The Couch Potato's Guide to Old Hollywood: The Legacy of Burt Lancaster

Hal Wallis Productions, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

By Geoff Carter

Burt Lancaster started his show business career as a young circus performer in the acrobatic duo of Lang and Cravat, but soon graduated to theater and, finally, the movies. His dominating screen presence landed him in tough-guy roles in films like The Killers and Brute Force where his physical prowess and striking good looks soon made him a box-office sensation. He was—at a time before the term was coined—the quintessential action hero. With his ability to exude a boyish charm, Lancaster was also an ideal romantic lead, but it was his the stare and clipped speech set him apart from a legion of tough-guy wannabes. As the “Swede” in his first big hit The Killers, Lancaster is perfect as the tough ex-boxer with a heart of gold, falling—and dying—for the ultimate femme fatale, as played by Ava Gardner.

Not content with being typecast as gangsters or pirates, Lancaster sought to widen his range by accepting more challenging roles like convict turned ornithologist Robert Stroud in the biopic The Birdman of Alcatraz or seditionist General James Mattoon Scott in the political thriller Seven Days in May or the sadistic columnist J.J. Hunsecker in the noir thriller The Sweet Smell of Success.

These films allowed Lancaster the opportunity to explore depths of complex characters not afforded to him in more commercially successful movies, a tendency he continued to throughout his storied career. In1980, Lancaster received his fourth Academy Award nomination for his depiction of Lou, a two-bit gangster in Louis Malle’s independent movie Atlantic City. Lancaster’s portrayal of a man with nothing—not even a past—who is given a last chance to make his pathetic final mark on the world is both pitiful and endearing because of Lou’s unquenchable optimism and hope for redemption.

In 1983, his depiction of eccentric millionaire Felix Happer in Bill Forsyth’s oddball comedy Local Hero is a masterful depiction as a sort of astronomically inclined Howard Hughes—without the paranoia.

Lancaster’s other later roles, including the washed-up outlaw Bill Doolin in Cattle Annie and Little Britches and the avuncular Doc “Moonlight” Graham in Field of Dreams are examples of an artist working at the height of his abilities bringing an unpretentious and humble—and very human—persona to his portrayals. Lancaster was a movie star early on, but as he aged, he became an artist and finally, an icon.

Burt Lancaster’s Ten Best Films

English: “Copyright 1953 Columbia Pictures Corp.”, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

From Here to Eternity: In this epic pre-World War II drama, Lancaster plays First Sgt. Milton Warden, stationed at Schofield Barrack on Oahu. When Cpl. Robert E. Lee Prewitt, (Montgomery Clift), a talented boxer, is transferred there, his C.O., Captain Holmes wants him on the team. Lee refuses and, as a result, Holmes makes his life a living hell. In the meantime, Warden starts a torrid affair with Holmes’ wife Karen (Deborah Kerr). When Prewitt’s best friend Maggio (Frank Sinatra) runs into sadistic Sgt. Judson (Ernest Borgnine), all hell breaks loose. As Sgt. Warden, Lancaster portrays a career soldier bound by duty but unable to harness his passion for Karen and his protectiveness for Prewitt, a man as principled as himself. Notable for Sinatra’s excellent performance.

Starring: Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Frank Sinatra, Ernest Borgnine, Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed, and Jack Warden. Written by Daniel Taradash. Directed by Fred Zinnemann.

English: “Copyright 1957 United Artists Corp.”, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Sweet Smell of Success: An outstanding film noir in which ruthless and powerful NYC nationally syndicated columnist J.J. Hunsecker (Burt Lancaster) forces press agent Sidney Falco (Tony Curtis) into sabotaging a romance between his little sister Susan (Susan Harrison) and jazz musician Steve Dallas (Martin Milner). Falco, because he has failed to get any good publicity for his clients, is facing ruin and is forced to do Hunsecker’s bidding. He tries to blackmail one columnist into smearing Dallas; when that fails, he sinks even lower, promising another writer a sexual favor for his help. As a result of these machinations, Dallas is fired and framed by Hunsecker. When Dallas lambasts Hunsecker, he forces Falco to go even further. Lancaster’s portrayal of the ruthless and power-mad columnist is a masterful depiction of histrionic machismo. His cruel, ruthless, and demanding demeanor dominates the screen even more powerfully than he dominates his lackeys. Notable for Ernest Lehman and Clifford Odets’ intensely snappy dialogue.

