As my dad once said (in Bengali): “Ki ekta beta!” (This translates to “What a man!” This is an exclamation of admiration for a guy who other men want to emulate.) He “popped” (as the kids say) onscreen. Burt Lancaster was one of Hollywood’s (unusual) leading men- stunning on the outside and able to create compelling characters from the inside. Why unusual? He didn’t primarily rely on his looks or strong screen presence to get by; he took on challenging anti-hero and villainous roles, too. I believe today’s audiences will be able to connect with his work, as his method is quite modern. The born and bred New Yorker showed a vulnerability and passion in his acting (which more stoic leading men of his generation lacked).
AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center (just a few blocks from me) will be showing some of Lancaster’s films from February 7-April 17. Below are the films that I’m most interested in.
The Killers (with Ava Gardner) – UPDATED 2/8: Read my review!
Criss Cross – UPDATED 2/17: Read my review!
Here is the full list of films, show times, & descriptions.
My reviews of Lancaster’s films:
Knightleyemma 