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Raymond Burr (1917-1993) |
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Conrad Veidt, Casablanca, 1941.
- Edward G Robinson, The Ten Commandments,1954.
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Jim Backus, Rebel Without A Cause, 1955. “Look, Jim. You can depend on me. Trust me. Whatever comes, we'll, we'll fix it together. I swear it.” Yeah, sure! James Dean’s milquetoast father was a battle between Backus, Burr, Rod Cameron, John Dehner and Walter Matthau - difficult to envisage Matthau as a wimp. Backus taught his Mr Magoo cartoon voice to Dean, who used it in his line about children: “Drown 'em like puppies, eh?”
- Robert Strauss, The Man With The Golden Arm, 1955. Buying the rights from John Garfield’s estate, producer-director Otto Preminger defied the Production Code and made a film - not only daring to mention the word “drugs” but dealing with addiction. After Burr and Ray Middleton, Strauss was final choice for Zero Schwiefka, boss of Frank Sinatra’s heroin-addled card dealer.
- James Arness, Gunsmoke, TV, 1955-1975. About 26 actors tested as Marshal Matt Dillon. Like the similarly bulky William Conrad, Burr sounded great, but according to producer-director Charles Marquis Warren, or was way too fat. “When he stood up, his chair stood up with him.” (Burr lost considerable weight to play Perry Mason...
- William Talman, Perry Mason, TV, 1957-1966. Burr was up for DA Hamilton Burger or…
- William Hopper, Perry Mason, TV, 1957-1966. …or Mason’s PI Paul Drake before being given the top spot, Perry, himself . For some 301 cases in tele-series and tele-films up to his death.
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