No way would I let this day pass (4/17/18) without dropping a line to acknowledge the 100th birthday of one of my favorite actors – William Holden.
In the ten plus years I have been working on this blog, I have had occasion to write about some of my favorite Holden films:
- Happy Belated Birthday Bill Holden
- Tuesday’s Overlooked Film: Apartment for Peggy
- Films Set in the Nation’s Capital (brief mention of Born Yesterday)
At the risk of being repetitive, I am going to go ahead and mention films which are essential viewing featuring the Golden Boy.
Our Town (1940): Here Holden is in true cinnamon roll form. Made a year after his first screen credit (Golden Boy), this adaptation of the Thornton Wilder portrays Holden as the wide-eyed small town fella I imagine him to be if he remained in his birthplace of O’Fallon, Illinois (he was raised in Pasadena, California from the age of three).
Born Yesterday (1950): Already covered, but I would like to emphasize – this film is the sexiest civics and government lesson ever! We can see behind those glasses …
The Wild Bunch (1969): Holden has the grizzled, world-weary anti-hero down pat … nowhere is that more apparent in Sam Peckinpah’s ode to a world (the Wild West) in transition.
Stalag 17 (1953): Blame my dad, but I would probably class this as a personal favorite featuring Holden. This class war comedy/drama features a wonderful Wilder screenplay and a portrayal by Holden of a seemingly amoral P.O.W. who only acts out of the most craven self interest. What’s NOT to like?
Network (1976): I do not have much of a memory of this film (it’s been a while and only viewed once) but what I do remember about it is an aging Holden, whose cynicism is written all over his face.
Sunset Boulevard (1950) The crème de la crème of Hollywood critique/satire and the first of many collaborations between Holden and writer-director Billy Wilder.
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