Kirk Douglas turns 100 years old this friday. We film music fans probably have several soundtracks to films he have starred in so therefore I wonder which ones would you listen to today to celebrate him?
Phenomenal given his health problems during his 90s.
Tell you what, if you were an actor and Kirk's character gave you that smouldering glower of hatred, you knew you would be picking up your paycheck before the end of the movie ! - didnt matter if you were johnny ringo or an evil emperor!
Amazing longevity on that guy, despite strokes and whatnot. Happy 100th, Kirk!
My three favourite scores to Kirk Douglas films are THE FURY (John Williams), THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER (Bruce Rowland) and SPARTACUS (Alex North). I haven't really gotten around to the Goldsmiths yet.
In honour of the day, I would like to share this little clip gem from Norwegian TV in 1965, on the set of THE HEROES OF TELEMARK -- interviews with both Michael (at age 20!) and Kirk in a surprisingly casual style for the 60s:
I love him The Man From Snowy River and 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, but also liked him in these two that I was able to get signed. I'm wondering if I'm the only person out there that has a Spartacus soundtrack book signed by him?
And he's the man who recommended that Jerry Goldsmith score "Lonely Are The Brave" and thirty four years later Goldsmith would score Kirk's son Michael's "The Ghost And The Darkness". A great actor who proved his was capable of just playing a tough guy, which can be seen in "Lust For Life" and the television film "Amos". Also I admire him for rehabilitating himself by having the verbal strength in giving interviews after that near massive stroke gave him aphasia. But he pulled through brilliantly, didn't he? Happy Birthday Kirk!!! You are certainly a class act!!!!
