Jack Carson – courtesy of IMDB
Jack Carson is one underrated actor. Every movie I’ve ever seen him in I’ve liked. He had a great sense of comedic timing, could knock dramatic scenes out of the park and had a likable quality so important to being in motion pictures.
His body of work varied greatly. In the 1944 Cary Grant comedy Arsenic and Old Lace Carson plays a bumbling policeman/aspiring playwright while Grant is a successful writer. The greatest scene in the film comes when Carson happens upon Cary Grant, who happens to be tied up and bound to a kitchen chair waiting to be killed by the movie’s villain. Carson, rather than understanding Grant’s in terrible danger, uses the situation to his advantage and acts out his play. It’s hilarious.
Carson and Dennis Morgan, an adorable actor in his own way, did a series of buddy movies together. These are all light and fun, perfect little pick-me-ups.
Carson was also an accomplished dramatic actor.
He was excellent as Gooper, Brick’s brother, in the 1958 version (and only version, in my mind) of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Carson held his own in one of the greatest ensemble casts ever assembled for a movie. He and Madeleine Sherwood were excellently slimy as Gooper and Mae Pollitt, exactly what I think of whenever I read the Tennessee Williams play. As sexy as Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor were together, Carson and Sherwood were the exact opposite – such a great accomplishment.
Carson also appeared in Mildred Pierce, another dramatic film with a great cast. He holds his own against diva and drama queen Joan Crawford. That’s quite an accomplishment.
If you’ve never had the pleasure of seeing a Jack Carson film, do yourself a favor and watch one. You’ll be impressed by his range of talent. As a comedian or hard-hitting dramatic actor, he’s pretty great. Pick any movie on his long list of performances and I promise you’ll enjoy it.
Roz Writes 