[Ted Cunterblast]

I was reminded of a good example of actors who only have a small amount of screen time, but really go for it and make a lasting impression, whilst watching Michael Mann's The Insider last night.

The Insider is based on the true story of Jeffrey Wigand, a chemist working for a major tobacco company who is fired and decides to blow the whistle on the methods being used to make cigarettes more addictive, and the efforts of the 60 Minutes news team to get the truth and air the story.

This short scene with Bruce McGill is a very good example of that...it's a superb smackdown and really jolts you back into the movie.

And yes that is Wings Hauser as the smirking attorney, a staple actor of many an 80's exploitation movie -


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNKmmA6_oTQ

[zooooooooooooo]

I could name dozens of character actors from the sixties or seventies, but three who stand out for me are Cyril Chamberlain, Richard Wattis and Michael Ripper. Unfortunately not many people nowadays will know who they are.

[Eddie Badger]

Originally Posted by zooooooooooooo

I could name dozens of character actors from the sixties or seventies, but three who stand out for me are Cyril Chamberlain, Richard Wattis and Michael Ripper. Unfortunately not many people nowadays will know who they are.

Ah Michael Ripper, a familiar face in all those great Hammer movies. Sam Kydd was another familiar face in British movies and TV for many years.

[ironjade]

Brian Cox in Michael Mann's "Manhunter". His few scenes as Hannibal Lecter are much more unnerving than Anthony Hopkins' version.
Too hear Lecter's cultured tones coming from the handsome Hopkins is far less unsettling than hearing them from the noticeably less handsome Cox.
Shamefully, he was never even asked if he wanted to play Lecter again in SOTL.

[zooooooooooooo]

Originally Posted by Eddie Badger

Ah Michael Ripper, a familiar face in all those great Hammer movies. Sam Kydd was another familiar face in British movies and TV for many years.

Yeah Sam Kydd was good. There was loads of greats, Dennis Price and George Woodbridge are another two deserving of a mention.

[Delboy219]

Well, i was going to say Brian Cox, but i was beaten to it.

[ironjade]

Sam Kydd
Reg Lye
Ron Pember
Ivor Dean
George Woodbridge
Michael Brennan
Thomas Heathcote
Victor Maddern
Michael Ripper
Michael Balfour
Harry Fowler
Miles Malleson
George Pravda
Steve Plytas
Aubrey Morris
George Murcell

and a whole regiment of others without whom the movie and tv would have been much less interesting.

In the interests of equality
Esme Cannon
Claire Davenport
Pat Coombs
Hilary Mason
Fanny Carby
Yootha Joyce
Stella Tanner

[mr muggles]

Always thought Veronica Cartwright steals most scenes she shares with Sigourney Weaver in Alien and her performance in The Witches Of Eastwick outshines Cher/Michelle & Susan by a mile.

Joanna Cassidys 'Zhora' completely steals the show from Harrison Ford in Bladerunner too!

Michelle Pfieffer (didispellthatright?) as catwoman owned Batman Returns...

Thelma Ritter, gr8 character actress from the 50's/60's was a gr8 scene stealer - see Rear Window and The Misfits.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman as the tranny in Flawless...!

[sinbad8982]

Shea Whigam
Stanley Tucci
Harry Dean Stanton
Bruce Mcgill
Philip Baker Hall
Charles Durning
Geoffrey Lewis
Bruce Greenwood

[CBFreak]

The most obvious case I can think of is Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now. You barely saw anything of him but his charisma shone through.

[mr muggles]

Catherine Keener, though not a 'bit part' player, is a second league indie actress (whom occasonally grazes the big league) who always seems to command attention.

Catherine O Hara comedy actress shines in anything.

[007Fusion]

Brad Pitt as the stoner in 'True Romance'.