| re: Gene Nelson -- No "White Privilege" Benefit? | |
| Last Edit: BroadwayTonyJ 01:11 am EST 03/08/21 | |
| Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 01:03 am EST 03/08/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Gene Nelson -- No "White Privilege" Benefit? - PlayWiz 12:39 pm EST 03/07/21 | |
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| I was replying to your comment, i.e., "Gene Nelson should have been a much bigger star" -- which I agree with wholeheartedly. Nelson performed some amazing feats of athletic dancing in the musicals he made with Day, Cagney, MacRae, and other lesser names prior to Oklahoma. However, according to every critical source I know, those films were subpar, mediocre programmers, not like the classic ones those stars were famous for. Some were watchable, even enjoyable, but definitely undistinguished. One small exception was Crime Wave, a low-budget nifty little entry in the film noir genre. After Oklahoma -- Be honest! -- everything Nelson was offered in film was crap. That's why he went into television and eventually back to the stage. Nelson worked hard all his life and deserved the success he achieved, which was a career of being employed in the entertainment business. I wasn't going on a race tangent -- I made a simple comment which I believe to be accurate. The movie business in the 40's and 50's did not give him any special treatment because he was white. It was an impersonal business -- it used his talent briefly -- he really only made a single, truly distinguished film for which he is known today. When I made my comment, I was thinking of the similarity to the careers of Patrick Adiarte and Yuriko Kikuchi, who distinguished themselves in the film of The King and I. Adiarte had another fine showcase in Flower Drum Song, but eventually ended up on TV. Kikuchi went back to the world of dance, returned to the stage to direct Brynner in a 70's revival of The King and I, and has had a long, fruitful life despite never becoming a major star. Some years ago I saw an interview that Adiarte gave. He spoke highly of Brynner (whom he regarded as authentically Asian) and his whole experience in the stage, film, and TV work that defined his career. He didn't seem bitter about not becoming a star. He affirmed rather proudly that he had a long, satisfying career in the entertainment business. I don't understand the various comments from posters on ATC who seem more upset about Adiarte and Kikuchi's not achieving lasting stardom than Adiarte and Kikuchi themselves are. Anyway just IMO. |
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| Next: | re: Gene Nelson -- No "White Privilege" Benefit? - whereismikeyfl 09:31 am EST 03/08/21 |
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