Tuesday, 21 November 2006
re: Altman
If ever an actress owed an entire career to one man, that would be Shelly Duvall. I didn't see 3 Women, though, but the first time I saw Shelly, I thought - Olive Oyl. When she was cast in Altman's Popeye (talk about an odd movie) as Olive Oyl, I was very pleased. Perfect casting.

Perfect miscasting was of her in The Shining. Whatever possessed Kubrick to choose her, we'll never know, but she was the last person you'd expect in the role, and yet, strangely correct. She has no movie star quality or aura since she is plain looking, toothy, high pitched, gawky, and someone you'd rather not look at.

Yet, she brings verisimilitude to a film by the fact that she is so ordinary a person and you don't think she's acting but simply being who she is.
Posted on 11/21/2006 2:25 PM by Mark Butterworth
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