Thanks for reading! Roy Scheider is one of my favorite actors, so let me give your idea some thought. In the meantime, have you read my post about his performance in "All That Jazz?"
Gene Hackman’s greatness was not just in the landmark films. It was in how completely he could inhabit men who were compromised, exhausted, dangerous, funny, wounded, or already halfway beaten by life. He never made those characters feel like acting exercises. He made them feel like people you had met somewhere and could not quite forget. That is why the offbeat roles matter. They show the actor beneath the reputation, and the reputation was already enormous.
Thanks for reading! Yes, I agree - Hackman does a great job of playing villains, especially in "Unforgiven." He also has a great comment about my home state in that film too: “Hell I even thought I was dead, till I found out it was just that I was in Nebraska.” That cracks me up every time.
I’d add All Night Long from 1981. Watching Hackman portray a laid off executive running a pharmacy convinced me that he never gave a bad performance. Unlike other big name actors, he never phoned it in.
Thanks for reading! Yes, Hackman is great in "All Night Long" and the movie is a lot of fun. My favorite part is when Hackman is controlling the toy helicopter as "The Ride of the Valkyries" plays in a hilarious parody of "Apocalypse Now."
There’s no such thing as a bad ‘Gene Hackman’ film. Sure, he appeared in a few bad films, but he was always great in even those.
Fabulous actor!
Good recommendations, Jim. I’d add Downhill Racer to this list, too, and it has the added bonus of featuring Robert Redford’s only film in which he plays an unlikeable character…though, Redford being Redford, he does attain some kind of small redemption right at the very end in the final frame!
Thanks for reading! I agree with you - Gene Hackman makes every film he appears in better. Also, "Downhill Racer" is a great film too. I'm a big fan of director Michael Ritchie's movies.
Awesome list! Thanks for shining a light on these films. Couldn't agree with you more on your selections. I also think his performance in "French Connection II" is very under-appreciated, as is the film itself. And while it's pretty pulpy, I always loved his turn in "Uncommon Valor".
Thanks for reading! I also like “The French Connection" II” very much, and yes, Hackman is great in “Uncommon Valor.” Did you ever see the movie, “Under Fire?” I thought Hackman was great in that film too.
Great list, Jim. Prime Cut and Night Moves are two of my personal favorites. Even a lot of the 1970s movies that aren't considered classics are very worth it.
Thanks for reading! "Prime Cut" and "Night Moves" are two of my favorite Gene Hackman movies too. I think Hackman was one of those rare actors who could make any movie better just by being in it.
Oh and Bill Norton, who directed and wrote “Cisco Pike”, later wrote Sam Peckinpah’s “Convoy” (1978). The recently late scriptwriter Robert Towne also worked on “Cisco Pike”.
The strangest thing about “Eureka” is that it was actually a Nicolas Roeg film. Hackman makes it at the top of my New Hollywood list, with Nicholson. Always felt that these films in this era were often flawed, themselves, but they offered great characters to play for these contemporary actors of the time. Really like him in “Bonnie and Clyde” (1967). Good article, Jim.
That's a great idea! The new Criterion 4k/blu-ray of "Night Moves" comes out soon; and of course you can't go wrong with "The Conversation" or "The French Connection." I hope he enjoys them!
Thanks for reading! I hope you do check out some of the Hackman films I highlighted that you haven't seen - I'm sure you'll enjoy them. Also, I've heard of "Heist" but haven't seen it. I'll make an effort to find it on blu-ray or streaming and watch it soon. Wasn't it directed by David Mamet? I generally like his films. Thank you for the suggestion!
This made me imagine an agent giving these descriptions as Gene decided which role to take. It's like "get this, two hitchhikers try to start a car wash, or he's an evil human trafficker, but the town loves him". "Yeah, that sounds good"
That's awesome! And, you know, they call Hollywood in the 70's a decade under the influence (which is also the title of a great documentary about that period) for a reason. I doubt we'll ever see another decade like it again. Thanks for reading!
Hackman was multi-talented. And a great post. Now do Roy Scheider, please. (Apart from Jaws)
Hi George,
Thanks for reading! Roy Scheider is one of my favorite actors, so let me give your idea some thought. In the meantime, have you read my post about his performance in "All That Jazz?"
https://jimfields.substack.com/p/and-the-winner-isnt-roy-scheider?r=7qdx9&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
Gene Hackman’s greatness was not just in the landmark films. It was in how completely he could inhabit men who were compromised, exhausted, dangerous, funny, wounded, or already halfway beaten by life. He never made those characters feel like acting exercises. He made them feel like people you had met somewhere and could not quite forget. That is why the offbeat roles matter. They show the actor beneath the reputation, and the reputation was already enormous.
Hi Unconventional Curator,
Thanks for reading! Yes, I fully agree with you. I doubt we'll ever see another gifted actor like Gene Hackman ever again.
Always loved Gene Hackman
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for reading. I've always loved Gene Hackman too, and I miss him.
