06-05-2008, 11:31 AM
I just learned that the great Hollywood veteran Mel Ferrer has passed away at age 90.
BBC link here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7434792.stm
Ferrer was a very talented actor, noted for his performances in such well-received films as LILI (1953) and WAR AND PIECE (1956). He also directed several films on his own and has his own star on the Hollywood walk of fame.
However, I suspect many of us remember Ferrer best for his more cult-ish performances in THE HANDS OF ORLAC (1960), Tobe Hooper's EATEN ALIVE (1976) or his many turns in European films. To be honest, it is from those film I remember him. He appeared in numerous Italian B-movies but never seemed ashamed to be in them. I have fond memories of him as the authorotive general in Umberto Lenzi's NIGHTMARE CITY (1980) or his turn as the professor in Lenzi's EATEN ALIVE! (1980) where he got to deliver the unforgettable line: "Cannibals. Instead of buying frozen meat in the supermarket, they get theirs fresh from people like you. One way to solve the problem of starvation in the world."
Of course, he was in a host of others too. Often as authority figures or villains. Ferrer was great as Carla Gravina's loving and ever-supportive father in THE ANTICHRIST (1974) and as the greedy villain in THE GREAT ALLIGATOR (1979).
Other Euro-performances include BLOOD AND ROSES (1960), SILENT ACTION (1974), THE SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF A MINOR (1975), THE PYJAMA GIRL CASE (1977), SEAGULLS FLY LOW (1978), the added US footage in ISLAND OF THE FISHMEN (1979) and THE VISITOR (1979).
Just a couple of days ago I watched Mel in the second episode of the mini series ORIGINS OF THE MAFIA (1976), where he was splendid as an arrogant nobleman. I'll have to dig out my still unwatched DVD of L'IMMORALITÀ (1978) now to catch another European performance from Mel.
Overall, Mel Ferrer was a great actor - one of my favorite American actors to pop up in Italian films. I'm sad he is no longer with as - also because a lot of great actors have left us lately such as Julie Ege, John Phillip Law, Tano Cimarosa etc - but at least Mel lived to see 90, which is a most respectable age.
R.I.P. Mel Ferrer. We will miss you!
BBC link here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7434792.stm
Ferrer was a very talented actor, noted for his performances in such well-received films as LILI (1953) and WAR AND PIECE (1956). He also directed several films on his own and has his own star on the Hollywood walk of fame.
However, I suspect many of us remember Ferrer best for his more cult-ish performances in THE HANDS OF ORLAC (1960), Tobe Hooper's EATEN ALIVE (1976) or his many turns in European films. To be honest, it is from those film I remember him. He appeared in numerous Italian B-movies but never seemed ashamed to be in them. I have fond memories of him as the authorotive general in Umberto Lenzi's NIGHTMARE CITY (1980) or his turn as the professor in Lenzi's EATEN ALIVE! (1980) where he got to deliver the unforgettable line: "Cannibals. Instead of buying frozen meat in the supermarket, they get theirs fresh from people like you. One way to solve the problem of starvation in the world."
Of course, he was in a host of others too. Often as authority figures or villains. Ferrer was great as Carla Gravina's loving and ever-supportive father in THE ANTICHRIST (1974) and as the greedy villain in THE GREAT ALLIGATOR (1979).
Other Euro-performances include BLOOD AND ROSES (1960), SILENT ACTION (1974), THE SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF A MINOR (1975), THE PYJAMA GIRL CASE (1977), SEAGULLS FLY LOW (1978), the added US footage in ISLAND OF THE FISHMEN (1979) and THE VISITOR (1979).
Just a couple of days ago I watched Mel in the second episode of the mini series ORIGINS OF THE MAFIA (1976), where he was splendid as an arrogant nobleman. I'll have to dig out my still unwatched DVD of L'IMMORALITÀ (1978) now to catch another European performance from Mel.
Overall, Mel Ferrer was a great actor - one of my favorite American actors to pop up in Italian films. I'm sad he is no longer with as - also because a lot of great actors have left us lately such as Julie Ege, John Phillip Law, Tano Cimarosa etc - but at least Mel lived to see 90, which is a most respectable age.
R.I.P. Mel Ferrer. We will miss you!
