I was told once that the British thought him tremendously under appreciated in the US..."had he been British, he would have won every film award we've got".
Terence Stamp, in a DVD extra interview, gives high praise to Robert Ryan for his role as Claggart on Billy Budd. He was amazed how Ryan went from bemused and scornful to enraged then to vulnerable and afraid, just using his eyes in a short scene..
@@JamesRichards-mj9kw why, because of an American accent? Could have been an expat Tory from the former colonies, impressed as a younger man, Canadian loyalist......
I love what Ernest Borginine said about Robert Ryan in a tribute for him, "He worked in Hollywood, but he was hardly Hollywood. Bob was an actor first, a star second." You gave him a well done and deserved career remembrance. They often(especially then) referred to bad guys in films as "heavies" but I think the term doesn't do the ones Robert Ryan played justice. In movies like Bad Day At Black Rock & The Naked Spur, not only did he hold his own against the great Spencer Tracy and Jimmy Stewart, respectively, he made himself an essential character that makes 50% of the movie, where it wouldn't be nearly the same without him. On Dangerous Ground to me, is one of the best "Brooding Loner losing hope in humanity" stories. Martin Scorsese himself has brought it up when mentioning Taxi Driver before. Right there with Curtiz' The Breaking Point as well, in my opinion. His role in Crossfire was such a great performance that's just as poignant/powerful today. The movie was more intense and less subtle than Gentleman's Agreement that same year, but equally as effective. Allow me to rant. It's a bit disappointing to me that whenever I've brought up Robert Ryan over the years, people either have no idea who I'm talking about or think I just said Robert Redford's name wrong. Recently at the TCM Film Festival, Paul Thomas Anderson said him and Scorsese worked on a remaster of Max Ophüls' Caught and name dropped it as a Robert Ryan film which was great to hear(the crowd there all loved hearing Ryan's name as well). I'm hopeful that the life and career of Robert Ryan will get a sort of renaissance now, and your video essay just gave me a great feeling about that. Thanks.
I agree azo, Naked Spur and Bad Day at Black Rock were heightened by having Ryan as a complex antagonist ( albeit a proper bad 'un in both movies ) Only Mitchum's hard bitten losers come close to his intensity in noir thrillers.
On Dangerous Ground is my favourite noir. Greatest detective character portrayal ever by Robert Ryan (in my book it is he not Bogart who created the quintessential fil.-noir persona), great script, the most complex and interesting moral conflicts, great score (masterly Bernard Herman), Ida, and direction and cinematography beyond magnificent. I'm not surprised film directors are increasingly turning to this film, and, as a result, to Robert Ryan, without whom the film would be unthinkable.
All movie lovers know Mr. Ryan was a great actor. But they should also know he was a great man. What more can you want out of life. Well done. Thank you.
A versatile actor who could go toe to toe with any other actor of his time. His presence was commanding, and he always delivered consistently. He was a man's man as well as a woman's desire. A courageous actor.
I just watched 4 or 5 videos on this channel and I have to say that it's the best movie review channel I've ever seen (by far). the editing is excellent, the narration is excellent, the information provided is thorough, etc... even the narrators voice is perfect. i've been looking for months trying to find a really good channel that reviews movies from the golden age of hollywood. i think i just found it.
Thank you ×100 for this lovely tribute. Even in his "nice guy" rolls, there was always that feeling that something dark was simmering beneath that friendly exterior.
I was about to post pretty much the same thing but you expressed it much better than I. Robert Ryan had such an enormous range as an actor. Greatly unappreciated and greatly missed.
Robert Ryan was amazing and he deserves so much more recognition. I just love him. But, I alway seem to fall in love with these guys as I make the videos 😂
Robert Ryan was a fabulous actor who slipped into obscurity. He always played menacing roles, but one of his best performances was in the magnificent "Act Of Violence" where he played an avenging angel hunting down a man who betrayed his army platoon. He never put a foot wrong in any of his performances. As for "The Set-Up", he was utterly compelling. His world-weary expression in "The Wild Bunch" spoke volumes. A class act whose name should have been cast in stone.
I love everything he’s been in but one movie gets me to this day and you wouldn’t think out of all his great movies but day of the outlaw with burl Ives and ginger from giligins island lol ….the speech he gave on the stairs and later was amazing and I loved burl Ives in it
A great actor and in the right part he (and Rod Steiger) was the scariest actor in the movies, but even at the most intimidating he still brought a profound depth to his roles.
The first film reference book I ever bought was Halliwell's Filmgoers Companion. It's entry on Robert Ryan describes him as "American lead actor who never seemed to get the roles he deserved." I discovered him in his last great role, as Larry Slade in The Iceman Cometh (1973), released after his death, and was a fan forever after.
Thank you so much, have been waiting for this ever since it was announced. A great tribute to Robert Ryan, whom I consider to be one of the greatest actors to have come out of American cinema ever (and I have read he was just as great on stage too). Apart from being in love with him since ...forever, I marvel at his art and the intelligence with which he portrays even the most obnoxious, violent characters. You are right to alight on the melancholy with which his tough cops, but, I also believe, his villains, bigots, cold/calculative wretches and clinical cases (in aggression or perversion) are imbued with. That melancholy offers up these characters to our understanding while still preserving their enigma (that which is 'passeth show'). Someone in the comments mentioned his performance as Claggart in Billy Budd, I second that. He is tremendous in that decent film (based on Melville's great novella), just as he was in everything else (including the not-so-interesting films, which he elevated far beyond what they deserved). One would be hard-pressed to find a more versatile actor of such exquisite quality. To span across such a wide range of roles in the riveting way he did, one needs a tremendous and intelligent imagination to match nature's gift of talent. Even when he was relegated to second fiddle and given the villain role going up against America's male sweetheart (Jimmy Stewart), he still managed to steal the film ( 'TheNaked Spur'). He deserves to be remembered as one of the greats, as a truly unique figure in Hollywood films.
Just watched About Mrs. Leslie. I loved it. It was poignant, romantic, and heartwarming. At first, I thought Shirley Booth and Robert Ryan were an odd coupling. As the movie progressed, they fit and complemented each other. I now understand why you rave about Robert Ryan. Yes, he's a brilliantly versatile actor. That said, he's super sexy (when he wants to be). I always thought he was the tough guy. He's way more than that. I plan to watch more of his films. ❤❤
About Mrs. Leslie is a mostly forgotten movie, but I have loved it for years. It's a truly romantic, sweet, and heartbreaking story. One of the joys of having this channel is the ability to introduce others to films that I love. I'm delighted that you watched this one, and I'm even happier that you love it.
