# Good actor in a bad movie. Do you pity them? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 12, 2012, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536 "2012-09-12T20:12:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Abortion\_Fanatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@Abortion\_Fanatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abortion_Fanatic)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/1 "2012-09-12T20:12:08Z")
You turn on the TV. Nothing you want to watch is on, so you start flipping through the channels. It’s two in the morning, or you end up on some channel you didn’t even know you received, whatever, anyway. All of a sudden, something clicks. I know that guy/girl! Why, a few years ago, I thought they were on their way to hitting it big! And here they are in some shabby made-for-TV movie that seems to have cost 100 bucks and a ham sandwich to produce? Your first thought is: - Wow, that’s a real shame. Bet they never thought they’d end up here. Pretty embarrassing. - Well, a paycheque’s a paycheque, good for them! I’m not asking what’s the better response, or the higher morally acceptable one, I’m asking you where your mind goes in this case. We all know there are more people out there wanting to be actors than there are parts available, and we all know no one starts out in acting to be third male lead in a low-budget, not-even-going-for-ironically-funny, certainly-not-labour-of-love film. But when I see this, and see an actor or actress that’s pretty decent in one of these late night disasters, it actually makes me a little sad, and pity swoops in and distracts me, and I wonder if I’m the only one. Not everyone ends up exactly where they want to be in life, most people don’t. But it’s necessarily public for actors. So, your say? Again, I’m asking where your mind goes first, and talking about super low-budget craptastic cinema and TV shows. Not small but credible indie productions. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/2 "2012-09-12T20:17:23Z")
> [@Abortion\_Fanatic](#): > > I’m not asking what’s the better response, or the higher morally acceptable one, I’m asking you where your mind goes in this case. As a Doper in good standing, I first think of Michael Caine’s words on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![Abortion\_Fanatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@Abortion\_Fanatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abortion_Fanatic)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/3 "2012-09-12T20:36:06Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > As a Doper in good standing, I first think of Michael Caine’s words on the subject. That’s all well and good for a dude who takes roles in high-profile terrible movies to make a bundle of cash, and then takes roles in smaller movies because he doesn’t have to worry about paying the bills. I’m talking about people who are clearly not getting offers outside of Jaws 15: The Sharkening, and the shark is clearly make out of an old wakeboard and a wetsuit. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/4 "2012-09-12T20:44:32Z")
No, I don’t, why should I? They’re working, doing the job they wanted to do. It’s actors I haven’t seen in a while that I feel sorry for (unless I know they’ve moved into another career). ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/5 "2012-09-12T20:53:07Z")
Fran Drescher’s agent once told her “It’s better to be shit in a hit than the other way around,” but I can’t feel sorry for any working actor. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/6 "2012-09-12T21:03:15Z")
If the job was THAT bad (as in, not worth the money), they wouldn’t have taken it. I’ve certainly worked some shit jobs in my life, I hope nobody would think to hold that against me now. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/7 "2012-09-12T21:05:18Z")
> [@Abortion\_Fanatic](#): > > That’s all well and good for a dude who takes roles in high-profile terrible movies to make a bundle of cash, and then takes roles in smaller movies because he doesn’t have to worry about paying the bills. I’m talking about people who are clearly not getting offers outside of Jaws 15: The Sharkening, and the shark is clearly make out of an old wakeboard and a wetsuit. I’ve read his autobiography; he was pretty well hurting for money around then. (He spends a good chunk of the book going on about how the UK was taking a tremendous percentage of his income in taxes, prompting him to move to the US after several flops – by selling his house, which went for a lot less than he’d paid for it – and buying a house near Hollywood cost him pretty dearly, and he wound up needing to sell _ **that** _ for a loss, and so on; it all leads into the famous quip, but delivered as if he’s still the guy who grew up working-class before struggling to make it as a perpetually broke actor before making it as a guy who strives to do his best in any role he’s paid to play.) (The bit where he winds up in jail after failing to pay his bills – and gets recognized by a cop who’d recently seen him onscreen – is especially memorable.) ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/8 "2012-09-12T21:11:26Z")
Why are there no unsympathetic options? My thoughts are generally along the lines of “Where are you standards, man?!” ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/9 "2012-09-12T21:55:21Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > Why are there no unsympathetic options? My thoughts are generally along the lines of “Where are you standards, man?!” Righteousness never put food in anybody’s mouth. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/10 "2012-09-12T21:55:36Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > Why are there no unsympathetic options? My thoughts are generally along the lines of “Where are you standards, man?!” Because standards don’t pay the mortgage and put food on the table, working a shite made for Syfy channel sharkapalooza does. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/11 "2012-09-12T21:58:27Z")