Starring: Tony Curtis, Burt Lancaster, Susan Harrison, Martin Milner, Sam Levene, and Barbara Nichols. Written by Ernest Lehman and Clifford Odets. Directed by Alexander Mackendrick.

Seven Days in May: In this political thriller about an impending military coup in America, Lancaster plays General James Mattoon Scott, a hawkish and egomaniacal general who is at the heart of the plot to overthrow the government. His subordinate “Jiggs” Casey (Kirk Douglas) stumbles upon some odd occurrences and coincidences, including a secret desert training base, and begins to realize that Scott is up to no good. Jiggs takes his suspicions to the President and his staff who try to forestall the end of America as they know it. Lancaster’s portrayal of the arrogant and power-hungry Scott is all the more frightening because he makes the man seem so rational and restrained. Notable for its great supporting cast.

Starring: Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Edmund O’Brien, Frederic March, Martin Balsam, and Ava Gardner. Written by Rod Serling. Directed by John Frankenheimer.

Atlantic City: In this 1980’s drama, Lancaster plays Lou, a small-time gangster with no prospects and whose only friend is Grace (Kate Reid) an aging washed-up beauty queen that he takes care of. Lou’s neighbor Sally (Susan Sarandon) is an aspiring blackjack dealer to whom Lou is attracted. When Sally’s sister Chrissie (Hollis McLaren) and Sally’s ex-husband Dave (Robert Joy) show up with a batch of stolen cocaine, Lou volunteers to help sell it. After Dave is killed, Lou continues to sell the coke and supports Sally until the gangsters from whom Dave stole it come after them. Lou kills them and is ordinately proud that he has defended Sally and proved his manhood. As Lou, Lancaster projects a pathetic yet endearing persona of an inconsequential man still yearning to prove himself and finally be somebody.

Starring: Burt Lancaster, Susan Sarandon, Robert Joy, Hollis McLaren, Kate Reid, and Al Waxman. Written by John Guare. Directed by Louis Malle.

Elmer Gantry: A gripping drama about Elmer Gantry (Lancaster), a traveling huckster who worms his way into the good graces of revivalist Sister Sharon Falconer (Jean Simmon) and convinces her to let him join her troupe. Through Gantry’s sales skills, Falconer’s troupe grows in size and popularity, but when Lulu Bains (Shirley Jones) recognizes Gantry as the man who seduced her and forced her into prostitution, she threatens to blackmail him. When an angry mob ransacks Falconer’s revivalist show and Gantry is reviled by the crowd, Lulu feels repentant and confesses that she set him up. After Falconer is able to build a new tabernacle, tragedy strikes, and Gantry is finally forced to face the consequences of his actions.

Starring: Burt Lancaster, Jean Simmons, Shirley Jones, Arthur Kennedy, Dean Jagger, and Patti Page. Screenplay by Robert Brooks from the novel by Sinclair Lewis. Directed by Robert Brooks.

Local Hero: In this quirky comedy by Bill Forsyth, Lancaster plays Felix Happer, a energy tycoon oddly fascinated with astronomical phenomena, and who is determined to develop an idyllic strip of Scottish seafront into a state-of-the-art refinery. He sends McIntyre (Peter Reigert) one of his corporate lackeys, to negotiate the deal with the local villagers, who are not averse to the wheels of progress. McIntyre, though, after taking Happer’s advice and examining the sky, becomes seduced by the simple charm and beauty of the place. When the deal hits a snag, Happer comes to the town and its world is turned upside down. Lancaster’s style is perfect for the pedantic and spiritual nature of Happer. Notable for Forster’s beautifully rendered script and his unique visionary style.