I LOVED it. I also fell in love with Robert Ryan. John Garfield has always been the one for me. Still is. When you raved about Ryan, I was perplexed. He was always a mean brute. Not romantic. This gem of a movie changed my mind. Also, his sexy role in "Born to be Bad." Thank you! P.S. Do you ever do livestreams? Would love to interact with you and your followers! @@CinemaCities1978
One of Ryan's best later roles is in the film adaption of the Eugene O'Neill play The Iceman Cometh. He's incredible in the role of Larry Slade and Lee Marvin is brilliant too as Hickey.
I concur and I'm glad you brought it up. I saw this version of "The Iceman Cometh" a few years back and was blown away. This was, I believe, one of Robert Ryan's last, if not his last, performance. What a gem of a production to conclude his career. It's a brilliant cast all around but Ryan and Marvin really stand out.
@@CinemaCities1978 When you finally do find it, you won't be disappointed. Not only great performances by Ryan and Marvin, but also by Fredric March (it was also his last film) and a very young Jeff Bridges.
A great actor in any role he played throughout his career, equally adept as heavy or hero. One of my favorites of his late era is in "Lawman" with Burt Lancaster.
Thank you for not overlooking Robert Ryan (and Sterling Hayden and Garfield). Something deeply American about them that is also overlooked these days. I hope you focus on some women actors of the era sometime too. Brava to a great channel👏
yes and much appreciated! Sorry, I was thinking of only some favorites from the period who get passed over: Tierney, Lake, Graham, Sheridan. Not criticizing just maybe as suggestions. @@CinemaCities1978
Thanks for this look at Ryan's career. An eye opener for me. I thought I'd seen a good amount of noir over the decades but I've barely seen half of the movies you review on the channel - many would likely never air on UK TV. I loved Ryan's performance in the Wild Bunch. His Thornton is hunting his former friends but he is not real bad guy of this movie - that would be time and progress as Thornton, like William Holden's Pike, feels the march of progress is leaving his kind behind. Like John Vernon's Fletcher in The Outlaw Josey Wales he feels he has to pursue his old friends in an attempt to regain some semblance of order to break with his violent past. Thanks for highlighting the many aspects of Ryan's performances, I'll make an effort to see some of the movies I've missed over the decades.
Holy crap you come right out of the gate with a Charles Mingus tune, and Mingus was the MAN, and so was Ryan. Hella perfect match. OK I'm going to watch the rest of the video now, lol.
I've seen quite a few of Robert Ryan's films but once again, after watching your video, I realized how many I haven't seen. "About Mrs. Leslie" intrigues me. I'll have to take a look for that one.
You must see About Mrs. Leslie. I agree about having seen many Robert Ryan movies. I thought I had a big collection but he has done so much that I haven't seen. And such a mensch! Gotta love Robert Ryan!
One of my favorite Robert Ryan films is God's Little Acre from 1958. Not a Film Noir flick but definitely worth watching.👌 It has a nice cast which includes Tina Louise, Jack Lord and Vic Morrow.
I can’t believe someone did this, I absolutely LOVE Robert Ryan! I saw Clash By Night many years ago and I was hooked. Both he and his wife died from cancer about a year apart, probably from smoking. They had sublet their Dakota apartment to John Lennon and Yoko Ono. BTW, I think the soap actor Jason Thompson resembles him in many ways.
I just finished watching "The Set Up". Excellent performance by Robert Ryan as well as the supporting cast. The editing is brilliant as well. I have never been disappointed in any film directed by Robert Wise.
@@excession30 Thank you for your response. OMG, I was respectfully wondering why you were asking me this question. I was thinking, "What does this question have to do with Robert Wise", only to come to the realization, after looking it up on Wikipedia, that Wise directed "Star Trek The Motion Picture". I never knew this for the simple reason that I have never been a "Star Trek" fan. I know I'm in the minority but it never interested me; even when I was a kid and the series was first broadcast. There are certain kinds of Sci-Fi that I enjoy but "Star Trek" has never been one of them. That said, now knowing that Robert Wise directed, you have certainly piqued my interest in seeing this film, lol, after forty-four years. Many thanks.
Re the films honored in this video, I just finished watching "Odds Against Tomorrow". It's my first time seeing it. Robert Wise does it yet again with another superb film. Every aspect of this film is TOP DRAWER from the direction, the screenplay, the performances, the music and the cinematography. It's hard to believe that this film was not only completely overlooked at Oscar time but that it is not even very well known, despite getting very positive reviews at the time and since. It should have been nominated in every major category. It's beyond me as to how that can occur. For those who haven't seen this film yet do yourselves a favor and give it a viewing. You won't be disappointed.
@@CinemaCities1978 True, and I'm sure your honorable mention of this film has helped it along even further. In fact, it was the clip from the film in your video that inspired me to buy the Blu-ray. I could just tell I was going to love it.
Absolutely fantastic! I saw Odds Against Tomorrow earlier this year thanks to this channel and now I have a whole list of Robert Ryan movies to work through. I'm so pleased that you pointed out that in real life he was the antithesis of his on-screen personas. He was a top bloke and a lifelong activist, standing up for the down trodden and the victims of prejudice. Loved this one CC, another triumph. You're the best, keep it going my friend! 👏👏
Thank you! I agree, Ryan was indeed a top bloke. He was also a genuinely nice guy, some people even referred to him as gentle. It's always wonderful when your favorites turn out to be good people.
Ryan's redemption in On Dangerous Ground indeed uplifting (in a noir?!) but Ida Lupuno crucial in getting him over the line. A British drama school graduate she later directed American noirs herself.
One of his best films🎞️, that's one of my personal favorites, is the only one, you omitted: 1953's 'Inferno'. For a change, he's the character that becomes, the poor victim that he usually, prey's upon👍😁!!!
I have seen About Mrs. Leslie twice and for some reason it's now too painful for me to get through it again. The performances are so touching and heartbreaking. Robert Ryan was not only a wonderful actor, but he was a true progressive; a man with a strong moral backbone.
