Was doing a bit of reading and came across the fact that Henry Fonda passed away on August 12 1982.
Hard to believe it has been 30 years ago to the week that we lost such an amazing actor, who remained virtually unrewarded by the Oscar crowd until less than a year before he died.
He was no Hollywood Military man, he was the real deal. Fonda enlisted in the Navy to fight in World War II, saying, "I don't want to be in a fake war in a studio." Fonda served for three years, initially as a Quartermaster 3rd Class on the destroyer USS Satterlee. He was later commissioned as a Lieutenant Junior Grade in Air Combat Intelligence in the Central Pacific and was awarded the Navy Presidential Unit Citation and the Bronze Star.
Some amazing films I believe would not have had the punch they had without this incredibly talented man;
If it were not for Mr. Fonda as the cranky but somehow wonderful Norman Thayer Jr., I would not have even contemplated watching On Golden Pond, let alone enjoyed it as much as I did.
Mr. Roberts
As the earnest, protective and ultimately doomed LTJG Douglas A. 'Doug' Roberts
12 Angry Men
As the epitome of reason Juror No. 8
Fail-safe
As the troubled President of the United States in a position where any choice he makes is the wrong one.
Once Upon a Time In The West
As Frank, the villain you love to hate.
Other films which were certainly successful were made even better by his presence;
The Longest Day
As Teddy Roosevelt Jr, trying to make his own name and not relying upon the name of his Father.
The Battle of the Bulge
As Lt. Col. Kiley, trying to convince everyone that Germany is going to make one last push.
Midway
As the inimitable Chester Nimitz.
Have you seen these films? If you have not, you owe yourself the favor of at least watching those films in the first half of the list I posted.
What films strike a memory for you when you think of Henry Fonda?
What do you think was his best role?
Hard to believe it has been 30 years ago to the week that we lost such an amazing actor, who remained virtually unrewarded by the Oscar crowd until less than a year before he died.
He was no Hollywood Military man, he was the real deal. Fonda enlisted in the Navy to fight in World War II, saying, "I don't want to be in a fake war in a studio." Fonda served for three years, initially as a Quartermaster 3rd Class on the destroyer USS Satterlee. He was later commissioned as a Lieutenant Junior Grade in Air Combat Intelligence in the Central Pacific and was awarded the Navy Presidential Unit Citation and the Bronze Star.
Some amazing films I believe would not have had the punch they had without this incredibly talented man;
If it were not for Mr. Fonda as the cranky but somehow wonderful Norman Thayer Jr., I would not have even contemplated watching On Golden Pond, let alone enjoyed it as much as I did.
Mr. Roberts
As the earnest, protective and ultimately doomed LTJG Douglas A. 'Doug' Roberts
12 Angry Men
As the epitome of reason Juror No. 8
Fail-safe
As the troubled President of the United States in a position where any choice he makes is the wrong one.
Once Upon a Time In The West
As Frank, the villain you love to hate.
Other films which were certainly successful were made even better by his presence;
The Longest Day
As Teddy Roosevelt Jr, trying to make his own name and not relying upon the name of his Father.
The Battle of the Bulge
As Lt. Col. Kiley, trying to convince everyone that Germany is going to make one last push.
Midway
As the inimitable Chester Nimitz.
Have you seen these films? If you have not, you owe yourself the favor of at least watching those films in the first half of the list I posted.
What films strike a memory for you when you think of Henry Fonda?
What do you think was his best role?
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Sounds about right.
