First of all, thanks for writing. Glad you enjoyed the Deborah Kerr post.

Now, what about Deborah Kerr replacing Ingrid Bergman in "Notorious," or "Under Capricorn," or "Spellbound"? Quite a bit of "repressed emotion" in those movies, no?

I think Alec Guinness was a brilliant actor. But really, most actors then (and now) tend to play the same types of roles over and over again. It's relatively rare for someone to break the mold, try something new, and fully succeed (careerwise) at it. Barbara Stanwyck comes to mind. Joan Bennett, too. There haven't been many others, I don't think.

Thanks again for writing and sharing your thoughts.

An excellent post, though I don't agree with all of your conclusions. Nonetheless, I enjoyed your article and your conclusions were well argued. I however can't see Deborah Kerr as taking on the role in any of Hitchcock's films, since Hitchcock's women tend to be (usually) cold, statuesque blondes which Deb certainly isn't – she has far too much repressed emotion that simmers beneath.
However, I can see her in some of Hitch's greatest (and consequently least known) films such as The Wrong Man and Shadow of a Doubt where Vera Miles also did an excellent job. Of course, the above two films are my personal favourites and I daresay, not everyone's cup of tea but I find them more interesting than Vertigo, Notorious, Dial M for Murder, etc among others.

It would have been interesting if any of male roles had been substituted for a female role as you mentioned, but that would have been far too radical and consequently would've run into trouble. In place of James Stewart I can think of any number of fine actors such as James Mason, Ronald Colman (10 years younger), etc.

And lastly, I just wanted to comment on stereotyping – Deb was seen as the personification of the English rose. Sadly, at least one other actor suffered from a similar case of stereotyping – Alec Guinness.

Alec Guinness was either the (stereo)typical British gentleman in Lean's films or a fixture in Ealing comedies. My own feeling is that, like Deb, although in a very different way, there was much more to him that the roles he played and if given the opportunity, I feel that his true talent could have been expressed to its fullest.

I'd be interested in hearing your opinion regarding this.

- An overlooked gem of a film-I think its one of her best performances and definitely his- in russian forsooth! -Their chemistry is intense

and Yul Brynner in black leather-what else is there

If you cant find the film then just watch the kiss http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGSUL9m5hcw

Thanks for the comment.

Sex in movies — especially American movies — have usually been shown as something deadly (gotta pay for your sins) or something cute/funny. Deborah kerr didn't do sex either way. Gotta love her for that.

Once the AFI FEST is over, I'll check out "The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp." I wonder what Kerr has to offer in that one.

Now, "Vertigo" I found overlong and superficial; "Rear Window" I found much too conventional. And they both star a — in my view — woefully miscast James Stewart. He all but ruins both movies for me.

Someone like James Mason — or Deborah Kerr — would have been much better in those two films. (Imagine Deborah Kerr obsessed with Kim Novak or having a relationship with Grace Kelly. Beautiful coupling.)

Eva Marie Saint always came across as a warm actress. (I've seen her in person. She's very effusive and chatty.) But in Hitchcock's "North by Northwest" she plays a cool blonde. Deborah Kerr was an outstanding actress. If she could be convincing as a rural Australian woman (in "The Sundowners"), I'd say she could surely play a cool blonde for Hitchcock.

In addition to the James Stewart roles, she could have played the "spy" in "Notorious." She'd have been much better than Ingrid Bergman. Same in "Under Capricorn" or "Spellbound."

In fact, I could picture Kerr in just about every Hitchcock film, from the mousy "I" de Winter to any (or all) of the characters in "Family Plot." (Note: I must admit that I can't picture Deborah Kerr singing "Que Sera Sera," but she could easily have played James Stewart's role in that film.)

Russell Crowe sexy? Hmmm… I think I'd rather look at Jane Russell or Gail Russell or Theresa Russell or Rosalind Russell or even Ken Russell.

Thank goodness, I was begining to think I was the only person to think of Kerr as sexy rather than a "great lady". She was even a sexy nun. I think her sex appeal was really natural, she just always
seemed like a real woman and not like an actress trying to play a real woman. I also agree with you about the sexless sex icons in films. Marilyn Monroe has sex appeal but is was usually one
dimensional in her films, like most sex icons, Marilyn was cute but she only came across to me as sexy in a few films, one of those being the THE MISFITS. The longing liquid eyes did it for me rather then the undulating curves.

But I just can't see Kerr in a Hitchcock film. It's just so hard to envision, not that she wouldn't be good, but definately (as early as the 30's) had a type and she wasn't it at all. Not a frozen beauty,
but from the obituraries in the Associated press you'd be inclined to think so. Under another director I can picture her in some of those
roles, but Hitchcock had a love of the statuesque frozen beauty. Kerr was much too warm and inviting. Although I am curious as to what you find lacking in VERTIGO & REAR WINDOW aside from Jimmy Stewart;)

I think Deborah represented sex in real life.

Back to the sex goddesses of the silver screen I agree with you about their limitations a child-women, vamps, frozen glamour goddesses and such. I love Marlene Dietrich but she was stuck in one persona (but WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION & TOUCH OF EVIL prove her range) I think actors like to be comfortable, but a few mavericks in Hollywood like
to challenge themselves. Only a few *sigh*. More Meryl less Russell(I should have another Oscar) Crowe. Wasn't he better before he won? And sexier?

Marcus

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the Deborah tribute and "Beyond Paradise." (I couldn't put it down, either — you know, if you have a deadline you gotta deliver…)

(And thanks for letting me know about the problems with the editor at altfg dot com address. I'll look into that.)

More details via private e-mail.