@@CinemaCities1978 Perfect example! I saw that one a couple of weeks ago - the only entertaining thing beyond Robert Ryan's performance was John Agar's as the dopey brother in law. 😉
Thanks for your brilliant production. Robert Ryan is one of my all time favourite actors. I certainly do agree with what you described as that glint in his eye. It could be so genuine or so deceptive.
Thanks for this video appreciation of Robert Ryan as I wasn't aware of his early work. I'm glad I found your channel! Whether it is nostalgia, the passage of years or a touch of cynicism, I feel drawn to older movies: the writing was better, the characters more complex with interesting subjects. Today in comparison it is sequels, franchises and spectacle trying to cover the thin plot. Much of US pre-1960 is overlooked in the UK with "rainy day matinees" being old British films & often from the same 50 with the odd late night weekend showing going to something not suitable for the general audience.
That was lovely, so well done! Thank you 🙏🏼 Now I’m going to try to find and watch some of the movies mentioned, maybe starting with “on dangerous ground “
You're welcome! On Dangerous Ground is a favorite and it's got the added bonus of Ida Lupino. You can find a nice selection of Robert Ryan's films on youtube.
Robert Ryan NEVER walked through a role. He was there as a presence, and you noticed him. He could do anything. Another thing that I've noticed is the co-stars in the films he made. That's an amazing list. If you were to sit down and make that list your jaw would drop. He was paired with the finest in the business. To put it simply, Robert Ryan was a great actor.
Even though I've been a Classic film nut for a long time and have seen him countless times, Ryan never fully grabbed me. Suddenly, seemingly out of the blue, I've developed an interest in him and in exploring his filmography more in depth. So thanks for making this, it came just at the right time for me ;)
First, I have to say that I absolutely love your channel! I've been a subscriber for a while, and the name of your channel is just perfect - I can totally relate. RObert Ryan has such a fascinating filmography; his characters range from romantic to downright villainous, and he never delivers a half-hearted performance. He's a phenomenal actor, and you're in for some fantastic film viewing.
@@CinemaCities1978 Oh wow, thanks so much for the kind words. I've only recently truly discovered your channel. I've been aware of your Tyrone Power videos though for a while. Looks like we've got at least one dead boyfriend in common ;) Now that I've caught up with your content I realize that our tastes are very similar, so I take your recs to heart.
Crossfire and Clash by Night we're my first exposure to Ryan. One of the local UHF stations had regular Noir nights in 70s and 80s. The man was great at playing the bad guy.
YES! Excellent tribute to one of my favorite actors. Since I will watch any film with Ryan I can find, I saw that Kanopy had a film called And Hope To Die from 1972 with him. It's a french language film and to my surprise Ryan's dialog is all dubbed by a french actor. It's not a great film, but I still recommend it for all Robert Ryan fans.
Bravo. Huge Ryan fan. The Naked Spur is really one of my favorites of his. Small requests as I'm not sure their praises have been realized so, how about one on Herbert Marshall, James Edwards, Richard Widmark or Thelma Ritter?
@CinemaCities1978 I love when you delve into the biographies and personalities of your subjects. I find it's the best part of your synopses. After viewing "In Praise Of Robert Ryan" Lee Marvin's "Col Breed's" assessment of Ryan's "Col. Everett Dasher" "In The Dirty Dozen" sprung to mind. "I always thought that you were a cold, unimaginative, tight-lipped officer. But you're really quite emotional, aren't you?" Kind of summed up my previous thoughts on Ryan's personality.
Thanks for covering Robert Ryan. I guess what I value the most is the strong sense of humanity I get from him. It's like he sketches a large but abstractly defined space of possibilities for being human. I just get a sense of freedom from his characterizations. Let's call it jazz! Let's say, he's hip! And we know that in real life he really was hip, too. Another everyman star I'll always watch is Glenn Ford, but his understated underdog persona, appealing as it is, is way different from Ryan's total commitment to every character.
I also get that sense of freedom, but I also feel that he's inhabiting the role, not just playing a part. As for Glenn Ford, I like him as well; he had a good range and was just as adept at comedy as he was at drama.
I have always enjoyed Robert Ryan in his movies. He may not had the good looks like Clark Gable or Errol Flynn and Cary Grant. But, he could act with the best of them. Act Of Violence, Billy Budd and The Professionals are some of my favorites. A very fine actor.
Thank you for this wonderful post. It is nice to hear something positive about an old Hollywood actor for a change. I definitely will watch his "good guy" movie roles, now that I know he did them😅
@@CinemaCities1978 You catch the vulberability in him. In CLASH BY NIGHT, he's a mean SOB who obviously is hurting, and when he finally breaks and begs Stanwyck, telling her how lonely he is, it's cringe, in the right way.
Thank you!!! Just last week I commented that I’d love a deep dive on Robert Ryan and Ida Lupino. Lo and behold, you post a Ryan mini-doc and a Lupino newsletter. Your the best, I’m gonna have to buy you a coffee! 🍿📽️🎬
Robert Ryan is one of my favorite actors. He uas an intensity and is ruggedly handsome. About Mrs Leslie was the first time i crushed on him. He was my favorite bad guy in Bad Day at Black Rock and of course all the war movies. The thing i like best about him is inreal life he was a good man. He fought for Civil Rights and was at the 1960's March on Washington.
So glad you told me about this post. I was reminded of films I've seen with Ryan's great performances - Black Rock, Crossfire, Clash by night. I think he's great, but for some reason he's not often remembed today in the same way as others. Thanks for an extended list to cat ch up on. In these times, it's such a gift to have undiscovered films to watch 😊
I really can't understand how he's been so overlooked. His performances always touch something within me, especially in those romantic roles. I just really adore him.
H@@CinemaCities1978 He's underrated because he's so good. As Tracy said, "just left sten and react". I think others believe an actor has to chew the furniture. Ryan shows that's not true, and so his performance ring true, touching us in resonate ways.
Robert Ryan, one of the best. Like you say, he could play scary, dangerous men like Claggart in Billy Budd, but he also played John the Baptist in King of Kings, just the year before! Talk about stretching your acting muscles in a short time!
Again, great vidéo ! My 2 favorite movies from RR are One Dangerous Ground and Act of Violence, but I need to watch more of them (The Set up, Crossfire, etc.) Thanks for tho the links of the films, I will watch them for sure.
