When they don't use actors in a movie for authenticity

I keeping seeing the trailer for Blue Crush, and the surfing scenes, combined with the relative obscurity of the actors, reminded me of something they do sometimes. In particular, when the producers figure that the “authenticity” is more important than the acting, so they just use someone skilled in the subject, rather than an actor. In this case, they would just find a cute surfer chick, instead of hiring a cute actress and using a surfer double. (I’m not saying they did in this case, just an example of what I’m talking about.)

Another example I vaguely recall is Center Stage, where some (most?) of the dancers really were professional dancers.

I know there are more examples of this method of casting. Anyone’s memory better than mine?

wasn’t the DI in Full Metal Jacket a real DI?

Lately I’ve noticed that they have superimposed actors’ faces on athletes, drivers or stunt men by computer to create the impression that the actor is doing the activity.

Is it very far down the road before Bogart, Gable or Wayne are once again making movies?

Yup.

The Turning Point had Barishnikof in the role of a ballet dancer.

And, of course, there was Audie Murphy playing Audie Murphy in To Hell and Back.

Patty Duke played herself in the TV movie Call me Anna

Mr. T was a bouncer with no acting experience when he was hired for Rocky 3.

Jim Bray, an amateur roller-skating champion, in Roller Boogie. Ha! I loved that film. I remember him being quite good-looking, but utterly without any charm or acting ability.

Graham Hill was in “Grand Prix”, but it was a bit part.

Steve Vai played the Devil’s guitar player in the Ralph Macchio vehicle Crossroads. The part didn’t have any dialogue, but it was nice to have one of the people in the scene actually playing the guitar. And he really mugged for the camera, too.

Danny Trejo, who has a good career playing small roles as tough guys and convicts, is an actual ex-con.

Not a cinematic example, but I remember hearing that a lot of the gang members in Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” video were gang members.

Haven’t posted in weeks, and I drop in for this?

Glenn Miller playing a band leader in both Sun Valley Serenade and Orchestra Wives.

What, you haven’t seen Dead men Don’t Wear Plaid?

Bogart’s face was used througout an episode of Tales from the Crypt. I consider the use of dead actors in commercials and television spots to be in very poor taste. <whew> Felt good to get that off my chest.

Marc

Of course, the outstanding example (in my mind anyway) of this is the B. Supporting Actor winner of 1984, Dr. Haing S Ngor, who played himself in The Killing Fields.

Oops. He didn’t play himself (I misread the IMDB credit), but his character was based upon his experiences in Cambodia.

:sigh: Wrong again. I think I’ll just go to bed now, OK? :wink:

Wasn’t too bad off. A lot of people thought he was Dith Pran. He was that good with the role.

In Fat Man and Little Boy, IIRC some of the scientists were scientists. There’s a director, who’s name escapes me, who does this with all his films if he can possibly get away with it.

Harold Russell in The Best Years of Our Lives seems like a good example.

I haven’t even SEEN The Killing Fields, and I still get confused about whether it was the actor or Dith Pran who was murdered.

Ohhhh…you beat me to it.