Happy Birthday John Garfield, Genius

Though I frequently discuss actors I love/am in love with, I've not delved into that simmering, gorgeous genius of masculine menace, charm and vulnerability -- John Garfield -- nearly enough. He's one of my favorite actors (among a top three that alternate, but Garfield always remains), and an actor who almost literally knocked me for a loop when I first saw him on screen (in The Postman Always Rings Twice). All that sensitive masculinity, intelligence and intense, noir sex appeal and I was a goner. Sure Jessica Lange and Jack Nicholson's furious, flour-dusted fornication on the kitchen counter is damn erotic in the steamy re-make (which I do enjoy), but John and Lana need only to simply look at each other and...that's it. You know what they're up to later -- and the wondering is part of the picture’s tremendous turn-on (not to mention Lana's lipstick).

But Mr. Garfield...perhaps like poor Priscilla Lane checking out all your tough guy artistry, smoking that ciggie while playing the piano in your unforgettable 1938 film debut (Four Daughters) you're just too much for me.  Like Joan Crawford’s wide-eyed attraction and anger during your virtuoso "Flight of the Bumblebee" interlude in Humoresque, I just can’t function properly when thinking about you.  I'm all moony and swoony and tongue tied and, aw nuts...let’s just hitch-hike away from that depressing roadside diner. I don’t care if my white suit gets dirty. And unlike Ms. Turner, I'll knock him in the head with a bottle if you want...whatever it takes. See, I can’t think straight when regarding Garfield’s formidable big screen sway.

But since today is his birthday, I had to discuss for recognition alone. Why isn't he supremely famous? A household name? Why isn't he better recognized? For reasons I cannot decipher, this brilliant, brooding actor, though well respected by those who know better, isn't considered the legend a la Bogart, Clift, Brando or Dean. Why isn’t he better appreciated? This massive talent with genuine bad-boy street cred (he was born Julius Garfinkle and raised tough on the streets of Brooklyn and the Bronx) was a huge star in his day, so much so that his 1952 funeral was attended by more folks than Rudolph Valentino's ceremony.  So why have too many forgetten him? Where's his damn box set?

If you've never seen a John Garfield performance, you have been (in a supreme understatement) missing out. If you've only watched one or two, you're sorely behind. If you need to catch up, check (among many other pictures) his intense, oftentimes roughly romantic and edgy performances in movies such as Gentlemen's Agreement, They Made Me a Criminal, The Postman Always Rings Twice, Body and Soul, Force of Evil, The Breaking Point (the superior version of Hemingway's To Have and Have Not), Nobody Lives Forever, Humoresque, Flowing Gold, Between Two Worlds, We Were Strangers and (one of my favorites) He Ran All the Way -- his last film and a quite fitting one considering how he left this world. 

And God...what an exit Mr. Garfield. In my mind, one of the first method actors (he trained in the famed Group Theater and worked with Clifford Odets), he was also victim to one of cinema's darkest, most shameful moments when the left-wing, progressive actor (and patriotic actor, he helped created The Hollywood Canteen for heaven's sake) testified at the scabrous House Un-American Activities Committee, who suspected him and certain colleagues, Communist. Unlike many other actors, writers and directors (including one of his former directors, Elia Kazan), Garfield refused to name names. As both a once young street tough and a man of principle, Garfield would not rat. Not surprisingly, work was then harder to come by and at the young age of 39, Garfield died of coronary thrombosis. Many speculate an already present heart condition was worsened by the stress caused by the House's inquisition. I think this assumption is correct. His mislabeling and death is so tragic that it angers me to this day.

Another reason I find it tough to write about Garfield. But I’ll never stop watching his movies -- in many cases multiple times. Right now, in fact. He Ran all the Way awaits, yet again (and please stay tuned for my presentation of He Ran All the Way on a certain TV network in the coming months. Details to come later).

Happy Birthday to this hot genius piece of work. And here's to dropping that lipstick. Lana was lucky.

Comments

[Cool Bev]

Maybe you've heard John Prine's song "The Late John Garfield Blues"? I'm ashamed to say I thought it was about Pres. James Garfield. Double fail.

