Thursday Movie Picks / Actors or Actresses Playing Themselves
I am doing Thursday Movie Picks again.
It is hosted by Wandering through the Shelves.
The theme for Thursday this week is: Actors of Actresses Playing Themselves.
I had thought about writing about actors playing themselves in a main role, but I could only think of one movie, so I thought I would write about actors playing themselves in cameo roles.
Dancing Lady (1933) ~ Fred Astaire
This movie is Fred Astaire's first film appearance, and the only time he played himself.
Angels in the Outfield (1951) ~ Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby who was a part owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates, plays himself in a short cameo appearance.
The Bellboy (1960) ~ Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis plays himself in a cameo appearance... in a film were he also plays the main character.
Excellent picks!!
ReplyDeleteI'd completely forgotten that Astaire played himself in Dancing Lady or as it could be properly be known-Joan & 42nd St. I enjoy the film, Crawford and Gable always paired well, but Joan's dancing "skills" leave a great deal to be desired. She does fine below the waist but the wild swinging of arms remove any grace from her movements. She won many dance contests before her discovery though so maybe it looked better in person.
It's been quite a while since I've seen Angels in the Outfield and don't recall Bing's appearance but it was probably tossed off within the film.
Like many I think a little Jerry Lewis goes a long way for me but The Bellboy had its moments and his cameo as himself is good but I don't think I've ever watched one of his films more than once.
Kudos for finding these in older films. I struggled some with mine. I did think of Hollywood Canteen and Stage Door Canteen but that seemed like a cheat since there was no real surprise that the stars were playing themselves, that was the whole premise and the Road movies but couldn't remember which one Dorothy Lamour showed up as herself so mine or of a more current vintage this week.
Airplane! -Kareem Abdul Jabar (1980)-Wacky spoof of disaster movies and in particular the 1957 Dana Andrews/Linda Darnell film Zero Hour! Kareem plays himself though for some reason he’s pretending to be co-pilot Roger Murdock leading to many puns.
Wings of Desire-Peter Falk (1987)-Dreamy and cerebral fantasy from Wim Wenders about two angels, Damiel & Cassiel who float above Berlin offering rays of hope for the downtrodden without their knowledge. When Damiel falls for trapeze artist Marion and longs for a non-spectral existence he is given some unexpected advice from Peter Falk (as himself) who harbors a secret unknown to all.
Zoolander-David Bowie (2001)-In this loony satire of the male modeling industry the legendary Bowie appears as the judge of a fashion runway “walk-off” between Ben Stiller’s Derek Zoolander and Owen Wilson’s rival male model Hansel McDonald.
Thank you! :) I haven't seen the movies you've mentioned, but they sound fun.
DeleteNice picks! I didn't know Astaire played himself in a movie, these ones are all new to me.
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
DeleteYou picked great ones here and I totally forgot about Dancing Lady. Poor Fred had to teach clodlike dancing of Joan Crawford. I have no idea why she won so many contests but maybe she gave some judges a knee like treat. Oops did I just write that out loud?? She looks like a farm gal trying to dance. Anyhoo, I only saw parts of Angels of the Outfield but always missed the beginning. The Bellboy was funny but it has been a very long t8me since I saw this movie that I forget his cameo appearance. Love your choices.
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
DeleteI had no idea Bing Crosby was part owner of the Pirates!
ReplyDeleteHe was part owner from 1946 till his death in 1977. :)
DeleteI haven't seen any of these films (nor head of, for the matter) but I like that you were with three black and white films.
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
DeleteWhat was the movie where an actor played themselves in a main role?
ReplyDeleteThe movie where an actor played themself in a main role was "To Hell and Back" with Audie Murphy.
DeleteSuch interesting picks! I never knew that there is a film in wich Astaire starred as himself!
ReplyDeleteThank you! :) It was a small role he was in a couple dance numbers with Joan Crawford. :)
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