Anne Francis, Pete Postlethwaite

[dirac]

Two pieces of sad news.

Anne Francis

While at MGM, she co-starred in "Forbidden Planet," a big-budget, box-office hit that received an Oscar nomination for special effects.

Francis played Altaira, the alluring daughter of the scientist character played by Pidgeon: the two sole-surviving human inhabitants of the mysterious, technologically advanced planet.

Pete Postlethwaite

Tributes poured in today to Pete Postlethwaite, a true star of stage and screen despite a face like a clenched fist, once described by director Steven Spielberg as "probably the best actor in the world". He has died aged 64 after months of treatment for cancer.

[Bonnette]

Yes, sad news, indeed. I'm glad to see tributes to them.

[dirac]

It's too bad, especially about Postlethwaite, still relatively young with years of good work ahead of him. He was marvelous in "In the Name of the Father."

[papeetepatrick]

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2057148928/nm0004282

Gorgeous pic of Francis at her classiest, reminds me a bit of Hope Lange in this one. Liked her a lot in 'Blackboard Jungle".

Postlethwaite brilliant in Terence Davies's 'Distant Voices, Still Lives', an incredibly moving film.

[Bonnette]

I had no idea there were so many publicity stills from Forbidden Planet - thanks for the link, Papeetepatrick, those shots are delightful.

Distant Voices, Still Lives and In the Name of the Father are truly wonderful films, not as well known as they deserve to be (especially, perhaps, the former).

[sandik]

I was thinking today about how different these two careers were -- both in terms of the kind of films they made as well as the whole vibe of the movie business.

[dirac]

Postlethwaite was great in The Usual Suspects, also - his odd looks were perfect for the mysterious Mr. Kobayashi.