Kirk Douglas 100

[SkyRider]

The "Ragman's Son" will turn 100 on December 9th. What an incredible life! He is probably the last member of Hollywood's Golden Age.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirk_Douglas

 

[explorerzip]

What an amazing career and life.

 

[dirkd101]

Good for him, reaching the century mark. A great actor, who must have some good old time Hollywood stories.

 

[Insidious Von]

Kirk Douglas always was an actor who made the most of what he had. Between 1952 - 62 he and his life long friend Burt Lancaster ran Hollywood.

Kirk also made two films with Stanley Kubrick, both absolute classics: Paths of Glory and Spartacus.

In Tough Guys, Burt played it straight but Kirk couldn't resist sending up his party animal image.

 

[Insidious Von]

For someone who never considered himself much of an actor Kirk made some outstanding films. He should have taken the Oscar for playing Vincent Van Gogh, to say it's a great performance is an understatement.

 

[Insidious Von]

One of my favorite westerns: Gunfight at the OK Corral.

 

[shack]

Kirk Douglas always was an actor who made the most of what he had. Between 1952 - 62 he and his life long friend Burt Lancaster ran Hollywood.

Kirk also made two films with Stanley Kubrick, both absolute classics: Paths of Glory and Spartacus.

In Tough Guys, Burt played it straight but Kirk couldn't resist sending up his party animal image.

Frank Gorshin impersonates Kirk and Burt.

 

[SkyRider]

Paths of Glory

Based on a true story about French soldiers who rebelled at being sent to a senseless death.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paths_of_Glory

Douglas suffered two massive strokes in the 1990's but here he is still walking this Good Earth.

 

[Aardvark154]

Based on a true story about French soldiers who rebelled at being sent to a senseless death.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paths_of_Glory

What irony an American anti-war film about the French lost the contest for the 1958 BAFTA Best Film Award to Bridge on the River Kwai.

 

[K Douglas]

Wow a century old. Congratulations Kirk.

Many on this board falsely assume that my screen name is an ode to Kirk. Truth be told I'm not a huge fan, I actually think Michael's a better actor. But respect where it's due.

 

[SkyRider]

The Kirk Douglas life story is typical of the experience of millions of other immigrants to these United States.

His Jewish parents left persecution in Russia to emigrate to the U.S. They were dirt poor. Hence, his father was a "ragman". Young Kirk worked multiple jobs to keep body and soul together and paid his way through college.

Kirk served in the U.S. Navy during WW II and was medically discharged for war injuries in 1944. He resumed his acting career that was interrupted during the war years and the rest is history.

They should make a movie about his incredible life.

 

[oil&gas]

He got to see Jean Simmons naked when filming Spartacus.
That alone made his life a rewarding one.

 

[bemeup]

Guess I'm the only one who's heard of the whole rape of teenage Natalie Wood thing.

 

[SkyRider]

Guess I'm the only one who's heard of the whole rape of teenage Natalie Wood thing.

Wow! Was not aware of that. I Googled it and there is such a rumour. If true, that is a huge black mark in his life story.

BTW: There is also a rumour that Natalie Wood was actually murdered by Robert Wagner.