If you look at it honestly, **most** actors are working in shit productions. That applies across the board - stage, screen, TV. Sturgeon’s Law is relentless. “What, and leave show biz?” ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/12 "2012-09-12T22:11:21Z")
This is so true. There don’t seem to be many quality vehicles any more, though the usual fall movie season is coming up. (I once thought of those poor people in the Spiderman broadway thing and how they took those acting lessons, studying the classics, dreaming of doing Shakespeare, becoming serious acclaimed actors - well, they did make it to Broadway, after all, I guess that means success! ) I seriously can’t blame any actor for taking the money. ---
**Author:** ![Docta\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Docta\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docta_G)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/13 "2012-09-12T22:17:06Z")
This thread could be devoted exclusively to the career of Michael Caine. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/14 "2012-09-12T22:19:05Z")
I only came in to say that by this point in the thread someone should have mentioned Michael Caine’s quote, getting it wrong without attributing it to Caine, “some (IIRC) English actor.” However I find that **The Other Waldo Pepper** , in the very first reply, mentioned it but quite adroitly. What I love about crap movies is the thought that, with so many talented people involved, no-one ever said, “Hey guys this thing is awful.” Do these top class actors know the movie is shit but just do their work and say nothing or are they so dumb as to think the movie will be OK? ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/15 "2012-09-12T22:56:55Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Because standards don’t pay the mortgage and put food on the table, working a shite made for Syfy channel sharkapalooza does. Of course if the has-been actor or actress is reduced to doing movies like that, it’s more likely it will only cover rent for a month and a Happy Meal. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/16 "2012-09-12T23:15:05Z")
I remember seeing Nick “Johnny Yuma, The Rebel” Adams in a Japanese sci-fi (\*\*not \*\*SF) flick made around 1964. When he had to deliver the line “What have you done with our spaceship?” while keeping a straight face, I felt sooooooo sorry for him. Knowing that he had committed suicide since then didn’t make me feel any better, either. He was a good actor; he didn’t deserve to end up like that. ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/17 "2012-09-12T23:19:39Z")
Pity? They’re probably making more for said shitty movie than I make in a year busting my ass. Hell no I don’t pity them. ---
**Author:** ![Rubixcube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Rubixcube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubixcube)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/18 "2012-09-12T23:42:32Z")
Honestly I feel more pity for the great actors working in exceptionally good movies, as it normally means that they have to deal with meticulous directors demanding perfection; or going to great lengths to ensure a great result. Not much pity mind you after all they make bucketloads and get incredible fame, but the working conditions on something like a Kubrick set sound downright hellish at times. Compare that to say something on the Hallmark or Sci-Fi channel or some cheapo kid film. They spend a few weeks filming material that is unlikely to require much of their acting skill, and can likely put as much or as little effort into their performance if they want and still be guaranteed a decent chunk of change. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/19 "2012-09-13T01:06:09Z")
> [@Rubixcube](#): > > Honestly I feel more pity for the great actors working in exceptionally good movies, as it normally means that they have to deal with meticulous directors demanding perfection; or going to great lengths to ensure a great result. Not much pity mind you after all they make bucketloads and get incredible fame, but the working conditions on something like a Kubrick set sound downright hellish at times. > > Compare that to say something on the Hallmark or Sci-Fi channel or some cheapo kid film. They spend a few weeks filming material that is unlikely to require much of their acting skill, and can likely put as much or as little effort into their performance if they want and still be guaranteed a decent chunk of change. So long as I’m talking up Caine’s autobiography in this thread, let me add the following remark: _“It is much more difficult to act well in a bad film with a bad director than in any other type of movie and it gives you great experience in taking care of yourself. It also means that when a good script does turn up you’re ready for it. It’s not unlike athletes in training who will practice running on sand so they find it easy to run on a solid track in competition.”_ (He then of course starts singing the praises of getting paid, but then immediately goes back to explaining that he sees it as a stark and straightforward choice: remain absolutely prepared for the occasional good role by having worked right up to date – or sit there, waiting, for years at a time, scared and rusting.) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536/20 "2012-09-13T02:50:23Z")
Whatever happened to Judge Reinhold? Or Alan Ruck? Or Fairuza Balk? When I see them in a small TV role and it’s the first thing in their IMDB since 2006 when they were in _Bloodbath and Beyond_ I really feel sorry for them. Yeah a job’s a job, but they used to ride so high and are still really talented! But then, you also have to make way for the younger crowd coming in behind them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actor-in-a-bad-movie-do-you-pity-them/634536.md?page=2)