Starring: Burt Lancaster, Peter Reigert, Denis Lawson, Jenny Seagrove, Fulton McKay, and Peter Capaldi. Written and directed by Bill Forsyth.

Field of Dreams: In this classic baseball fantasy about a man, Ray Kinsella, (Kevin Costner) who hears a voice telling him he must build a baseball field in the middle of an Iowa cornfield. He builds it, meets the ghost of Shoeless Joe Jackson, and follows the voice as it tells him to kidnap Terence Mann (James Earl Jones), a famous writer, and find “Moonlight” Graham, an obscure minor-leaguer. He and Mann find that Graham (Lancaster), a local doctor, has long since passed away, but in this tale, he comes back to fulfill his ambition of facing a major-league pitcher. As Doc Graham, Lancaster exudes a reassuring air of quiet confidence and strength; he is friendly and supportive, everything a good doctor should be. Although he is only in less than one-quarter of the film, Lancaster creates a dominating, though understated, screen presence.

Starring: Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Burt Lancaster, Amy Madigan, Ray Liotta, and Timothy Busfield. Written by Phil Alden Robinson based on the novel Shoeless Joe by Ray Kinsella.

The Train: In this World War II thriller that takes place near the end of the war, the Nazis, under the command of Colonel Franz von Waldhem (Paul Scofield) are attempting to transport a trainload of stolen art masterpieces to Germany. Lancaster plays Paul Labiche, a railroad inspector and Resistance cell leader, is charged with ensuring that the art stays in France. Labiche and his cohorts try several ploys, including rerouting the train, and arranging a collision that will block the train from getting to its destination. After four of his comrades are killed and Labiche is left to his own devices, he manages to derail the train and prevent von Waldhem from taking the art into enemy territory. Lancaster’s portrayal of a man whose determination to complete his mission while necessarily paying the highest of prices is compelling. His performance, though predominantly physical, is also full of nuance and subtleties of a man being torn apart.

Starring: Burt Lancaster, Jeanne Moreau, Paul Scofield, Michael Simon, Albert Remy, and Charles Millot. Written by Franklin Coen, Frank Davis, and Walter Bernstein, Directe by John Frakenheimer.

Judgement at Nuremberg: The epic historical courtroom drama about the War Crimes Trials of prominent Nazis in Nuremberg following the Allied victory in World War II. Besides wrestling with issues of legality and crimes during wartime, the judges and attorneys must address the epic brutality of the Nazi concentration camps. Lancaster portrays Ernst Janning, a noted German jurist who had seduced by Nazism into perverting the law that he once held sacred. Lancaster shines in his limited screen time as a dignified and civilized man struggling with self-loathing for the crimes of himself and his people. Notable for Spencer Tracy’s epic acting and sterling supporting performances by Montgomery Clift and Judy Garland.

Starring: Spencer Tracy, Richard Widmark, Maximillian Schell, Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, and Judy Garland. Written by Abby Mann. Directed by Stanley Kramer.

Saul Bass , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Birdman of Alcatraz: The classic film that depicts the true story of Richard Stroud (Lancaster), a convicted murderer who, during his tenure at Alcatraz, became fascinated with the lives of wild birds that strayed into his cell. Stroud taught himself how to care for his birds and, in the course of his life sentence on The Rock, was responsible for ground-breaking research into the treatment of bird disease. Notable for a landmark performance by Burt Lancaster that features a transformation from a hardened killer into an empathic and devoted caregiver to his beloved birds.

Starring: Burt Lancaster, Karl Malden, Telly Savalas, Thelma Ritter, and Neville Brand. Written by Guy Trosper and directed by John Frankenheimer.