Invasion of the Body Snatchers..

Kevin McCarthy/ Feb.15,1914- Sept.12,2010

The actor, Kevin McCarthy, passed away on Sept. 12, 2010, at the age of 96.  He was the brother of the renowned author, Mary McCarthy.  He played the role of "Biff" in the original London production of "Death of a Salesman", and in the 1951 film version, when he received an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor.

But in 1956, he was cast in a low budget film about a California town where residents are gradually replaced by pods from outer space.  The pods turn into creepy duplicates of the townsfolk.  McCarthy and co-star, Dana Wynter, spend the movie trying to escape "podification".  The way to do this is to stay awake.  Falling asleep, allows the pods to transform into humans.  

In 2008, the movie was named one of the Top 10 Science Fiction films of all time, by the American Film Institute.  McCarthy saw it as a metaphor about conformity.  He went on to play multiple roles in film, TV, and on stage.  He toured for two decades in, "Give 'Em Hell, Harry", as Pres.Harry Truman.

He also had a cameo role in the 1978 remake of the "Body Snatchers...", playing the man who throws himself against the car driven by Donald Sutherland, (the star), shouting, "Help!  They're coming!  Listen to me!"

RIP

http://minblu.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/lynxny



Blink !

I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE MYSELF FOR
AN OSCAR IN THE CATEGORY OF...
"BLINK OF AN EYE".
FOR A CAREER BEGUN AND OVER,
WITHIN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME.
X
THERE IS A MOMENT THAT ACTUALLY EXISTS,
THAT DIDN'T LAND ON THE CUTTING ROOM
FLOOR, BECAUSE IT WAS A VERY IMPORTANT
PART OF THE PLOT. I PLAYED MY ROLE
FLAWLESSLY, THE STAR HAD TO DO
SEVERAL TAKES. I'M ONLY SAYING.
X
Being discovered and auditioning
at the same time:
Hanging out with girlfriend. Wow!! 29 years ago!!
Sidewalk cafe, Ruelle's, Columbus Avenue
Upper West Side, NYC. Hot summer
afternoon, I'll work tomorrow.
All tables taken, sunglassed eyes sweeping
over every passerby.
x
Lots of equipment, cameras, etc. blocking the
sidewalk. "Hey, what's the movie?"
"Chapter Two, Neil Simon's story.."
"With?" "Marsha Mason". Pointing starts.
Pointing at me. Director sends assistant over
to my table. " Would you like to be in this scene?
all you have to do is react, turn your head, when
Ms. Mason runs by your table. OK? No pay".
x
I say OK. Why not? Something to talk about,
TWENTY NINE YEARS LATER?
We do it. Marsha runs past my table, my
head turns to observe. "Cut". We do it
again. And again. It's alright with me, I'm sitting,
she running. My very long curly red hair is
floating like a nimbus in the breeze, it's why
I'm in the scene. It always comes down to that.
Fourth take, that's the one. Thanks from the
assistant, a nod from the director, nothing
from Miss Mason. She's in the trailer.
x
I'm given a business card to go to the Studio
to pick up some photos they'll have of me in
the scene. Swell! Except pics exist for every
scene in every movie ever made, except mine!
But... you can catch a stellar performance by my
hair if you ever rent "Chapter Two". Towards
the end of the movie, red hair, glasses, head turn...
you can't miss me.
x
BLINK OF AN EYE!
And the winner is.......