Friday, September 3, 2010

Remembering Patricia Neal

Turner Classic Movies  remembers the two-time Oscar nominee for Best Actress Patricia Neal in an five-film salute on Monday, Sept. 13th that includes:
8:00 PM Private Screenings: Patricia Neal
9:00 PM The Fountainhead
11:00 PM The Subject Was Roses (Best Actress nomination).
1:00 AM A Face in the Crowd
3:15 AM In Harm's Way
Patricia Neal (who died on August 8 at age 84) was always one of my favorite actresses.
Patricia Neal was authentic. I liked her husky-voiced demeanor and her smokey southern accent. I liked the worldliness that she brought to her roles. I particularly liked her in The Subject Was Roses and in Hud. Along with the great Simone Signoret, Patricia Neal portrayed women of a certain age and a certain level of (for lack of a better word) experience.
You always got the impression that Patricia Neal's characters were damned hard to fool.
And Patricia Neal was immensely durable in real life as well. She survived a serious stroke and a very messy and very public marital breakup and divorce to emerge stronger, more admirable and altogether inspiring.
Patricia Neal was a huge star both on Broadway and in Hollywood.
You'll want to watch Turner Classic Movies next Monday for this worthy salute to a fine actress and a great lady.

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