I just think of all those British actors like Vincent Price and Peter Cushing that maintained their dignity through hundreds of cheap, hokey movies.

Vincent Price was a brandname, and people hired him wanting Vincent Price. Fred Not-Established Actor has to do what the director tells him to, or he won't get work. If the director wants a caricature, that's what you deliver.

I just think of all those British actors like Vincent Price and Peter Cushing that maintained their dignity through hundreds of cheap, hokey movies.

Vincent Price was a brandname, and people hired him wanting Vincent Price. Fred Not-Established Actor has to do what the director tells him to, or he won't get work. If the director wants a caricature, that's what you deliver.

Also (to be pedantic), not British, but from the South (Georgia, if I remember correctly). Christopher Lee would have been the pick there (though certainly the keeping your dignity in appalling circumstances applies to Price in SPADES).

There is, I believe, a certain "Braugherness" that people pay AB to deliver...he has an ability, rather like Morgan Freeman's, to make really dumb dialogue sound like something that means a whole hell of a lot. But it's true that: a. Frank Pembleton was the icon, not necessarily Braugher.

b. I would probably rate that higher than the industry does because I am a big old fangirl and would be thrilled to hear my name in the Voice, right? And "Please don't be an idiot. Thank you." changed my life. Which is something your Piven-style agent is not going to cop to.

One of the few random facts I know is that Price was a Princeton grad. I saw a picture of him at about 22 in a student Shakespeare production, and oh my god, what a gorgeous young thing he was! In velvet and tights, no less.

I always remind people that Laurence Fucking Olivier did Clash of the Titans.

Don't forget that Michael Caine had to miss picking up his Oscar to film Jaws 4.

One of the few random facts I know is that Price was a Princeton grad. I saw a picture of him at about 22 in a student Shakespeare production, and oh my god, what a gorgeous young thing he was! In velvet and tights, no less.

It's funny how his career went since one of his first prominent roles was playing what basically amounted to a gigolo in LAURA.

A movie I highly recommend, by the way.

I saw two classic movies for the first time yesterday: The Hustler, which was amazing, and Dial M for Murder, which was fun.

Um... yeah. Yay classic movies!

Kattan Finds Inner Penguin

Comic actor Chris Kattan told SCI FI Wire he watched the Academy Award-winning documentary March of the Penguins to help figure out his voice for the penguin he's playing in the upcoming animated comedy Foodfight! The former Saturday Night Live comedian said he took the role very seriously and studied the cool birds before he took the role in the movie. It also stars Charlie Sheen as a dog, Eva Longoria as Lady X and Tony Longo as a Moose.

"I don't know, it helps to see what the real creatures are like," Kattan said in an interview at the premiere of his upcoming indie film with Parker Posey, Adam & Steve.

"How else did I find my inner penguin?" Kattan asked. "I ate a lot of Klondike bars and sat in a very cold pool for a long time. No, truly, I watched March of the Penguins and got some insight into my character." Kattan plays Polar Penguin, one of the birds who doesn't like the cold. "I personally don't really mind being that cold," he added.

Foodfight! is scheduled to come out in 2007 and also stars the voices of Hilary and Haylie Duff, Wayne Brady and Greg Ellis. Lawrence Kasanoff directed; he also produced the Mortal Kombat video games.

The 50 Greatest Indepenent Films

A lot of my faves are in there....