Hollywood’s Greatest: Then and Now – Michael Caine

Michael Caine

Prominent Roles
Zulu (1964) as Lt. Gonville Bromhead
The Ipcress File (1965) as Harry Palmer
Alfie (1966) as Alfie Elkins (First Academy Nomination for Best Actor)
Gambit (1966) as Harry Tristan Dean
The Italian Job (1969) as Charlie Croker
Get Carter (1971) as Jack Carter
Sleuth (1972) as Milo Tindle (Second Academy Nominaiton for Best Actor)
The Man Who Would Be King (1975) as Peachy Carnehan
Educating Rita (1983) as Dr. Frank Bryant (Third Academy Nomination for Best Actor)
Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) as Elliot (First Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor)
Little Voice (1998) as Ray Say
The Cider House Rules (1999) as Dr. Wilbur Larch (Second Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor)
The Quiet American (2002) as Thomas Fowler (Fourth Academy Nomination for Best Actor)
Batman Begins/The Dark Knight (2005/2008) as Alfred Pennyworth
Children of Men (2006) as Jasper
Inception (2010) as Professor Stephen Miles

Josh Kaye for Classic Movie Hub

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Hollywood’s Greatest: Then and Now – Maggie Smith Part 3

Where Is She Now?

From 1966 to 2000, Maggie Smith had won two Oscars and had been nominated five times in total. She appeared in comedies, romances, even epics (Clash of the Titans). But within a span of three days in the year 2001, Maggie Smith had truly proven to the world that she hasn’t really gone anywhere. On November 7th, Gosford Park was released in theaters, and would end up giving Maggie Smith one more Oscar nomination, giving her six in total.

But just three days earlier, the largest film of Smith’s career was released: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. She would play the role of Professor Minerva McGonagall for 10 years and 8 movies, and has put her stamp on the Harry Potter franchise for as long as people choose to remember it. With Harry Potter taking up so much time, it’s impressive to see that Maggie Smith kept on working during those free moments.

From 2001 to 2011, Smith would appear in 9 TV movies/films: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood; My House in Umbria (won an Emmy for Lead Actress); Ladies in Lavender; Keeping Mum; Becoming Jane; Capturing Mary, From Time to Time; Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang; Gnomeo & Juliet.

Aside from Harry Potter, Smith will be known for her role in the British TV series Downton Abbey as Violet Crawley. For her role she received her second Emmy Award, this time for Outstanding Supporting Actress. Earlier this year, Maggie Smith was one of many stars in the British comedy-drama The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. The film stars some of the greatest British actors in history: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Tom Wilkinson, Ronald Pickup, and Celia Imrie.

Her next film will be the directorial debut of Dustin Hoffman, Quartet, which focuses on a group of retired Opera singers who annually put on a concert to celebrate the birthday of famed Opera composer Giuseppe Verdi. But the arrival of Jean (played by Maggie Smith) disrupts the group. I had actually forgotten about this movie, even though I made a big deal about it the first time I heard of it. But with a cast of Smith, Tom Courtenay, Pauline Collins, and Billy Connolly, as well as it being the directing of Hoffman, this is a must see.

 Josh Kaye for Classic Movie Hub

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Hollywood’s Greatest: Then and Now – Maggie Smith Part 2

One of England’s most prominent stars, Dame Maggie Smith has been gracing the stage and the theaters with her presence since the early 1950’s. Born on the 28th of December in 1934, Smith is the youngest child to Margaret and Nathaniel Smith. She would go on to study at Oxford High School, and at the age of 18 would begin her career at the Oxford Playhouse, making her stage debut in a re-telling of one Shakespeare’s classics, Twelfth Night.

Just four years later, Smith would appear in her first film, Child in the House. While it may have been an extra role, this would go on to lead to much bigger things. In the 1960’s, she brought her talents to the Royal National Theatre, where she began to become a household name. One of her most famous performances was her portrayal of Desdemona in Othello opposite the wonderful Laurence Olivier. In 1965, she would go on to win her first Oscar for Best Actress in the same role.

Just four years later, Smith won her second Oscar for Best Actress in the title role of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. But she wasn’t close to being finished. It would take her 11 years to win another Oscar, but three Academy Awards within a 15 year span is an amazing number. Her third award was for her role as Diana Barry in California Suite, which also starred one of England’s most prominent male actors, Michael Caine.

There is one other role that, while it’s not as large as a film role, is just as important to the career of Maggie Smith. Between 1974 and 1975, she appeared on The Carol Burnett Show twice, and after watching clips of both appearances, it shows just how funny she can be. In fact, when Michael Caine heard that Maggie Smith would be starring in The Missionary with Michael Palin, it’s rumored that Caine humorously telephoned Palin, warning him that she would steal the film.

Josh Kaye for Classic Movie Hub

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Hollywood’s Greatest: Then and Now – Maggie Smith

Maggie Smith

Prominent Roles
Nowhere to Go (1958) as Bridget Howard
Othello (1965) as Desdemona (First Academy Nomination for Best Actress)
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) as Jean Brodie (First Academy Win for Best Actress)
Travels with My Aunt (1972) as Aunt Augusta (Third Academy Nomination for Best Actress)
The Carol Burnett Show (1975-1975) as Gwendylspire Boughgrough/Ms. Collins
Murder by Death (1976) as Dora Charleston
California Suite (1978) as Diana Barrie (First Academy Win for Best Supporting Actress)
Clash of the Titans (1981) as Thetis
A Room with a View (1985) as Charlotte Bartlett (Second Academy Nomination for Best Supporting Actress)
Hook (1991) as Wendy Darling
Sister Act (1992) as Reverend Mother
Gosford Park (2001) as Constance, Countess of Trentham (Third Academy Nomination for Best Supporting Actress)
Harry Potter Franchise (2001-2011) as Professor Minerva McGonagall
Downton Abbey (2010-Present) as Violet Crawley

Josh Kaye for Classic Movie Hub

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Classic Movie Hub Doris Day CD Promotion

Personally, I just ADORE Doris Day.  I can watch her movies over and over again!  That said, I’m very pleased to say that Classic Movie Hub is giving away Doris Day’s new 2-CD Set, “With a Smile and an Song” (courtesy of Sony Masterworks).

All you have to do is rate 30 movies on classicmoviehub.com for your chance to win!  Here’s a link to the contest: Classic Movie Hub Doris Day Giveaway Promotion!

I hope that you can participate!

Thanks!

–Classic Movie Hub

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