Seconding that, along with Patrick Wilson as Dan. Everyone else did a fine job (except for maybe the guy who played Ozy), but those two have completely replaced the vision of those characters in my mind.
Even Viggo Mortenson? He’s a fine actor, but seemed… insubstantial. With his high, whiny voice and greasy looks, he just doesn’t strike me as being a king-in-waiting.
I thought Katherine Hepburn was a perfect Jo March in Little Women - broad shouldered, ungainly, not a classic beauty but attractive nonetheless. By contrast Winona Ryder in the '90s version was nothing like the book Jo, being petite and dainty and pretty. I did like Claire Danes as Beth in that version though.
I also thought the three leads in “The Phildelphia Story” - Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart - were perfection. Mind you, I could be biased as those three would be my dream cast in pretty much anything.
Paul Scofield reprising his Broadway role of Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons. Boy do I like that movie.
It’s a funny thing (funny peculiar, not funny ha-ha) that when I saw *Quiz Show *with Paul Scofield, playing Mark van Doren, I reflected on how much I had loved him throughout his career. I was astonished when I visited IMDB and saw that that was the third time I had seen him on screen! The Train, a personal favorite, was the only other movie I had seen him in. I suppose that shows how much great performances can affect you.
Tony Randall as Felix Unger
Bill Murray as Carl Spackler
Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates
When I saw the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, I thought Liam Neeson was perfect as the voice of Aslan…that’s just what he sounded like in my head when I read the books as a kid.
Sean Bean as Sharpe.
Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Colin Firth as Mr Darcy.
Pretty much the entire cast of LOTR was A+, but Miranda Otto nailed Eowyn, and I’m surprised that no one has mentioned Andy Serkis’s spellbinding performance as Gollum.
Ah yes, that well known literary character, I believe his works are taught in schools.
At least he’s got that going for him.
Colin Firth as Mark Darcy in the Bridget Jones movies. The character was described as him in the books, if they hadn’t been able to secure him for the films then the films shouldn’t have been made, IMO.
Also Kate Winslet as Sarah Pierce in Little Children. That’s the role that she should’ve won the Oscar for.
Robert Preston as Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man
Jack Lemon as Ensign Pulver in Mr. Roberts
All that is gold does not glitter ;). I think he was a great look for the part. Whenever he opened his mouth, not so much, I’ll give you that. I always figured Aragorn would have a deep, James Earl Jones-ish voice, with just a hint of Nick Nolte gravel to it.
I loved him in all those as well. Scofield didn’t appear in many movies. I was surprised and delighted when he showed up in Brannaugh’s Henry V .
Scofield preferred the stage. My Penguin edition of Amadeus has a picture of him as Salieri, a role he apparently originated. I’d loved to have seen that one. (I did see Frank Langella perform it, which was pretty damned good, too.)
Ian Richardson as Francis Urquhart in the House of Cards trilogy
Dame Judith Anderson as Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca
Joe Pantoliano as Ralph Cifaretto in The Sopranos
Helen Mirren in lots of stuff, but especially as Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect
???
I say she’s remembered as a singer and you say she’s “also remembered for her singing, as well” (redundantly). Am I missing something, or are you? I don’t see the point of your post.
Maia Morgenstern as the Mary in The Passion of the Christ
Especially at the very end, when he opened his mouth, stuck out his tongue and thrust it down Lady Arwen Undómiel’s throat.
Adam Arkin as Yossarian.
Malcom McDowell as Alex in A Clockwork Orange.
Yeah, and Gregory Peck is Atticus Finch. Mary Badham also nailed Scout.
YES! If the Oscars weren’t so biased against comedies in general and lite-fair in particular he’d have gotten a nomination; Anthony Hopkins never became a character like he did Shaggy (and I’m not being sarcastic).
This is the one that lept to mind when I saw the thread but I also knew I’d be beaten to the punch. Just astonishing - I really do half believe he was put on earth just to play that role. Nothing against Robert Donat, but his missing out on the Oscar will always be the Academy’s biggest blunder.
Hugh Laurie as Bertie Wooster and J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson were the other examples that again, I see others agree with. Simmons was SO perfect that when he appeared on screen, it was all I could do not to give a small cheer.