Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas died on February 5 at the age of 103. An actor of vitality, determination, and conscience, Douglas appeared in over 90 films. This week on “Picture Perfect,” we’ll honor his memory with music from four of his personal favorites.
We’ll begin with “Spartacus” (1960). Douglas plays the 1st century leader of a slave revolt against the Roman Empire. His co-stars include Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, and Tony Curtis. The music is by Alex North (born in Chester, PA, just outside of Philadelphia). The love theme, one of North’s best-known melodies, lends a sense of human connection amidst the martial fanfares and gladiatorial violence.
Douglas is often credited with having broken the back of the Hollywood blacklist by openly acknowledging Dalton Trumbo as the screenwriter on “Spartacus.” Trumbo had been forced underground as a ghostwriter for refusing to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee. The film became the biggest money-maker in the history of Universal Studios, up to that time.
Vincente Minnelli’s cynical exposé of behind-the-scenes Hollywood, “The Bad and the Beautiful” (1952), stars Douglas as a ruthless mogul, who uses and abuses everyone around him. It’s one of his great “bad boy” characterizations. The film, which also features Lana Turner, Walter Pigeon, Dick Powell, and Gloria Graham, won a whole slew of Oscars. Graham was recognized as Best Supporting Actress.
The music is by Philadelphia-born David Raksin, who is best-remembered for his theme to the all-time noir classic “Laura.” It doesn’t seem possible, but here he really surpasses himself. If you love the sound of Golden Age Hollywood, complete with haunting saxophone, then this one’s for you!
Minnelli directed Douglas in another one of his standout roles, a much more sympathetic portrayal of the tortured artist Vincent Van Gogh, in “Lust for Life” (1956). For the film, Douglas turns in one of the great performances of his career. Furthermore, his physical resemblance to the painter is uncanny.
Anthony Quinn won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor as Van Gogh’s sometimes friend, the artist Paul Gaugin. The powerful score is by the great Miklós Rózsa, who here marries his Hungarian-inflected signature sound to an evocative sort of French impressionism.
Finally, when Kirk isn’t fighting giant squid, he’s singing “A Whale of Tale,” as Ned Land, in Walt Disney’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” (1954). The otherwise brooding score is a real showcase for Paul J. Smith, who had earlier provided incidental music for Disney’s animated features “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Bambi,” and “Pinocchio.”
As actor, director, producer, and author, Douglas was a whale of a talent. He himself included these four titles among his top ten films.
Bad and beautiful, with a lust for life, and in a league of his own… Douglas can still knock your block off, this Friday evening at 6:00 EST, on WWFM – The Classical Network and at wwfm.org.
PHOTOS: Douglas in “Spartacus,” “The Bad and the Beautiful,” “Lust for Life,” and “20,000 Leagues”