Excellent appreciation of a truly great actor. I've got to say-- I've seen Robert Ryan in a lot of movies and he always adds to the quality of whatever film he was in. Additionally, I can't say I've ever seen him in a bad film, to be honest.
I want to thank you for creating these videos. They are so professionally done! Your commentary in my book is always right on the mark. Your voice and delivery keeps my attention. The world is yours!
In Crossfire, at the climatic scene, I loved how, in the face of someone who wouldn't be bullied and realizing that he was caught, the Ryan character's bluster and confidence turned into sniveling cowardice.
When Ryan was preparing for the role, he asked director Jean Renoir, whom he worked with on "The Woman on the Beach," to share insights about the fascists he'd known in France. Renoir told him they were all little and insecure inside, and Ryan brought that out in Montgomery in the end.
Ryan wanted his name higher in the opening credits for The Wild Bunch and didn’t get along with the director Peckinpaw. ( reportedly they clashed repeatedly over many aspects during this shoot, but Ryan reportedly wanted higher billing despite having less screen time) Peckinpaw insulted Ryan in the opening credits of the movie. When the gang rides into town then shows Holdens face/ freeze frames than cuts to his name. Same for Borgnine. But then the camera show the rear end of the horse riders procession / freeze frame and then cuts to Ryan’s name. Basically calling him a horses ass. Watch for yourself. I am not disparaging Ryan’s great talent, I’m just relating a funny story about his feud with Peckinpaw.
@ for what I’ve read over the years all of those great western directors ( Leone, Peckinpah, Ford) were all characters/ harsh taskmasters/ abrasive in ways new Hollywood couldn’t handle. They also push people hard , to do their best work and made timeless classics.
I'm hoping that you do a feature about Richard Widmark. After all, he started his movie career as the most evil man imaginable, and then, in Panic in the Streets brought it back and gave the title to Jack Palance.
Check the description box for links to some of the movies!
Any chance of a Mitchum career overview?
yes, there is a chance. . .😉
I was told once that the British thought him tremendously under appreciated in the US..."had he been British, he would have won every film award we've got".
He's still under appreciated. He was one of the greats and he deserves more recognition.
My favourite Ryan picture is "The Set Up" from the late '40s.
In my opinion, Robert Ryan never gave a bad performance. Whenever I come across a movie he is in, I have to watch. Thanks for highlighting his career.
The truth be told; Robert Ryan was the consummate thespian who excelled in every role he portrayed!
Terence Stamp, in a DVD extra interview, gives high praise to Robert Ryan for his role as Claggart on Billy Budd. He was amazed how Ryan went from bemused and scornful to enraged then to vulnerable and afraid, just using his eyes in a short scene..
His range was amazing and his ability to control and convey his emotions make him one of the all time greats.
I know exactly the scene Stamp is referencing, and he's not exaggerating. Ryan gets all that across in the subtlest way.
Ryan was badly miscast in that film.
@@JamesRichards-mj9kw why, because of an American accent? Could have been an expat Tory from the former colonies, impressed as a younger man, Canadian loyalist......
@@michaelbrennick His accent sounded nothing like a Canadian accent.
I love what Ernest Borginine said about Robert Ryan in a tribute for him, "He worked in Hollywood, but he was hardly Hollywood. Bob was an actor first, a star second."
You gave him a well done and deserved career remembrance. They often(especially then) referred to bad guys in films as "heavies" but I think the term doesn't do the ones Robert Ryan played justice. In movies like Bad Day At Black Rock & The Naked Spur, not only did he hold his own against the great Spencer Tracy and Jimmy Stewart, respectively, he made himself an essential character that makes 50% of the movie, where it wouldn't be nearly the same without him.
On Dangerous Ground to me, is one of the best "Brooding Loner losing hope in humanity" stories. Martin Scorsese himself has brought it up when mentioning Taxi Driver before. Right there with Curtiz' The Breaking Point as well, in my opinion.
His role in Crossfire was such a great performance that's just as poignant/powerful today. The movie was more intense and less subtle than Gentleman's Agreement that same year, but equally as effective.
Allow me to rant. It's a bit disappointing to me that whenever I've brought up Robert Ryan over the years, people either have no idea who I'm talking about or think I just said Robert Redford's name wrong. Recently at the TCM Film Festival, Paul Thomas Anderson said him and Scorsese worked on a remaster of Max Ophüls' Caught and name dropped it as a Robert Ryan film which was great to hear(the crowd there all loved hearing Ryan's name as well). I'm hopeful that the life and career of Robert Ryan will get a sort of renaissance now, and your video essay just gave me a great feeling about that. Thanks.
I agree azo, Naked Spur and Bad Day at Black Rock were heightened by having Ryan as a complex antagonist ( albeit a proper bad 'un in both movies ) Only Mitchum's hard bitten losers come close to his intensity in noir thrillers.
I'm with you, all the way down the line.
Truely under appreciated actor who was as good as most big names of his time.
On Dangerous Ground is my favourite noir. Greatest detective character portrayal ever by Robert Ryan (in my book it is he not Bogart who created the quintessential fil.-noir persona), great script, the most complex and interesting moral conflicts, great score (masterly Bernard Herman), Ida, and direction and cinematography beyond magnificent. I'm not surprised film directors are increasingly turning to this film, and, as a result, to Robert Ryan, without whom the film would be unthinkable.
Read your comment on Ryan many times . Great stuff. Ryan on screen was a sight to behold. His acting talent had no equal.
All movie lovers know Mr. Ryan was a great actor. But they should also know he was a great man. What more can you want out of life. Well done. Thank you.
You're welcome!
A versatile actor who could go toe to toe with any other actor of his time. His presence was commanding, and he always delivered consistently. He was a man's man as well as a woman's desire. A courageous actor.
Very well said.
And as usual, very well done on your part!@@CinemaCities1978
One of my fav actors love him in The Racket
I just watched 4 or 5 videos on this channel and I have to say that it's the best movie review channel I've ever seen (by far). the editing is excellent, the narration is excellent, the information provided is thorough, etc... even the narrators voice is perfect. i've been looking for months trying to find a really good channel that reviews movies from the golden age of hollywood. i think i just found it.
I think he was by far one of the best actors in Hollywood movies.
You included my two favorites, The Setup and Odds Against Tomorrow.