Hackman's over-the-top comedic roles were excellent also (e.g. Lex Luthor and, my favorite, the blind abbé in "Young Frankenstein ".
Hi Tutti,
Yes, I agree! I love Hackman's Lex Luthor, especially in "Superman II." Thank you for reading my article!
Recently rewatched Unforgiven and The Quick and the Dead. Hackman is such a great villain!
Hi Ellen,
Thanks for reading! Yes, I agree - Hackman does a great job of playing villains, especially in "Unforgiven." He also has a great comment about my home state in that film too: “Hell I even thought I was dead, till I found out it was just that I was in Nebraska.” That cracks me up every time.
I’d add All Night Long from 1981. Watching Hackman portray a laid off executive running a pharmacy convinced me that he never gave a bad performance. Unlike other big name actors, he never phoned it in.
Hi John,
Thanks for reading! Yes, Hackman is great in "All Night Long" and the movie is a lot of fun. My favorite part is when Hackman is controlling the toy helicopter as "The Ride of the Valkyries" plays in a hilarious parody of "Apocalypse Now."
There’s no such thing as a bad ‘Gene Hackman’ film. Sure, he appeared in a few bad films, but he was always great in even those.
Fabulous actor!
Good recommendations, Jim. I’d add Downhill Racer to this list, too, and it has the added bonus of featuring Robert Redford’s only film in which he plays an unlikeable character…though, Redford being Redford, he does attain some kind of small redemption right at the very end in the final frame!
Hi Mark,
Thanks for reading! I agree with you - Gene Hackman makes every film he appears in better. Also, "Downhill Racer" is a great film too. I'm a big fan of director Michael Ritchie's movies.
Awesome list! Thanks for shining a light on these films. Couldn't agree with you more on your selections. I also think his performance in "French Connection II" is very under-appreciated, as is the film itself. And while it's pretty pulpy, I always loved his turn in "Uncommon Valor".
Hi Mark,
Thanks for reading! I also like “The French Connection" II” very much, and yes, Hackman is great in “Uncommon Valor.” Did you ever see the movie, “Under Fire?” I thought Hackman was great in that film too.
Great list, Jim. Prime Cut and Night Moves are two of my personal favorites. Even a lot of the 1970s movies that aren't considered classics are very worth it.
Hi Darren,
Thanks for reading! "Prime Cut" and "Night Moves" are two of my favorite Gene Hackman movies too. I think Hackman was one of those rare actors who could make any movie better just by being in it.
Oh and Bill Norton, who directed and wrote “Cisco Pike”, later wrote Sam Peckinpah’s “Convoy” (1978). The recently late scriptwriter Robert Towne also worked on “Cisco Pike”.
The strangest thing about “Eureka” is that it was actually a Nicolas Roeg film. Hackman makes it at the top of my New Hollywood list, with Nicholson. Always felt that these films in this era were often flawed, themselves, but they offered great characters to play for these contemporary actors of the time. Really like him in “Bonnie and Clyde” (1967). Good article, Jim.
Nice piece, Jim.
Got to watch those films again.
Hi David,
Thanks! It's amazing how many great films Hackman made during his career.
I am getting my 17 year old son to watch them with me.
So he can see for himself what us “old guys” are on about.
I’ll keep an eye out.
That's a great idea! The new Criterion 4k/blu-ray of "Night Moves" comes out soon; and of course you can't go wrong with "The Conversation" or "The French Connection." I hope he enjoys them!
Thank you for this! I've seen CISCO PIKE but not the others. I will check them out.
Great! "Night Moves" is coming out soon as a Criterion 4k/blu-ray, so that might be a good place to start :) Thanks for reading my post!
Thanks. When I first started out as an entertainment reporter, I was lucky enough to get an interview with Hackman when HEIST came out.
Night Moves is coming out in 4K on Criterion in a couple of weeks
Hi Jonathan,
Yes! I'm pretty excited to see it again in a remastered 4k blu-ray, along with all the extras. Thanks for reading my post!
I loved it! Thanks for your articles.
Terrific list! You’ve given me some new titles. What about Heist—have you seen that one?
Hi Daniel,
Thanks for reading! I hope you do check out some of the Hackman films I highlighted that you haven't seen - I'm sure you'll enjoy them. Also, I've heard of "Heist" but haven't seen it. I'll make an effort to find it on blu-ray or streaming and watch it soon. Wasn't it directed by David Mamet? I generally like his films. Thank you for the suggestion!
Yes—it’s all Mamet. 👍
This made me imagine an agent giving these descriptions as Gene decided which role to take. It's like "get this, two hitchhikers try to start a car wash, or he's an evil human trafficker, but the town loves him". "Yeah, that sounds good"
That's awesome! And, you know, they call Hollywood in the 70's a decade under the influence (which is also the title of a great documentary about that period) for a reason. I doubt we'll ever see another decade like it again. Thanks for reading!