[Will E.]

Kim, you're killin' me. I have nothin' to say about Mr. Garfield than what you've already said. I particularly like his supporting role in "Gentleman's Agreement." He went out like a true human person--never naming names. His name was all you needed to know.

[Joe Raskin]

In my mind, Mr. Garfield was murdered by the blacklisters. A man who must be remembered.

[Jim Beaver]

I wrote a book on Garfield's career years ago and at that time lamented the bizarre fact that he's so comparatively little known. Genius is right. I can only guess that his short life is a factor--though that didn't hurt James Dean's career! Whatever the reason for his eclipse, it's unjustified and really sad. An actor of his caliber would blow the doors off modern theatres. And, yeah, where's his box set?

[another garfield fan]

Thanks for the great post, Kim - Garfield has been on my mind for a few days now.

I caught most of "Postman" again on TCM last night. I'd seen it a few weeks ago as well, which didn't diminish last night's viewing at all. The movie, Garfield, and Turner are that good, as are all the other actors.

I saw "Postman" for the first time when I was in high school. At that time, my mom, who would have been in her late teens when Garfield's films came out, informed me that she'd always thought he was hot (said in Mom language of course).

I really liked the film, but I had to get a lot more film viewing done before I could begin to gauge exactly how good Garfield was.

Watch "Flowing Gold" - preferably the scene where, seated on a stoop, Frances Farmer's character first confesses her love for Garfield's oil man. You'll be treated to a beautifully modulated, NATURAL loving reaction from Garfield. You truly believe that he's in love with Farmer - same goes for Turner in "Postman."

No Method tics for this guy; he was far too subtle. He really deserves a lot more attention and I'm glad to see he's getting it at least in some quarters.

I could go on and on, and I think I have... but Garfield is worth it.

[Ned Merrill]

Getting Garfield better known amongst cineastes and regular folks has been my m.o. since I first saw the likes of FORCE OF EVIL, FOUR DAUGHTERS, THE POSTMAN..., and BODY AND SOUL as a young film student. THE BREAKING POINT is the one that slays me every time.

That damn box set is probably never coming since Warner Bros. decided to dump much of the man's best work into their Warner Archive. For shame!

[Edward Copeland]

Garfield has always been one of my favorites among those who is seriously undervalued and at risk of being forgotten by newer crops of film buffs.

[sheila]

I absolutely love his film debut in The Four Daughters - he is riveting. He predicts the rise of Brando. He is from another movie entirely - he comes from the REAL world, where there is a Depression going on outside. The second he enters that beautiful house, and sits down at the piano, lit cigarette in his mouth, you cannot take your eyes off of him. The movie lets the character down - the world wasn't ready for his brand of swagger yet - in a mere 10 years it would be - but he's fantastic in it. You're like, "WHO THE HELL IS THAT????"

[Moviezzz]

I watched him in SATURDAY'S CHILDREN last night, with another victim of the blacklist Anne Shirley.

An amazing actor. Even in this essentially romantic role he was wonderful.

He really does deserve to be better known.

[Theron]

I've been rewatching a lot of Garfield's work on TCM lately, and I have to say there hasn't been another star like him since he gave us so many fascinating performances back in the day. He was truly one of a kind.

[Patrickcloonan]

To me Garfield is the king of noir, hugely underrated - one of his greatest gifts being that velvety voice, perfect for playing the phlegmatic hero who gets trapped in the noir nightmare, a victim no doubt of the irresistible femme fatale

[Corinne Peters]

I have been watching John Garfield's
movies since 1946 I was 16 and thought he was the most MAN I have ever seen, I watched all his movies over and over again, his photo is on my desk top, I called my Son "Garfield"I just loved him so. he was taken away too soon.
I am now 83 yrs. young.
sincerely
Corinne Peterts

[Donna DeSolis]

I have loved John Garfield since I was a teen. I was shocked when my husband told me that he knew him as a child in Hollywood. My husband's mother, Gale Page, was in 2 movies w/ Garfield in the 1940's. How ironic! He's on this week on TV and I can't wait to see the movies. He was a very intense actor and died way too soon.