Great tribute!
Thank you very much!
Thank you ×100 for this lovely tribute. Even in his "nice guy" rolls, there was always that feeling that something dark was simmering beneath that friendly exterior.
You're welcome. Glad you enjoyed it
Truely enigmatic
I was about to post pretty much the same thing but you expressed it much better than I. Robert Ryan had such an enormous range as an actor. Greatly unappreciated and greatly missed.
I definitely need to check out more of his work. I love that you've chosen to highlight such an underrated actor.
Robert Ryan was amazing and he deserves so much more recognition. I just love him. But, I alway seem to fall in love with these guys as I make the videos 😂
@@CinemaCities1978 I'd love to see you do a similar video for Van Heflin.
Ohhhh that’s a great idea!
Same!
Robert Ryan was a fabulous actor who slipped into obscurity. He always played menacing roles, but one of his best performances was in the magnificent "Act Of Violence"
where he played an avenging angel hunting down a man who betrayed his army platoon. He never put a foot wrong in any of his performances.
As for "The Set-Up", he was utterly compelling.
His world-weary expression in "The Wild Bunch" spoke volumes.
A class act whose name should have been cast in stone.
I agree, his film legacy deserves a wider appreciation
@@CinemaCities1978 "House Of Bamboo" is another overlooked gem. Criterion should do a box set of Robert's best films?
One of the most under rated actors. He was fantastic in Billy Budd and many many other movies.
he definitely deserves wider recognition
Totally agree with you.
I love everything he’s been in but one movie gets me to this day and you wouldn’t think out of all his great movies but day of the outlaw with burl Ives and ginger from giligins island lol ….the speech he gave on the stairs and later was amazing and I loved burl Ives in it
A terrific John the Baptist in King of Kings.
Ryan could deliver an innocuous line in the most scary, dangerous way
he was a master of menace
A great actor and in the right part he (and Rod Steiger) was the scariest actor in the movies, but even at the most intimidating he still brought a profound depth to his roles.
he always gave his villains nuance and complexity
Thank you so much for this wonderful snapshot of Robert Ryan! He was criminally underrated!
You're welcome. 😊
Another amazing video. You make me want to see every film you feature. And I love them all when I get around to them. Thanks.
You should! They are all worth watching even The Woman on Pier 13 😂
The first film reference book I ever bought was Halliwell's Filmgoers Companion. It's entry on Robert Ryan describes him as "American lead actor who never seemed to get the roles he deserved." I discovered him in his last great role, as Larry Slade in The Iceman Cometh (1973), released after his death, and was a fan forever after.
I would add "never seemed to get the recognition he deserved. . ."
Just want to say I love what you do; always interesting and with fabulous presentation. Thank you!
Wow, thank you!
You have produced amazing content on a regular basis, with a sense of humor that has kept your fans bewitched !
Thank you so much, have been waiting for this ever since it was announced. A great tribute to Robert Ryan, whom I consider to be one of the greatest actors to have come out of American cinema ever (and I have read he was just as great on stage too). Apart from being in love with him since ...forever, I marvel at his art and the intelligence with which he portrays even the most obnoxious, violent characters. You are right to alight on the melancholy with which his tough cops, but, I also believe, his villains, bigots, cold/calculative wretches and clinical cases (in aggression or perversion) are imbued with. That melancholy offers up these characters to our understanding while still preserving their enigma (that which is 'passeth show').
Someone in the comments mentioned his performance as Claggart in Billy Budd, I second that. He is tremendous in that decent film (based on Melville's great novella), just as he was in everything else (including the not-so-interesting films, which he elevated far beyond what they deserved). One would be hard-pressed to find a more versatile actor of such exquisite quality. To span across such a wide range of roles in the riveting way he did, one needs a tremendous and intelligent imagination to match nature's gift of talent. Even when he was relegated to second fiddle and given the villain role going up against America's male sweetheart (Jimmy Stewart), he still managed to steal the film ( 'TheNaked Spur'). He deserves to be remembered as one of the greats, as a truly unique figure in Hollywood films.
100%.
@@farhatqureshi8562 So nice to see there is quite a few of us in the Robert Ryan appreciation club.
@@allegory6393 never get tired listening about the great Robert Bushnell Ryan ! On screen he had no equal.
One of the best actors ever in every way.
Just watched About Mrs. Leslie. I loved it. It was poignant, romantic, and heartwarming. At first, I thought Shirley Booth and Robert Ryan were an odd coupling. As the movie progressed, they fit and complemented each other. I now understand why you rave about Robert Ryan. Yes, he's a brilliantly versatile actor. That said, he's super sexy (when he wants to be). I always thought he was the tough guy. He's way more than that. I plan to watch more of his films. ❤❤
About Mrs. Leslie is a mostly forgotten movie, but I have loved it for years. It's a truly romantic, sweet, and heartbreaking story. One of the joys of having this channel is the ability to introduce others to films that I love. I'm delighted that you watched this one, and I'm even happier that you love it.
I LOVED it. I also fell in love with Robert Ryan. John Garfield has always been the one for me. Still is. When you raved about Ryan, I was perplexed. He was always a mean brute. Not romantic. This gem of a movie changed my mind. Also, his sexy role in "Born to be Bad." Thank you! P.S. Do you ever do livestreams? Would love to interact with you and your followers! @@CinemaCities1978
No, I haven't done a livestream. I am thinking about doing it in the future.
Sounds good. Would love to "meet" you and the rest of this community!@@CinemaCities1978
One of Ryan's best later roles is in the film adaption of the Eugene O'Neill play The Iceman Cometh. He's incredible in the role of Larry Slade and Lee Marvin is brilliant too as Hickey.
I concur and I'm glad you brought it up. I saw this version of "The Iceman Cometh" a few years back and was blown away. This was, I believe, one of Robert Ryan's last, if not his last, performance. What a gem of a production to conclude his career. It's a brilliant cast all around but Ryan and Marvin really stand out.
I still haven't seen Iceman. It's really hard to find.
@@CinemaCities1978 When you finally do find it, you won't be disappointed. Not only great performances by Ryan and Marvin, but also by Fredric March (it was also his last film) and a very young Jeff Bridges.
A great actor in any role he played throughout his career, equally adept as heavy or hero. One of my favorites of his late era is in "Lawman" with Burt Lancaster.
