RIP to a legend. Another one of his early moments, blink and you'll miss it - is as a soldier/john in Billy Wilder's 'Irma La Douce.' He's more interested in the baseball game on his transistor radio than he is in the prostitute he's about to engage for services.
Killer Elite - 1975 - great book, poor film, despite Caan's presence - I always wondered why it wasn't better - great director, great stars, great story - I suspect the shoot was not without problems.
I got to see "Thief" at a film festival, sitting behind Mr. Caan. This was years after it had been released. He spoke and did a Q&A after the movie, which was great. That's probably my favorite of his films, although it's hard to ignore "The Godfather."
Of the ‘70s larks, I remember “Freebie and the Bean” as being surprisingly good, even if the film is stolen, inevitably, by Alan Arkin. For late period Caan, see James Gray’s “The Yards” , one of the better movies about the New York subways, in which he provides a lot of nuance and texture to an imposing villain.
Ty, Thank you for the headline. Caan was much more than the Godfather. I will be in the minority but my favorites were Rollerball (Tokyo! Victory!) and Killer Elite. That is probably more an indication of my coming of age.
My James Caan story: A hot June day. 1964. Senior High skip day. My girlfriend and I went to Jones Beach (NY) for the day. I got the worst sunburn of my life. Baby Oil and Iodine. That night we sat through a double feature. One was a sneak preview. The Long Ships with Sidney Portier and Richard Widmark. The main feature was Lady in a Cage where James Caan locks Olivia de Haviland in a home elevator. My girlfriend and I sat through the double feature stiff-legged, afraid to move. Oh, yes, I digress. James Caan kinda lost his head in the movie but his acting skills improved over the years. Great in The Godfather but my favorite is Misery.
Sonny is a role that any actor would likely kill for (perhaps in hind sight)
A moment in the film has always stuck with me
Sollozzo : If you're worried about security for your million, the Tattaglias will guarantee it.
Sonny : Whoa, now, you're telling me that the Tattaglias guarantee our investment without...?
Don Corleone : Wait a minute.
[the Don gives his son a cold stare, freezing Santino into silence.
Don Corleone : [dismissive] I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them, as you can see.
----------
Don Corleone : Santino, come here.
Don Corleone : What's the matter with you? I think your brain is going soft with all that comedy you are playing with that young girl. Never tell anyone outside the Family what you are thinking again. Go on.
Not even God himself can control a feral Santino. ('Pop' does!) But here the dynamic between father and son is palpable. Many think the Don is losing his fastball but here even Sonny tucks tail. I love the dynamicic between two incredible actors. Albeit Brando the God.
One of my favorites: his sly, sexy turn as the leader of a band of street toughs who terrorize Olivia de Havilland in 1964’s gritty nail-biter Lady in a Cage
I forwarded your tribute to my brother, who loved it, but noted HIS favorite Caan moment: Caan's wonderful bit in A BRIDGE TOO FAR as the soldier who forces a reluctant doctor (the underappreciated Arthur Hiller) at gunpoint to operate on his comatose and presumed-dead commanding officer. It's a great little nugget of drama tucked deep inside that massive epic film, but it was pretty much the first thing that came to mind when we heard Caan had passed.
Badda bing...badda boom!
RIP to a legend. Another one of his early moments, blink and you'll miss it - is as a soldier/john in Billy Wilder's 'Irma La Douce.' He's more interested in the baseball game on his transistor radio than he is in the prostitute he's about to engage for services.
"Misery" is my forever James Cann favorite!
Killer Elite - 1975 - great book, poor film, despite Caan's presence - I always wondered why it wasn't better - great director, great stars, great story - I suspect the shoot was not without problems.
Rollerball silly? How dare you... ;-)
I liked Harry and Walter Go to New York in 1976. Silly but fun...with a great cast and Lowell, Massachusetts featured!
I got to see "Thief" at a film festival, sitting behind Mr. Caan. This was years after it had been released. He spoke and did a Q&A after the movie, which was great. That's probably my favorite of his films, although it's hard to ignore "The Godfather."
Of the ‘70s larks, I remember “Freebie and the Bean” as being surprisingly good, even if the film is stolen, inevitably, by Alan Arkin. For late period Caan, see James Gray’s “The Yards” , one of the better movies about the New York subways, in which he provides a lot of nuance and texture to an imposing villain.
Ty, Thank you for the headline. Caan was much more than the Godfather. I will be in the minority but my favorites were Rollerball (Tokyo! Victory!) and Killer Elite. That is probably more an indication of my coming of age.
I liked Alien Nation. Good performances by Caan and Mandy Patinkin.
My James Caan story: A hot June day. 1964. Senior High skip day. My girlfriend and I went to Jones Beach (NY) for the day. I got the worst sunburn of my life. Baby Oil and Iodine. That night we sat through a double feature. One was a sneak preview. The Long Ships with Sidney Portier and Richard Widmark. The main feature was Lady in a Cage where James Caan locks Olivia de Haviland in a home elevator. My girlfriend and I sat through the double feature stiff-legged, afraid to move. Oh, yes, I digress. James Caan kinda lost his head in the movie but his acting skills improved over the years. Great in The Godfather but my favorite is Misery.
Sonny is a role that any actor would likely kill for (perhaps in hind sight)
A moment in the film has always stuck with me
Sollozzo : If you're worried about security for your million, the Tattaglias will guarantee it.
Sonny : Whoa, now, you're telling me that the Tattaglias guarantee our investment without...?
Don Corleone : Wait a minute.
[the Don gives his son a cold stare, freezing Santino into silence.
Don Corleone : [dismissive] I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them, as you can see.
----------
Don Corleone : Santino, come here.
Don Corleone : What's the matter with you? I think your brain is going soft with all that comedy you are playing with that young girl. Never tell anyone outside the Family what you are thinking again. Go on.
Not even God himself can control a feral Santino. ('Pop' does!) But here the dynamic between father and son is palpable. Many think the Don is losing his fastball but here even Sonny tucks tail. I love the dynamicic between two incredible actors. Albeit Brando the God.
Brian’s Song is my favorite Caan film for just the reasons you point out.
I loved any role he had. Much fun was watching him, weekly, in Las Vegas.
One of my favorites: his sly, sexy turn as the leader of a band of street toughs who terrorize Olivia de Havilland in 1964’s gritty nail-biter Lady in a Cage
I forwarded your tribute to my brother, who loved it, but noted HIS favorite Caan moment: Caan's wonderful bit in A BRIDGE TOO FAR as the soldier who forces a reluctant doctor (the underappreciated Arthur Hiller) at gunpoint to operate on his comatose and presumed-dead commanding officer. It's a great little nugget of drama tucked deep inside that massive epic film, but it was pretty much the first thing that came to mind when we heard Caan had passed.