Man In A Hat: Martin Balsam And The Refining Of Male Character Acting In American Films, 1957-1976

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2020.235

Keywords:

Character acting, male, in film, United States, Martin Balsam, Academy Award for Best Performance by a Supporting Actor, Claude Rains, Alfred Hitchcock, 20th Century film acting.

Abstract

This article attempts a definition at what constitutes “character acting” in mainstream cinema in the United States and argues that throughout the peak of his film career—roughly, 1957 through 1976--Martin Balsam refined the definition of male character acting in American film, a parameter previously established by such skilled practitioners as Eugene Pallette and Claude Rains.  Balsam did this through his ability to portray what can be termed “a man in a hat” portrayals: tartly humorous, reliable, and sometimes authoritative supporting characters, usually wearing a chapeau.  This is clearly seen in such performances as the private investigator in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960) and most interestingly, a partner in an unusual subway hijacking in Joseph Sargent’s The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three (1974). 

Author Biography

John Thomas McGuire, Lecturer in History Siena College

Lecturer, History

References

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Van Gilder, L. (1996) “Martin Balsam Is Dead at 76; Ubiquitous Character Actor,” New York Times (14 February), Accessed March 27, 2014, http://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/14/nyregion/martin-balsam-is-dead-at-76-ubiquitous-character-actor.html .m/

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Published

2020-03-11

How to Cite

McGuire, J. T. (2020). Man In A Hat: Martin Balsam And The Refining Of Male Character Acting In American Films, 1957-1976. CINEJ Cinema Journal, 8(1), 30–59. https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2020.235

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 1 (2020): Winter 2020

Section

Articles

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