Thank you for not overlooking Robert Ryan (and Sterling Hayden and Garfield). Something deeply American about them that is also overlooked these days. I hope you focus on some women actors of the era sometime too. Brava to a great channel👏
You’re welcome. As for the ladies, I’ve talked about Jean Simmons, Gail Russell, Gloria Swanson in videos posted on the channel
yes and much appreciated!
Sorry, I was thinking of only some favorites from the period who get passed over: Tierney, Lake, Graham, Sheridan. Not criticizing just maybe as suggestions. @@CinemaCities1978
Thanks for this look at Ryan's career. An eye opener for me. I thought I'd seen a good amount of noir over the decades but I've barely seen half of the movies you review on the channel - many would likely never air on UK TV. I loved Ryan's performance in the Wild Bunch. His Thornton is hunting his former friends but he is not real bad guy of this movie - that would be time and progress as Thornton, like William Holden's Pike, feels the march of progress is leaving his kind behind. Like John Vernon's Fletcher in The Outlaw Josey Wales he feels he has to pursue his old friends in an attempt to regain some semblance of order to break with his violent past.
Thanks for highlighting the many aspects of Ryan's performances, I'll make an effort to see some of the movies I've missed over the decades.
The Set Up is a fabulous film ! An intense drama with great peformances.
Holy crap you come right out of the gate with a Charles Mingus tune, and Mingus was the MAN, and so was Ryan. Hella perfect match. OK I'm going to watch the rest of the video now, lol.
Ditto, she nailed it.
Loved Charlie Mingus, too
He did some collabs with Joni Mitchell
I've seen quite a few of Robert Ryan's films but once again, after watching your video, I realized how many I haven't seen. "About Mrs. Leslie" intrigues me. I'll have to take a look for that one.
You must see About Mrs. Leslie. I agree about having seen many Robert Ryan movies. I thought I had a big collection but he has done so much that I haven't seen. And such a mensch! Gotta love Robert Ryan!
One of my favorite Robert Ryan films is God's Little Acre from 1958. Not a Film Noir flick but definitely worth watching.👌 It has a nice cast which includes Tina Louise,
Jack Lord and Vic Morrow.
I can’t believe someone did this, I absolutely LOVE Robert Ryan! I saw Clash By Night many years ago and I was hooked. Both he and his wife died from cancer about a year apart, probably from smoking. They had sublet their Dakota apartment to John Lennon and Yoko Ono. BTW, I think the soap actor Jason Thompson resembles him in many ways.
I love Robert Ryan. Someone had to sing his praises! I to had to look up Jason Thompson then I saw he was Patrick Drake on GH. 😂
@@CinemaCities1978 Yes! He’s currently Billy Abbott on YR. He’s about to the same height, also thin and, at times, has similar mannerisms.
I just finished watching "The Set Up". Excellent performance by Robert Ryan as well as the supporting cast. The editing is brilliant as well. I have never been disappointed in any film directed by Robert Wise.
Couldn't agree more! Plus, what an ending!
Have you seen Star Trek The Motion Picture?
@@excession30 Yeah, Spock's one-way trip to the interior of V'ger was one of the best moments of my life!
@@excession30 Thank you for your response. OMG, I was respectfully wondering why you were asking me this question. I was thinking, "What does this question have to do with Robert Wise", only to come to the realization, after looking it up on Wikipedia, that Wise directed "Star Trek The Motion Picture". I never knew this for the simple reason that I have never been a "Star Trek" fan. I know I'm in the minority but it never interested me; even when I was a kid and the series was first broadcast. There are certain kinds of Sci-Fi that I enjoy but "Star Trek" has never been one of them. That said, now knowing that Robert Wise directed, you have certainly piqued my interest in seeing this film, lol, after forty-four years. Many thanks.
Re the films honored in this video, I just finished watching "Odds Against Tomorrow". It's my first time seeing it. Robert Wise does it yet again with another superb film. Every aspect of this film is TOP DRAWER from the direction, the screenplay, the performances, the music and the cinematography. It's hard to believe that this film was not only completely overlooked at Oscar time but that it is not even very well known, despite getting very positive reviews at the time and since. It should have been nominated in every major category. It's beyond me as to how that can occur. For those who haven't seen this film yet do yourselves a favor and give it a viewing. You won't be disappointed.
Odds Against Tomorrow was not a box office success. It's wide acclaim has really only come in the last few years. Better late than never, I guess.. .
@@CinemaCities1978 True, and I'm sure your honorable mention of this film has helped it along even further. In fact, it was the clip from the film in your video that inspired me to buy the Blu-ray. I could just tell I was going to love it.
Absolutely fantastic! I saw Odds Against Tomorrow earlier this year thanks to this channel and now I have a whole list of Robert Ryan movies to work through. I'm so pleased that you pointed out that in real life he was the antithesis of his on-screen personas. He was a top bloke and a lifelong activist, standing up for the down trodden and the victims of prejudice. Loved this one CC, another triumph. You're the best, keep it going my friend! 👏👏
Thank you! I agree, Ryan was indeed a top bloke. He was also a genuinely nice guy, some people even referred to him as gentle. It's always wonderful when your favorites turn out to be good people.
@@CinemaCities1978 Absolutely. Thanks again, CC. Really enjoyed this one, as always!
Ryan's redemption in On Dangerous Ground indeed uplifting (in a noir?!) but Ida Lupuno crucial in getting him over the line. A British drama school graduate she later directed American noirs herself.
One of his best films🎞️, that's one of my personal favorites, is the only one, you omitted: 1953's 'Inferno'. For a change, he's the character that becomes, the poor victim that he usually, prey's upon👍😁!!!
Another great video, thank you! Brilliant actor, I also loved his performance in “The Wild Bunch”.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I have seen About Mrs. Leslie twice and for some reason it's now too painful for me to get through it again. The performances are so touching and heartbreaking. Robert Ryan was not only a wonderful actor, but he was a true progressive; a man with a strong moral backbone.
Robert Ryan truly elevated every film that I've seen with him.
Thanks for another great video!
I agree. For example, The Woman on Pier 13 is such a silly movie but Ryan is just so good you keep watching.
