Tag: The Natural

10 Genres Defined by Robert Duvall Movies

Is there another actor who has been in more classic movies from different film categories than Robert Duvall? If you consider various movie genres and the top handful of movies in each category, a large number of those groups include movies with Robert Duvall. Consider:

Robert Duvall(1) Gangster Movies: Godfather I and II
(2) Sports Movies: The Natural
(3) Lawyer Movies: To Kill a Mockingbird
(4) War Movies: Apocalypse Now
(5) Westerns: Lonesome Dove (and True Grit)
(6) Social Commentary: Network
(7) Satire: M*A*S*H and Network.
(8) Preacher Movies: The Apostle
(9) Singer Movies: Tender Mercies (and Crazy Heart)
(10) Cop Movies/Car Chase Movies: Bullitt

In each category, the movies listed are among the top few. And yes, we are using a loose definition of “genre,” and the list is starting to stretch for categories a little at the end. But we stopped before adding “Military Family/Angry Father Movies” (The Great Santini).

The list is for movies where he appeared, so To Kill a Mockingbird qualifies even though he had a very small (yet important) part. Also, Lonesome Dove was a TV mini-series, but it still ranks up there among the very top classic westerns, and Duvall has said it was his favorite role.  But if you do not like that one, replace it with the original True Grit (see the Chimesfreedom comparison of the two versions of True Grit).  Two other Duvall westerns, Open Range and Broken Trail were excellent, but not top classic status.

Although Duvall is respected, he usually is not mentioned with quite the same respect as actors like Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino. But few actors have the range of work shown from the genre list above, due largely to his ability to become a character besides “Robert Duvall.”  In one great scene from Lonesome Dove where he embodies the classic character of Gus McCrae, you can see the pain in his face when he has to hang an old friend who has fallen in with a bad gang. In particular, he conveys a world of meaning in the first few seconds after the hanging just through his face and his body language. [Update: Unfortunately a clip of that scene is no longer available on YouTube, but another scene from the miniseries is below.]

The movies in the genre list are true classics, among the best in each category.  Through acting skill, excellent movie choices, and some luck, maybe no other actor has accomplished a similar feat of being in classic movies in so many different categories.

What is your favorite Robert Duvall Movie? Can you think of another actor who appeared in Great Movies in so many categories? Leave a comment.

  • Rating the Lonesome Dove Series, Part 1: The Prequels
  • Top 10 Coen Brothers Movies
  • Keeping the Wolves At Bay
  • Dill from “To Kill a Mockingbird” Was (Almost) in “The Godfather, Part II”
  • What Song Does the Sergeant Sing About a Sparrow in “Hostiles”?
  • Childhood Summers In the Movies

    • (Some Related Chimesfreedom Posts)

    Take the Baseball Movie Quote Quiz!

    Bull DurhamWith the new baseball season just getting under way, it is time to reflect on some of the great baseball movies with a quote quiz. Match the quote from a baseball movie with the correct movie. Some are easy, some are more difficult. Answers will be posted in the comments.

    The Quotes:
    (1.) “This field, this game, is a part of our past. It reminds us of all that once was good, and what could be again.”

    (2.) “You know what we get to do today, Brooks? We get to play baseball.”

    (3.) “People all say that I’ve had a bad break.”

    (4.) “There’s no crying in baseball.”

    (5.) “You throw the ball. You hit the ball. You catch the ball.”

    (6.) “Mild thing, you make my butt sting!”

    (7.) “You love the Red Sox, but have they ever loved you back?”

    (8.) “You have never been this close to greatness in your short life son. And you love it.”

    (9.) “I am hung over, my knees are killing me and if you’re gonna pull this shit at least you can say you’re from the Yankees.”

    (10.) “I’ve been brushing up on my Spanish of late, and I think he is saying something about, you know, his being Catholic, and it’s [wearing a cup] a sin.”

    (11.) “Say it ain’t so, Joe. Say it ain’t so. ”

    (12.) “God, I just love baseball.”

    The RookieMatch Each Quote With Correct Movie from This List:
    (a) Bull Durham (1988); (b) A League of Their Own (1992); (c) Bad News Bears (1976); (d) Cobb (1994); (e) The Natural (1984); (f) Pride of the Yankees (1942); (g) Fever Pitch (2005); (h) Major League (1989); (i.) Field of Dreams (1989); (j) Eight Men Out (1988); (k) Major League II (1994); (l) The Rookie (2002).

    Ratings:
    0-2 correct: Little League; 3-4 correct: Single A; 5-6 correct: Triple A; 7-8 correct: Major League Rookie; 9-10 correct: Major League Starter; 11 correct: Major League All-Star; 12 correct: World Series Champ.

    Answers will be posted in the comments. What is your favorite baseball movie quote?