Rip Mickey Rooney

[Ric.ror]

Passed away at the age of 93
Just seen a photo of him with Ava Gardner - how strange to think they were ever married

[emmie]

he was supposed to have been one of the most prolific lotharios in Hollywood, you wouldn't have thought to look at him, eight wives wasn't it?

[emmie]

i loved his films by the way, him and Judy Garland when young,
he was a fine singer, dancer, RIP

[emmie]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26917746

[Ric.ror]

It just looks like a woman married to a boy

[emmie]

married one whole year, some of the others weren't any better,

[joggerjayne]

Brilliant as Mr Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Nowadays, one or two whingers grumble about the inappropriate Japanese stereotyping. But, at the time, it was light hearted, innocent, affectionate, and superbly and hilariously performed by MR.

[emmie]

great song and dance man, little but feisty

[emmie]

Ava was 20 he was 22, she just looks more worldly

[jno]

actually, the Variety review at the time - I just happen to have a copy to hand, as one does - says Rooney's performance in Breakfast at Tiffany's is "unnecessarily incongruous", with which I agree.

He's great in Pulp, though.

He said "I've been working all my life, but it seems longer."

[sp1814]

Was talking over the weekend about the Hollywood 'old guard' based on a post that AOG made last week.

We were naming those who are still alive from the golden age of the studio system.

By my reckoning (up until today), we just have Kirk Douglas, Lauren Bacall and Doris Day.

[Zeuhl]

/we just have Kirk Douglas, Lauren Bacall and Doris Day./

don't leave out the lovely Luise Rainer

the first actor to win an Oscar two years running and still going song at 104

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0707023/?ref_=nv_sr_3

[Zeuhl]

'going strong' even

[anotheoldgit]

Yes yet another great gone to that big stage in the sky RIP.

What talent he had not only a great actor singer, dancer and from this youtube clip percussionist.

Are there any of the present day 'super stars' that can compete with these great stars of the past?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghj7XY5L87Y

[emmie]

though he has quit Strictly, Bruce Forsyth was a great song and dance man, and can still do the soft shoe shuffle.

[emmie]

i watched many of his films, i am a big Hollywood musical fan,

[emmie]

the big chap in the clip is the band leader Paul Whiteman

[maggiebee]

Emmie, how can you even put Mickey Rooney and Bruce Forsyth in the same sentence (well you didn't actually) but you seemed to be comparing them. One a star, the other a has been.

[Zeuhl]

/Are there any of the present day 'super stars' that can compete with these great stars of the past? /

Clearly the likes of Rooney and Garland came from a totally different environment based on vaudevillian/variety traditions.

And the movies they worked in were very different too.

And they were exceptions. Then as now, most screen performers specialised in just one area.

Today, people like Chris Walken and Hugh Jackman come from a musical theatre background of course and are talented singers and dancers, but I'm not sure we lose anything much today having great screen actors who can't play the drums.

[emmie]

maggie, perhaps you are not old enough to remember him on the Sunday night at the London Palladium, he was a wonderful all round entertainer.
I wasn't referring to now, besides Rooney hadn't worked in musicals for years,