@@CinemaCities1978 Perfect example! I saw that one a couple of weeks ago - the only entertaining thing beyond Robert Ryan's performance was John Agar's as the dopey brother in law. 😉
Thanks for your brilliant production. Robert Ryan is one of my all time favourite actors. I certainly do agree with what you described as that glint in his eye. It could be so genuine or so deceptive.
He could look so menacing. It's nice to know in real life he was the complete opposite.
Long my fav post 1927 male actor, so many great performances but the one that forever sticks with me is On Dangerous Ground.
his performance and his chemistry with Ida Lupino in On Dangerous Ground is just beautiful
Great Great actor. Sadly he died on my 17th birthday, July 11, 1973
Thanks for this video appreciation of Robert Ryan as I wasn't aware of his early work. I'm glad I found your channel! Whether it is nostalgia, the passage of years or a touch of cynicism, I feel drawn to older movies: the writing was better, the characters more complex with interesting subjects. Today in comparison it is sequels, franchises and spectacle trying to cover the thin plot.
Much of US pre-1960 is overlooked in the UK with "rainy day matinees" being old British films & often from the same 50 with the odd late night weekend showing going to something not suitable for the general audience.
Ryan was wonderful, and so is your channel. Keep up the good work!
Thank you! 😊
I love Robert Ryan .I was born 40 years too late.
He's fantastic!
weren't we all...
😂
@@qtandem I was going to say the same thing.
That was lovely, so well done! Thank you 🙏🏼 Now I’m going to try to find and watch some of the movies mentioned, maybe starting with “on dangerous ground “
You're welcome! On Dangerous Ground is a favorite and it's got the added bonus of Ida Lupino. You can find a nice selection of Robert Ryan's films on youtube.
Congratulations on the awesome video.
Thanks so much!
Thank you this was brilliant the man deserved to be remembered xx😊
The Setup is one of my favorites. So many great character actors in this movie.
It's a stacked cast!
Robert Ryan NEVER walked through a role. He was there as a presence, and you noticed him. He could do anything. Another thing that I've noticed is the co-stars in the films he made. That's an amazing list. If you were to sit down and make that list your jaw would drop. He was paired with the finest in the business. To put it simply, Robert Ryan was a great actor.
yes! say it louder! He was outstanding and he should be remembered as one of the greats. We need a Rynaissance.
Thanks so much for this. Crossfire and Odds against tomorrow, are favorites. Really gets across his range that I didn't appreciate.
Glad you enjoyed!
I have always admired Robert Ryan a fine actor
Even though I've been a Classic film nut for a long time and have seen him countless times, Ryan never fully grabbed me. Suddenly, seemingly out of the blue, I've developed an interest in him and in exploring his filmography more in depth. So thanks for making this, it came just at the right time for me ;)
First, I have to say that I absolutely love your channel! I've been a subscriber for a while, and the name of your channel is just perfect - I can totally relate. RObert Ryan has such a fascinating filmography; his characters range from romantic to downright villainous, and he never delivers a half-hearted performance. He's a phenomenal actor, and you're in for some fantastic film viewing.
@@CinemaCities1978 Oh wow, thanks so much for the kind words. I've only recently truly discovered your channel. I've been aware of your Tyrone Power videos though for a while. Looks like we've got at least one dead boyfriend in common ;) Now that I've caught up with your content I realize that our tastes are very similar, so I take your recs to heart.
Great job. He was a favorite from my first recollection in "House of Bamboo" with Robert Stack. and excelled in "On Dangerous Ground" with Ida Lupino.
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
The Set-up is one of my favorites
Crossfire and Clash by Night we're my first exposure to Ryan. One of the local UHF stations had regular Noir nights in 70s and 80s. The man was great at playing the bad guy.
I love your actors' tributes!
Among the best..Never gave a bad performance..
I agree. He was always at the top of his game.
YES! Excellent tribute to one of my favorite actors. Since I will watch any film with Ryan I can find, I saw that Kanopy had a film called And Hope To Die from 1972 with him. It's a french language film and to my surprise Ryan's dialog is all dubbed by a french actor. It's not a great film, but I still recommend it for all Robert Ryan fans.
I'll have to watch that one! thanks for the recommendation.
Bravo. Huge Ryan fan. The Naked Spur is really one of my favorites of his. Small requests as I'm not sure their praises have been realized so, how about one on Herbert Marshall, James Edwards, Richard Widmark or Thelma Ritter?
@CinemaCities1978 I love when you delve into the biographies and personalities of your subjects. I find it's the best part of your synopses. After viewing "In Praise Of Robert Ryan" Lee Marvin's "Col Breed's" assessment of Ryan's "Col. Everett Dasher" "In The Dirty Dozen" sprung to mind. "I always thought that you were a cold, unimaginative, tight-lipped officer. But you're really quite emotional, aren't you?" Kind of summed up my previous thoughts on Ryan's personality.
One of my favorite actors. He usually played villains but not always.
he could also play a great romantic lead
I think my first Robert Ryan movie was Billy Budd, with On Dangerous Ground and Crossfire following soon afterwards. What a range he had!
I just saw Billy Budd for the first time last week.
Wonderful exploration of Robert Ryan. Glad you About Mrs Leslie with Shirley Booth that is another I am going to put on my list.
I love that film. It's definitely a 3 hanky melodrama.
I kbew nothing about him offscreen. Great to learn about such a deep-down decent man. Thank you for this revealing summary.
You're welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
Thanks for covering Robert Ryan. I guess what I value the most is the strong sense of humanity I get from him. It's like he sketches a large but abstractly defined space of possibilities for being human. I just get a sense of freedom from his characterizations. Let's call it jazz! Let's say, he's hip! And we know that in real life he really was hip, too.
Another everyman star I'll always watch is Glenn Ford, but his understated underdog persona, appealing as it is, is way different from Ryan's total commitment to every character.
I also get that sense of freedom, but I also feel that he's inhabiting the role, not just playing a part. As for Glenn Ford, I like him as well; he had a good range and was just as adept at comedy as he was at drama.
This was excellent!! Thank you!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
You do great work!
Thank you!
Another wonderful segment. About Mrs Leslie is worth a look. A few I need to see.. 👏 👏👏👏👏👏
Thank you! I highly recommend About Mrs. Leslie. A great tearjerker melodrama.
I have always enjoyed Robert Ryan in his movies. He may not had the good looks like Clark Gable or Errol Flynn and Cary Grant. But, he could act with the best of them. Act Of Violence, Billy Budd and The Professionals are some of my favorites. A very fine actor.
