A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
|
|
|
World of Westfahl |
Encyclopedia Introduction |
All Entries |
Acknowledgements
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
|
MCKERN, LEO (1920–2002). Australian actor.
After leaving Australia
to seek fame and fortune in England,
McKern did Shakespeare on stage but, oddly bothered
by stage fright, he was soon relying on film
work to earn his living. Few people noticed him in the company of an amorphous
monster in X the Unknown or
the equally distracting, overacting Peter SELLERS
in The Mouse That Roared, but
he stepped to the forefront in The Day the Earth Caught Fire, a disaster film about the Earth moving
closer to the Sun that unusually adopted the perspective of journalists
covering the story, with McKern commandingly
effective as the newspaper editor closely following developments.
It would seemingly be impossible to hog the spotlight in the company
of the world's most popular musicians, The Beatles,
but McKern managed to pull it off in Help!, becoming the film's true star as the obsessed cult leader seeking
Ringo STARR's special ring and paradoxically
earning the audience's sympathy and respect for his unfailing energy and
ingenuity in pursuing that goal. Given the Beatles' visible indifference
to the entire project, it was McKern's manic
commitment to the silly plot that kept the movie in motion. McKern
also proved to be the only Number Two who could really hold his own against
Patrick MCGOOHAN in The Prisoner,
uniquely earning him the role in three episodes, including the surrealistic
climax. No one except the series' leading actor better understood the
game that McGoohan was playing, or how to play it well. But McKern was wise as well as talented, and hence
made no attempt to attract attention amidst the melodramatic nonsense
of The Shoes of the Fisherman, Ladyhawke, The Omen, and its even direr sequel (for
the latter two, he was even clever enough to avoid receiving screen credit).
And, facing the British science fiction actor's inevitable chore of guest-starring
on Gerry and Sylvia ANDERSON's
fiasco Space: 1999, he shrewdly signed up for
a role that allowed him to quickly die and get off camera before the traditionally
inane plot staggered to another insufferable climax.
As colorful roles for aging fat men inevitably became harder
to find, McKern retreated to series television, garnering
his greatest renown for seven seasons of Rumpole of the Bailey (1978–1992). As a cantankerous, bewigged barrister,
he did the best one could expect in dealing with generally routine courtroom
dramas. However, as the evidence demonstrates, both Leo McKern
and his audiences had more fun when he confronted stranger challenges. |
||||
To contact us about encyclopedia matters, send an email to Gary Westfahl. Hosted & Designed By:
If you find any Web site errors, typos or other stuff worth mentioning,
please send it to our Webmaster.
Copyright © 1999–2013 Gary Westfahl All Rights Reserved Worldwide
