Thursday, September 20, 2007

Kirk Douglas, The Greatest Hollywood Actor

Here's a drawing I did of Kirk from the frame below, and Bruce Timm rendered it up all beautifully for me.
Kirk Douglas is my all time favorite actor and has been very influential on me and my cartoons.

Thanks to Barbie for the scans from Film Threat! Go to her site for more fun.
BARBIE'S SKETCH-BLOG: FRESH MEAT


Before I discovered him, all my drawn and acting expressions came from standard cartoon acting.

I saw "Detective Story" in the early 80s and it opened the door for me to a much wider range of emotion, emotions I had personally experienced in life, but had never seen translated in cartoons, or even to that extent in live action.

I immediately started using more human expressions and gestures in my cartoon work, much to the horror of my Saturday Morning cartoon bosses at Hanna Barbera and Filmation.Kirk Douglas' talented back.

Kirk Douglas has a presence that makes you feel like he's really there in your living room. Most actors seem to be acting and allowing you to watch, but Kirk is pulsing, surging flesh and blood that commands you to experience his every conflicted emotion. He's not on the screen. He's right there next to you scorching you with his fetid breath. I wanted that in my cartoons.

Not until Ralph Bakshi hired me to direct Mighty Mouse, did anyone encourage my burning need to bring actual human emotion to cartoons.

BECOME A REAL MAN FOR CHRISTMAS!


More joy to come today....


JOHN K'S AMAZON STORE: MANLY MOVIES - KIRK DOUGLAS