RIP Michael Sarrazin, actor, 70

[Wayback]

Actor Michael Sarrazin's films include "The Flim-Flam Man" (1967), "The Sweet Ride" (1968), "They Shoot Horses, Don't They" (1969), "Sometimes a Great Notion" (1970), "The Pursuit of Happiness" (1971), "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean" (1972), "For Pete's Sake" (1974), "The Gumball Rally" (1976) and "Joshua Then and Now" (1985).  He died in Montreal of cancer, age 70.
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-michael-sarrazin-20110419,0,7568931.story

[RGMike]

And don't forget The Reincarnation of Peter Proud, with its infamous poster art of Sarrazin doing... er... what exactly *is* he doing?

[Tinka Cat]

I remember him from the made-for-TV Frankenstein, he played the creature.  I'm not sure I watched the entire thing (I think it was televised in two parts and I got bored at the lack of scary monster-action), but I think it's well-regarded as far as TV movies go.

[mshray]

I remember him from the made-for-TV Frankenstein, he played the creature.  I'm not sure I watched the entire thing (I think it was televised in two parts and I got bored at the lack of scary monster-action), but I think it's well-regarded as far as TV movies go.

yes!  that is my lasting memory of him as well.  The other one I remember is Harry In Your Pocket, where he was the up and coming pickpocket working with James Coburn's jaded old-timer Harry.  You know, as I think about it, this was totally ripped off by Scorsese's Color Of Money.  Paul Newman = James Coburn, Tom Cruise = Michael Sarrazin, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrontonio = Trish Van Devere (who was very yummy in this as I recall).  Both this & the TV Frankenstein were from 1973.

[Tinka Cat]

I remember him from the made-for-TV Frankenstein, he played the creature.  I'm not sure I watched the entire thing (I think it was televised in two parts and I got bored at the lack of scary monster-action), but I think it's well-regarded as far as TV movies go.

yes!  that is my lasting memory of him as well.  The other one I remember is Harry In Your Pocket, where he was the up and coming pickpocket working with James Coburn's jaded old-timer Harry.  You know, as I think about it, this was totally ripped off by Scorsese's Color Of Money.  Paul Newman = James Coburn, Tom Cruise = Michael Sarrazin, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrontonio = Trish Van Devere (who was very yummy in this as I recall).  Both this & the TV Frankenstein were from 1973.

I rented (or caught on cable) this one and recall some decent urban (NYC? Europe?) location shooting. The 70s sure was a creative time for movies.  I enjoy procedural movies like this, which demonstrate in real time a process like a heist or how to pick a pocket.  Does anyone remember the Ellery Queen series?  I have vague memories of that one, but from what I recall, the viewer is partial witness to some crime, although we don't know the identity of the criminal. Then Ellery shows up and does his interviewing thing, checks out the crime scene, etc.  He then breaks the fourth wall and invites the viewing audience to solve it. Then we go to a commercial break and eventually come back and find out who did it and why we should have known...

they made only one season, I think.   I imagine watching each more than once would offer diminishing returns on enjoyment.

[mshray]

I rented (or caught on cable) this one and recall some decent urban (NYC? Europe?) location shooting. The 70s sure was a creative time for movies.  I enjoy procedural movies like this, which demonstrate in real time a process like a heist or how to pick a pocket.  Does anyone remember the Ellery Queen series?  

A. Harry... was shot on location in Seattle, where I later went to college.

B.  I LOVED Ellery Queen!  I can, to this day, hum the theme song by Elmer Bernstein.  Starring Jim (father of Tim) Hutton.  David Wayne, aka The Mad Hatter in the 60's Batman series, played Inspector Richard Queen, Ellery's dad (and no explanation was ever given as to why he was 15 inches shorter than his son!).  Ran for 23 eps in '75-'76.  One of the all-time great shows that should have run longer than a single season.  (Last year's Rubicon is the most recent addition to that list)

[Tinka Cat]

I rented (or caught on cable) this one and recall some decent urban (NYC? Europe?) location shooting. The 70s sure was a creative time for movies.  I enjoy procedural movies like this, which demonstrate in real time a process like a heist or how to pick a pocket.  Does anyone remember the Ellery Queen series? 

A. Harry... was shot on location in Seattle, where I later went to college.

B.  I LOVED Ellery Queen!  I can, to this day, hum the theme song by Elmer Bernstein.  Starring Jim (father of Tim) Hutton.  David Wayne, aka The Mad Hatter in the 60's Batman series, played Inspector Richard Queen, Ellery's dad (and no explanation was ever given as to why he was 15 inches shorter than his son!).  Ran for 23 eps in '75-'76.  One of the all-time great shows that should have run longer than a single season.  (Last year's Rubicon is the most recent addition to that list)

TANC: my netflix shipment on the day I made that post was, indeed, disc one of the Ellery Queen mystery series!  I often set my queue and forget it, but I suppose subconscious knew it was soon to arrive.

I just finished watching the third ep.  Ida Lupino and Don Ameche starred, the previous one had Joan Collins and a cameo from Guy Lombardo.  David Wayne is great, and yes, tiny compared to Hutton.  although it takes place in the 1940s (Guy Lombardo's part was playing himself, the bandleader at a '46 New Year's Eve ball), some actors have feathered, highlighted hair!  they didn't try THAT hard to recreate every period detail. 

speaking of period mysteries, have you ever seen The Nero Wolfe Mysteries?   stars Maury Chaykin as the blustery corpulent, genius, gourmand titular detective & Tim Hutton as his wisecrackin' partner of sorts.  worth checking out.