I actually rate him as highly attractive but I have an odd type 😂
Thank you for this wonderful post. It is nice to hear something positive about an old Hollywood actor for a change. I definitely will watch his "good guy" movie roles, now that I know he did them😅
It's amazing just how romantic he could be in some of those films!
Amazing performances.
I've been looking forward to your take on Ryan, can't wait to watch. Congratulations on completing this.
thank you. I was really worried it wouldn't live up to everyone's expectations. . .
@@CinemaCities1978 You catch the vulberability in him. In CLASH BY NIGHT, he's a mean SOB who obviously is hurting, and when he finally breaks and begs Stanwyck, telling her how lonely he is, it's cringe, in the right way.
Thank you!!! Just last week I commented that I’d love a deep dive on Robert Ryan and Ida Lupino. Lo and behold, you post a Ryan mini-doc and a Lupino newsletter. Your the best, I’m gonna have to buy you a coffee! 🍿📽️🎬
You guys give me some great inspiration. . . and I can never have too much caffeine!! ☕️
Another great one - Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it
You do wonderful work. I admire you.
Thank you very much!
Robert Ryan is one of my favorite actors. He uas an intensity and is ruggedly handsome.
About Mrs Leslie was the first time i crushed on him. He was my favorite bad guy in Bad Day at Black Rock and of course all the war movies. The thing i like best about him is inreal life he was a good man. He fought for Civil Rights and was at the 1960's March on Washington.
My 1st exposure to Robert Ryan was in The Dirty Dozen where he played the Colonel who butts heads with Lee Marvin.
Ryan and Marvin had a great run of films together.
Thanks for the link to Caught! I've only ever seen it once, and that was a long time back. My evening's viewing is all set. 😊
After making this video, I think that Ryan's performance in 'Caught' is one of my favorites
Great world weary performance in The Wild Bunch, getting almost the last word with Edmond O'brien. Great video ❤
thank you!
Another great job by you. Thanks.
you're welcome!
My favourite actor after Brando! I loved that clip of Ryan jostling with Harry Belafonte on that game show. Clearly they were close friends.
So glad you told me about this post. I was reminded of films I've seen with Ryan's great performances - Black Rock, Crossfire, Clash by night. I think he's great, but for some reason he's not often remembed today in the same way as others. Thanks for an extended list to cat ch up on. In these times, it's such a gift to have undiscovered films to watch 😊
I really can't understand how he's been so overlooked. His performances always touch something within me, especially in those romantic roles. I just really adore him.
H@@CinemaCities1978 He's underrated because he's so good. As Tracy said, "just left sten and react". I think others believe an actor has to chew the furniture. Ryan shows that's not true, and so his performance ring true, touching us in resonate ways.
That's supposed to say"listen"!
WONDERFUL
Thank you!
Absolutely brilliant as the bad guy, however in Inferno, he plays the hero and to me he is just as great and memorable.
I haven't seen inferno! I need to watch that one. I love when Ryan plays the Hero.
Robert Ryan, one of the best. Like you say, he could play scary, dangerous men like Claggart in Billy Budd, but he also played John the Baptist in King of Kings, just the year before! Talk about stretching your acting muscles in a short time!
Love your videos. As a long time movie lover I appreciate your knowledge. Don’t know how you do it. Keep ‘em comin’.
Really enjoy these videoes....love me some Robert Ryan!!!! 13:11
Again, great vidéo ! My 2 favorite movies from RR are One Dangerous Ground and Act of Violence, but I need to watch more of them (The Set up, Crossfire, etc.) Thanks for tho the links of the films, I will watch them for sure.
Act of Violence and ODG are two of my favorites as well. If you love those two then you will really enjoy The Set-Up and Crossfire.
Excellent appreciation of a truly great actor. I've got to say-- I've seen Robert Ryan in a lot of movies and he always adds to the quality of whatever film he was in. Additionally, I can't say I've ever seen him in a bad film, to be honest.
Thanks for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
At last my favourite actor is being recognised for the treasure he was.
He was one of the best!
@@CinemaCities1978 absolutely . So versatile . Boxing champion in his college days too.
The best - good edit!
thank you!
I want to thank you for creating these videos. They are so professionally done! Your commentary in my book is always right on the mark. Your voice and delivery keeps my attention. The world is yours!
Wow, thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying them.
Oh honey. Would I like to bake you a cake! I mean the talented, handsome, under recognized, Robert Ryan, that is
In Crossfire, at the climatic scene, I loved how, in the face of someone who wouldn't be bullied and realizing that he was caught, the Ryan character's bluster and confidence turned into sniveling cowardice.
When Ryan was preparing for the role, he asked director Jean Renoir, whom he worked with on "The Woman on the Beach," to share insights about the fascists he'd known in France. Renoir told him they were all little and insecure inside, and Ryan brought that out in Montgomery in the end.
Ryan wanted his name higher in the opening credits for The Wild Bunch and didn’t get along with the director Peckinpaw. ( reportedly they clashed repeatedly over many aspects during this shoot, but Ryan reportedly wanted higher billing despite having less screen time)
Peckinpaw insulted Ryan in the opening credits of the movie. When the gang rides into town then shows Holdens face/ freeze frames than cuts to his name. Same for Borgnine. But then the camera show the rear end of the horse riders procession / freeze frame and then cuts to Ryan’s name. Basically calling him a horses ass. Watch for yourself.
I am not disparaging Ryan’s great talent, I’m just relating a funny story about his feud with Peckinpaw.
Ryan's role as Deke Thornton was the most complicated in the film.
"If you make one more mistake I am going to ride off and let you die."
Peckinpah
Peckinpah had a thing against tall guys. He would always antagonize them.
@ for what I’ve read over the years all of those great western directors ( Leone, Peckinpah, Ford) were all characters/ harsh taskmasters/ abrasive in ways new Hollywood couldn’t handle. They also push people hard , to do their best work and made timeless classics.
I'm hoping that you do a feature about Richard Widmark. After all, he started his movie career as the most evil man imaginable, and then, in Panic in the Streets brought it back and gave the title to Jack Palance.
I have Richard Widmark on the list.
I'm not too familiar with Robert Ryan's work, I love your analysis of his films. I look forward to seeing some of the movies you mention.