Patrick Swayze died a few days ago of pancreatic cancer. I don't think he was a brilliant actor (something he'd probably have conceded, too) but he was appealing and endearing. Men liked him for his macho, manly roles in movies like Road House and Point Break. Women loved him in uber-chick flicks like Ghost and Dirty Dancing.
Swayze should have won an Academy Award for the latter, not for his performance per se -- it was actually a pretty bad movie, a saccharine Catskills schmaltz-fest -- but for uttering with any believability whatsoever one of the stupidest lines in cinematic history: "Nobody puts Baby in a corner." I liked the movie in spite of that, more because of my lifelong crush on Jerry Orbach. (Let me just add that I reserve the right to hurl on any human being I ever encounter named Baby, Precious, Honey or Darling.) My favorite Swayze movie was To Wong Fu, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar. If by some chance you missed this brilliant film, put it in your Netflix queue right away.
But more than any acting role, I admired Swayze for that excruciating, invasive and slightly idiotic interview with Baba Wawa. He and his wife were humble and sincere in spite of Baba's inanity, and I hope he is recognized, and gets some kind of lifetime award for enduring that interview. He was gracious, tolerant, and unbelievably patient, all while millions of viewers were probably yelling at the screen, "Smack her! Come on, just one good punch!"
Thursday, September 17, 2009
R.I.P. Patrick Swayze
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5 comments:
Many many years ago I read the rusults of a poll that rated the endearment "darling" as the least used. So my husband and I started calling each other darling to possibly increase it's rank (we always rooted for the underdog). Actually, I call him "my darling, my love." You may hurl on me now.
He has not spoken since 9/24/01, oh how I wish he would call me anything, even shithead would be fine.
rEsults
Couldn't agree more with you on Barbara Walters. I can't roll my eyes back far enough when I hear some of the stupid things she asks.
She's highly over-rated.
The Swayzes certainly made a lovely couple though. What a love story.
I've heard Mr. Swayze say in interviews that he thought that
"baby in the corner" was the dumbest line he ever heard and he begged them to take it out.
They shoulda listened. Then again, most viewers weren't paying ANY attention to what he said anyway.
(insert catcall) ;o)
Kathy, your humor must help you get through the darkest days! (And I'd bet your husband still calls you "my darling." He just doesn't say it out loud.)
Denise (tw), I never heard Mr. Swazye's comment about that stupid line, but that makes me like him even more.
I loved the "Julie Newman" flick for many reasons, but Ghost made me cry because it came out just after my beloved died... it still gets to me when I can bear to sit through it. You are right, Miss Coot, that Patrick was not the most dynamic of actors, but there was a dear-ness to him that was most appealing.
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