RIP Gene Hackman

[Chicago-bound Hoosier]

Hackman's character in Enemy of the State bore a lot of resemblance to his character in Francis Ford Coppola's great film "The Conversation" -- another film about surveillance...albeit with more primitive technology and a very different kind of plot.

FFC did that one between Godfather Part II and Apocalypse Now. It's not as widely remembered as other films of Coppola's or Hackman's. But, man, it's tense.

It also stars Cindy Williams (Shirley from "Laverne & Shirley") and the late, great John Cazale...who played Fredo in The Godfather series.

Cazele was the best. Died way too young. Every movie he was in is a classic.

 

[crazed_hoosier2]

Cazele was the best. Died way too young. Every movie he was in is a classic.

Yeah, he didn't have many at-bats. But he easily had the best batting average of any actor in movie history.

Here is his complete list of feature film credits:

The Godfather (1972)
The Conversation (1974)
The Godfather Part II (1974)
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
The Deer Hunter (1978)

I'd say he batted 1.000.

 

[GeorgeStrait IU]

yeah we used to drive by it quite a bit heading down to Lake Cordry/Sweetwater back in the 80s. it was a landmark.

Didnt Kyle Hornsby watch Hoosiers before every hs game his senior season? Nance said it during F4 game vs Oklahoma.

 

[Chicago-bound Hoosier]

Yeah, he didn't have many at-bats. But he easily had the best batting average of any actor in movie history.

Here is his complete list of feature film credits:

The Godfather (1972)
The Conversation (1974)
The Godfather Part II (1974)
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
The Deer Hunter (1978)

I'd say he batted 1.000.

Dog Day is such a great yet bizarre movie.

 

[GeorgeStrait IU]

The first time the movie was on TV I taped it with the tape recorder. This was before VCRs.I would close my eyes and reenact the scenes as I was listening to the audio.

My grandpa taped Superman 1 for me on WGN "men of steel" week. 1987? perhaps

 

[Chicago-bound Hoosier]

 

[Harry Hondo]

I spent some time with the guy who runs The Hoosier Gym in Knightstown & he said both Hackman and Hopper were awesome during the filming of Hoosiers. They socialized with crew and were very cool (unlike the leading lady in the film).
Underrated actor. He was believable in so many different roles. I'm glad he got the lead in Hoosiers instead of Jack Nicholson.

He was not too kind with the Indiana writer and director, Pizzo and Anspaugh, though. He was very difficult during filming because he didn’t believe those two knew what they were doing. I read an interview with the two and they said there were some tense times wondering if Hackman was going to quit the production. In the end, when they had the first screening, Hackman approached them and said something like, “I don’t know how you two pulled this off.” He was shocked and pleased it turned out so well.

 

[Al Bino]

For me, Hackman was one of the actors that any movie he made, I enjoyed.
I don't know if I have seen all his movies but he had a knack of picking good parts and the talent to make them memorable.
RIP.

 

[crazed_hoosier2]

He was not too kind with the Indiana writer and director, Pizzo and Anspaugh, though. He was very difficult during filming because he didn’t believe those two knew what they were doing. I read an interview with the two and they said there were some tense times wondering if Hackman was going to quit the production. In the end, when they had the first screening, Hackman approached them and said something like, “I don’t know how you two pulled this off.” He was shocked and pleased it turned out so well.

The montage shot of him saying something to Dennis Hopper on the bench, causing Hopper to laugh...

He apparently said something like "Hopper, I hope you've saved all your money. Because neither one of us are working again after this thing comes out."

The role earned Hopper his only Oscar nomination.

 

[UTFO]

Cazele was the best. Died way too young. Every movie he was in is a classic.

Yeah, he didn't have many at-bats. But he easily had the best batting average of any actor in movie history.

Here is his complete list of feature film credits:

The Godfather (1972)
The Conversation (1974)
The Godfather Part II (1974)
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
The Deer Hunter (1978)

I'd say he batted 1.000.

Plus he was married to Meryl Streep, right?

 

[TerhuneHoosierfan]

don't forget Buck Barrow

"Son. Whatever you do.....don't sell that cow." 🤣 The expression on Gene Wilder's face during that "bad" joke.... "fearful" laughter.
Gene Hackman was the best. So many great performances. RIP😥

 

[Chicago-bound Hoosier]

Plus he was married to Meryl Streep, right?

girlfriend. He was dying when they started filming Deer Hunter...I think the production /studio wanted to drop him.
She refused to do the movie without him, and DeNiro put up the insurance money for Cazele since the studio wouldn't.
They shot all his scenes first. He died before the film was released.

 

[HoosierAlum07]

He was great as the coach in the Replacements as well! R.i.p.

 

[UTFO]

girlfriend. He was dying when they started filming Deer Hunter...I think the production /studio wanted to drop him.
She refused to do the movie without him, and DeNiro put up the insurance money for Cazele since the studio wouldn't.
They shot all his scenes first. He died before the film was released.

I forgot Birdcage. My goodness, he is fantastic in that masterpiece.

 

[Lucy01]

The Quick and Dead was also a good movie with an All-Star cast.

 

[Chicago-bound Hoosier]

I forgot Birdcage. My goodness, he is fantastic in that masterpiece.

oh yeah.....that one is close to a forgotten Gene Hackman movie because of Robin Williams and Nathan Lane.
But Hackman, as the uptight neocon congressman stuck in the south beach drag club, with the press surrounding the building. I watched that when I was much younger, more uptight, figured I wouldn't like it because of the subject matter...watched the movie and had to admit, ok that was a pretty damn hilarious movie.