Re: query: films about film actors lost in roles

From: Kenneth Nolley [[email protected]]

My first thought was a snide one--that John Wayne got lost in his role and =
never recovered.  But a more serious reaction to the question might be Eliz=
abet in Persona, who never (in the film anyway) recovered from her role as =
Medea. =20
k
********** =20

From: Darryl Wiggers <[email protected]>

The ideal example might be the American Playhouse short (about an hour long=
) Who Am I This Time?, based on the story by Kurt Vonnegut. Christopher Wal=
ken plays an extremely introverted small town dweller who only comes to lif=
e when he's performing in local theatre productions. Susan Sarandon plays a=
 town visitor who is talked into playing the role of Stella in their latest=
 production of A Streetcar Named Desire opposite Walken's Stanley Kowalski =
persona. She falls in love with his Stanley character. How she resolves to =
keep their relationship going involves him perpetually indulging in playing=
 other characters too.

In a way the nature of their relationship is very similar to the ones in Se=
cretary, where two shy, socially insecure people can only function in a rel=
ationship if they indulge in their S&M desires, playing dominant and submis=
sive roles. Both stories involve characters questioning whether this is hea=
lthy but they ultimately resolve that, if it makes them happy, and it's not=
 hurting anyone, why not?

dw
________________________________________
From: Maiershofer, Erik C [[email protected]]

Tony,

I am not sure if this is what you are looking for, but two examples come
to mind.  Joaquin Phoenix's "I'm Still Here" might be one, depending
upon how you view it.  Some of Andy Kaufmann's work might be included,
particularly his wrestling persona and the aftermath.  In both cases,
there is a blurring between actor and role, and one is not clear if this
is an actor or an actor playing himself.

Erik C. Maiershofer, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of History
College of Arts and Sciences
Hope International University
714-879-3901 x1282

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