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An American Face

Started by tomwatson · 11 months ago

Richard Widmark, who died today at 93, made his movie debut in 1947 as a giggling psychotic who pushed a woman in a wheelchair down a flight of stairs in “Kiss of Death.”
Nominated for an Academy Award, he went on to play villains over next decade but, approachin ... Continue reading »

4 comments

  • Dan Leo

    1 year ago

    Who can ever forget the immortal words of Widmark's Tommy Udo:

    "Ya know what I do to squealers? I let 'em have it in the belly, so they can roll around a long time, thinkin' it over."

    Now that shit is noir, baby.
    reply
  • Kathleen Maher

    1 year ago

    A long time ago, Manny and I saw "Pick Up on South Street," billed as a classic "noir" movie. I never thought to pay attention to the actors' names when we saw those old movies. But I think, looking at the photo, that the villain in it, who embodied the whole grisly story, must have been Richard Widmark. When he giggled, it was--no better way to describe this--"spine-chilling."
    reply
  • Tom Watson

    1 year ago

    "Spine-chilling" indeed! In his noir roles, this guy was as scary as they come - yet he also came across as authentic in other roles as well, like the generals he tended to play late in his career. He was particularly good in Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) for example.
    reply
  • Lee Weinstein

    1 year ago

    I'm curious what you mean by the doctor that you and Widmark were seeing being "an expert on facial shapes". How did Widmark utilize the doctor's expertise? What was the kind of treatment you got for your TMJ pain? Did it help? I have met too many dentists who like doing surgery because it's profitable, whether it's useful or not!
    reply
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