13 replies to this topic

[carbro]

The sad news of Peck's death today reminds me of his elegance and grace.   I admired him for many reasons and am glad that so much of his work will live on on film, video and digital media for generations that follow.  In addition to his work as an actor, he modestly worked to improve the social and economic injustice where he saw it.

According to the Associated Press:

Quote

Offscreen as well as on, Peck conveyed a quiet dignity. . . .  He served as president of the Motion Picture Academy and was active in the Motion Picture and Television Fund, American Cancer Society, National Endowment for the Arts and other causes.

''I'm not a do-gooder,'' he insisted after learning of the Academy's Jean Hersholt humanitarian award in 1968. ''It embarrassed me to be classified as a humanitarian. I simply take part in activities that I believe in.''

He topped my list as a candidate for human cloning.  An exemplary human being.  Indeed, a mensch!

[Estelle]

I haven't seen many of his films, but when hearing about the sad news on the radio, I couldn't help remembering him as Captain Horatio Hornblower- a great actor for that role...

[dirac]

Very true, carbro.  He was obviously an exceptionally intelligent and public-spirited man.  I wish he had decided to run for office -- I'd have voted for him in a minute, given the opportunity.

I must also be honest and admit that his performances, for me, were occasionally on the, uh, colorless side.  He was never bad, you could always see that care and thought had gone into his acting, but he did lack that extra spark.  (It's why  he didn't quite work as Captain Ahab.)  

I admired him in The Gunfighter.  He probably wouldn't appreciate this, but my favorite all time Peck performance is his Lewt -- I still can't get over that name -- McCanles in Duel in the Sun.  I never would have believed he had it in him to play a leering homicidal hunky number, but there you go.

[Dale]

He was my mother's favorte actor   I loved him as a child in To Kill a Mockingbird Bird and later Spellbound.  He was very charming in Roman Holiday.  The Omen and Gentleman’s Agreement were also favorites of mine.  I'm not a big fan of westerns, but there was a goofy one where he played a kind of gun-runner who falls in love with a Russian in San Francisco.  I don't remember the name of it - I saw it late at night but it was fun (and the actress used real Russian).


(Oh, I just heard David Brinkley just died too).

[Alexandra]

Dale, he was my mother's second favorite actor (after William Holden).  And I liked him in all the same roles you mentioned.  (I missed Hornblower and Duel in the Sun.)

[Dale]

I loved Holden...ahhh "Picnic" ahhh...

[Farrell Fan]

Since I suspect I am of the same generation as the mothers mentioned here, he was also my favorite actor. (Just call me Uncle Lou.) I think "Roman Holiday" is one of the best romantic movies ever made -- and his co-star, Audrey Hepburn, was just as great a citizen of the world as he.

[Mel Johnson]

And don't forget, he co-starred in Days of Glory(1944) with Tamara Toumanova!

[carbro]

And studied with Martha Graham.

[glebb]

Years ago the Joffrey Ballet presented "An Evening of The Dance" hosted by Agnes DeMille.   Performances were given in only a few cities.

Standing on the stage as the curtain rose were DeMille and Gregory Peck.  As the tumultuous applause died down he escorted her to a chair downstage right and exited as she began speaking.

It makes sense to me, all these years later why it was Gregory Peck who was Ms. DeMille's escort.

[carbro]

:confused: So maybe I shouldn't have started this thread under "Other Arts"?

[liebs]

One of my favorites was "The World in His Arms," Peck is a pirate and Ann Blythe is the heroine.  Pure trash! and I adore it.

[Leigh Witchel]

A thoughtful appreciation of Peck by Richard Corliss in Time Magazine.

[grace]

so, can anyone tell me about his time with martha graham? i am intrigued.