When you'r not a Glamourpuss.....

Can you imagine what movies would be like with out the 2nd, 3rd and 4th bananas? Those character actors allow pretty people to stay center stage with perfect hair and makeup. Creating characters to echo the love and admiration an audience feels, only also being slightly mocking. These side note sarcastic beings help invent a realistic aura around the star. 

Hattie McDaniel - Often portraying a maid, Ms. McDaniel garnered attention after appearing in several dynamic comedy roles with Jean Harlow, Clark Gable and Mae West. While playing supportive, subservient characters Ms. McDaniel gave off that clever, quirky smirkiness helping the 'star' to become a solid well-rounded character. 

"Saratoga" (1937) - Writer Anita Loos does her magic by developing women with clever wit- even when they aren't the brightest bulbs intellectually- the characters have a strong sense of self. This one is a bit formulaic but still quirky and smart.


 

Thelma Ritter - Best friend, snippy maid, reality broker- lending her talents to scenes to encase any acting into a warm, realistic moment. 

 "The Misfits" (1961) - A desolate landscape shows the forbidden, roughly hewn emotional existence of characters so tightly wound up they desperately need Ms. Ritter to offer a sense of relief. Written by Aurthur Miller, Directed by John Houston, with method actors Marilyn Monroe, Monty Clift and Eli Wallach against professional Clark Gable - an explosion waiting to happen. 


Aida Turturro - Acting that comes from your entire being seems to be a Turturro family tradition. Aida creates little moments of true emotion- again, vibrantly allowing a 'star' to become complete. 

"Romance & Cigarettes" (2005) - You can't help but enjoy this film - Characters of the most normal crazy kind fill the screen- James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, Steve Buscemi, Bobby Cannavale, Mandy Moore, and the dancing oddity of Christopher Walken create absurd situations that remind you of those neighbors on the old block. We won't forget Ms. Turturro, who once again makes the insanity seem perfectly normal.