So after bashing Melanie Griffith’s annoying tribute to Jean Harlow, I thought I would ask the Brain Trust: What’s your favorite?
As far as I can tell, there is no complete list of TCM tributes (not even on Wikipedia!), so here’s my catalog, which I’m sure is incomplete. I’m not talking about the “What a Character” features (sorry, Edna May Oliver and William Frawley) or Film Fanatics (sorry, noir fans) or brief comments (sorry, Jane Wyman or Gloria De Haven about getting your hair washed by Marlene Dietrich).
This is strictly one actor or actress talking at length about another actor or actress.
Here goes:
Ernest Borgnine on Robert Ryan.
Michael Caine on Cary Grant.
Keith Carradine on Greer Garson.
Richard Chamberlain on Claude Rains
Tony Curtis on Cary Grant.
Michael Feinstein on Fred Astaire.
Peter and Jane Fonda on Henry Fonda.
Melanie Griffith on Jean Harlow.
Martin Landau on Bela Lugosi. Update: I see this is a “Word of Mouth” (aka “Damn Good Actress”/”Loved Every Minute of It”) and shouldn’t be in this category.
Jack Lemmon on Billy Wilder.
Paul Newman on Elizabeth Taylor.
Chazz Palminteri on Edward G. Robinson.
Robert Redford on Natalie Wood.
Burt Reynolds on Spencer Tracy.
George C. Scott on James Cagney.
Elizabeth Taylor on Montgomery Clift.
Marlo Thomas on Loretta Young.
John Waters on Vincent Price.
Have I missed your favorite? Let me know!
Tony Curtis on Cary Grant. It was fun watching Tony’s man-crush, and as for Cary himself — why, I’d watch that boy do absolutely anything.
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My favorite was the Marlo Thomas on Loretta Young. I want to remember that Loretta young was Marlo’s Godmother?
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George C Scott on James Cagney
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Kevin Spacey on Jack Lemmon.
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I’m not sure I have seen that one. I’ll have to track it down. Thanks!
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John Gielgud’s tribute to Claude Rains, who was one of his acting teachers. It was touching to hear the awe he held for Rains’s talent.
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Oh, I remember that one now and it is excellent.
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In reading this list I thought of some others omitted:
Julianne Moore on Myrna Loy
Kelsey Grammer on Lauren Bacall
Liza Minnelli on Vincente Minnelli
Michael Douglas on Kirk Douglas
Clint Eastwood on James Garner
Carrie Fisher on Debbie Reynolds
Meryl Streep on Bette Davis
Ann Blyth on Joan Crawford
Janet Leigh on Norma Shearer
Cher on Katharine Hepburn
Kurt Russell on Elvis Presley
John Frankenheimer on Burt Lancaster
This is a feature I enjoy when the narrator has a personal connection of some kind to the star.
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Thanks for adding to the list!!!
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Love all those, but you omitted one of the latest, Doris Day on Rock Hudson. It was so great to hear from her. Love her!
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I don’t think I’ve seen that one. Thanks!
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That was a great one
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It aired in June or July, he was star of the month.
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Ah. I “cut the cord” to TCM for about six months because it was so repetitious.
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Older tributes, perhaps but among my favorites:
Jennifer Jason Leigh on Barbara Stanwyck
Laura Dern on Barbara Stanwyck
Patricia Clarkson on Ingrid Bergman
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Thanks! I think I have seen Laura Dern on Barbara Stanwyck, but not the others.
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