by Jay Amicarella
What?! No beer in the other hand?
A recent discussion with a couple of Wheezers gave me the idea for a new series of articles, of which this is the first: Horrible casting jobs by Hollywood in popular films of the past. These will be presented in no particular order, so don't look at Bendix as the Bambino in 1948's "The Babe Ruth Story" as the apex, or nadir, of casting errors. It's such a subjective category that it is largely a matter of personal preference as to who garners the absolute worst casting of all time. But trust me when I say that this, and future entries, are all cases that make you wonder what the hell studio execs were thinking when they chose the actor for the role. And how freaking deluded that actor must have been to believe he/she could not only play the part, but give it something no one else could!
Take our opening role, the challenge of playing Babe Ruth in his own bio. We'll give William Bendix a hair more slack than modern actors, given the stranglehold Hollywood had on actors back then, and the pictures they forced them into. Maybe he didn't want the role? Whatever, Willam B. in no way resembled the Babe, who actually looked more like a gorilla than a human being. And you'll cringe when you witness the 42-yr old Bendix, hair dyed dark to try and capture youth, portraying Ruth as a teenage orphan, complete with "Gee, Brother Matthias, I didn't mean to break that window" kind of dialogue.
As bad as the casting was, the script, and the execution of it, are even worse. The notorious alcoholic and womanizing Ruth, known for his gross appetites both physical and sexual, is written for the screen as just a misunderstood, simple-minded goof, with not a bad bone in his body. The famous incident when newsmen of the day saved his fat ass from scandal, by covering up a boozy sojourn with a hooker, is presented in the film as gospel. Yep, the Sultan of Swat missed that game cuz he was visiting a dying boy in a hospital. (!) And the ludicrous finale has the world mourning as the heroic Ruth is lifted up to the clouds from his deathbed, as a heavenly choir salutes a Great American. I kid you not.
So, let's have fun with this new series. Feel free to use the 'Comments' section not only to give me feedback on the latest entry, but to nominate your own favorite examples of Hollywood casting at its worst. Fellow Wheezer Tom O'Brien has already suggested John Wayne's awful portrayal of Genghis Khan in "The Conqueror" as a HORRIBLE CASTING MISTAKE. And Wheezer Steve Lindstedt offered Rod Steiger's cringe-worthy performance as W.C. Fields. What are your yours? Let me know, and if I use your idea, the subsequent article will give you credit in full.
by Jay Amicarella
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