll echo Edo's opinion of Tom Waits, good in every film I've seen of his.
I've always thought Siouxie Sioux could have done movies, since she has such a strong visual presence in photos and music videos.
When I was a youngin’ I saw the stage performance of JC Superstar. I assume Yvonne Elliman (?) and the dude from Deep Purple had the leads? Quite good!
HB - Phil Harris??? You get the Old Time Radio Award!!! “Hey Jackson...”. Love It!
Does Bob Hope count? Loved him in Lemon Drop Kid (Silver Bells)!
As a theoretical consideration do all those MTV music videos qualify?
In January 2017 the BBC broadcast "The Man Who Fell To Earth" on what would have been David Bowie's 70th birthday.
I saw that film twice on TV in the '80s and both times I fell asleep so I was glad to finally see it all the way through.
Madonna was good in "Evita" but that movie was 100% singing so she was in her element.
I'll also mention Meatloaf in "Fight Club".
Charlie, MTV music videos don't qualify!!
Excellent topic Colin! I was a big fan of The Who in and around my high school days, and would catch almost anything they appeared in. Roger Daltrey appeared in Tommy, Lisztomania, etc but I only really liked him in McVicar which also had a great soundtrack.
For some reason I always thought Kris Kristofferson was good in his roles.
Sting never shined as much as I thought he should in his roles. From Quadrophenia to Dune, I expected more. Not bad - just not as much of a star in film as people expected.
At some point we should probably discuss TV or film stars that became musicians! I have to believe there is less success there...from Bruce Willis to William Shatner! Although I do like the Monkees who are kind of an amalgam.
Martinex, I actually like Sting in Dune (but then again, I like that movie as a whole - which apparently most people don't) - he seems perfectly suited to playing a sneering villain.
Colin Jones already mentioned Bowie; he was the first one that came to mind, though I've never seen "The Man Who Fell to Earth". I agree that Sinatra was a pretty good actor; From Here to Eternity is a classic.
Art Garfunkel was pretty good in Carnal Knowledge (though I tended to lose focus on him or Nicholson whenever Ann Margret was onscreen) and I've heard good things about James Taylor and Dennis Wilson in Two-Lane Blacktop, but I've never seen it.
I recall reading somewhere that on his tax returns (or Social Security registration?) Sinatra identified himself as "actor" rather than "singer/musician". And I've always thought he was pretty darned good in films that weren't Ratpack Romps.
Y'know, I haven't seen it, but Bjork made a pretty highly-regarded (and largely unseen) independent dramatic film several years ago--- and the reviewers were generally quite impressed with her performance in a very demanding and grueling role.
Jimmy & Tommy Dorsey also starred (as themselves) in their own biopic in the mid-'40's. Although the rather short film follows a typical small-town-boys-make-it-good formula, it mercifully is little more than a vehicle for music and jam-sessions-- 'cause them two fellas are scary-bad screen-actors. . . even when tasked with being their own selfs. . .
HB
When we get into "singers as actors", my mind, of course, immediately goes to Elvis. He did become the standard but during his heyday, he did have competition from Frankie Avalon and Bobby Darin. You could also throw Annette Funicello in the mix but I have never thought of her as a singer, per se.
David Bowie had a varied career in film. Sting is following a similar path. They both "play a role" instead of being in a movie to eventually sing a song. If you look at both the Divine Miss "M", Bette Midler and Barbra Streisand, many of their movies had them playing "singers". I will say that Midler in "The Rose" was outstanding. Crazy good. Barbra Streisand in "The Way We Were" and "A Star is Born" can't be missed. Not part of my collection but "Come on, TCM"!!! Fingers crossed. When I saw that Bradley Cooper was in the newest remake of "As Star Is Born" is was "Meh" but really intrigued by Lady Gaga.
I'll offer Kris Kristofferson in "Convoy" to pivot to actor/singers in movies based on songs. Kenny Rogers turned "The Gambler" into three movies, could be four. Reba McIntire starred in one and ended up with a small turn on Broadway and several TV roles.
I'll end with both Roy Rogers and Gene Autry.
I know I'm near the limit so I'll put the song in it's own post!!!
Here it is:
(I was blinded by the devil
Born already ruined
Stone-cold dead
As I stepped out of the womb
By His grace I have been touched
By His word I have been healed
By His hand I have been delivered
By His spirit I Have been sealed.
I've been saved
By the blood of the lamb
Saved
By the blood of the lamb
Saved
Saved
And I'm so glad
Yes, I'm so glad
I'm so glad
So glad
I want to thank you, Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You Lord.
By his truth I can be upright
By his strength I do endure
By His power I've been lifted
In His love I am secure
He bought me with a price
Freed me from the pit
Full of emptiness and wrath
And the fire that burns in it.
I've been saved
By the blood of the lamb
Saved
By the blood of the lamb
Saved
Saved
And I'm so glad
Yes, I'm so glad
I'm so glad
So glad
I want to thank you, Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You, Lord.
Nobody to rescue me
Nobody would dare
I was going down for the last time
But by His Mercy I've been spared
Not by works
But by faith in Him who called
For so long I've been hindered
For so long I've been stalled.
I've been saved
By the blood of the lamb
Saved
By the blood of the lamb
Saved
Saved
And I'm so glad
Yes, I'm so glad
I'm so glad
So glad
I want to thank you, Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You, Lord).
PS: "Leggo My Eggo"!!!
PPS: "Bounty, the quicker picker upper"!!!
Sinatra was pretty good in everything he was in. Dean Martin, too, but he usually just played himself. I sort of liked Sting in Dune, but didn't care much for the movie.
Dexter Gordon, a jazz saxophonist, was actually nominated for Best Actor for his role in Round Midnight in the mid 80's, but he was basically playing himself....a jazz saxophonist. Gave his music career a nice boost, though.
As for Madonna, I've never been a big fan of anything she's done. When her songs used to come on the radio, I would change the station so fast that I actually went back in time a few seconds. 🙂
Actually, one who may not be really familiar here is the pianist/composer-cum-movie/television personality, Oscar Levant. He shows up in AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, and you wonder how on earth this really smart-mouthed, engaging character actor could be such an obviously gifted piano player ('cause there's a point where it can't be faked)-- and it turns out it was the other way 'round-! Very much like Groucho (in his television years) with his mastery of quick, to-the-bone witticisms.
HB
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