Comments on: Jack Carson, not (just) a lightweight

By: BRIAN

BRIAN — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 17:22:51 +0000

Mildred Pierce.

By: OTR Fan

OTR Fan — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:22:11 +0000

Jack also had his own radio series which is FUN to listen too.
He also guest starred on other radio shows: Burns & Allen, Command Performance, Screen Guild Theater, Harold Lloyd’s Old Gold Comedy Theater, Sealtest Village Store, and The Lux Radio Theater.

By: Jason Proctor

Jason Proctor — Wed, 27 May 2009 08:28:15 +0000

For those who have a facebook account and are fans of Jack, I have recently started a Jack Carson group on there. Just run a search from within facebook and type in Jack Carson, and it should be the top result, the one with the B&W autographed photo of Jack for the group picture. Hope some of you will join so we can give Jack a nice representation on facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=117523200728&ref=mf

Thanks!

By: CineMaven

CineMaven — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:50:59 +0000

He did a great job with Rosalind Russell in [b]“ROUGHLY SPEAKING”.[/b]

By: Joe aka Mongo

Joe aka Mongo — Sat, 09 May 2009 01:17:48 +0000

There’s a little B film titled “April Showers” (1948) with Jack Carson giving a wonderful performance as a song and dance man.
Along with his wife (Ann Sothern) and son Buster (Robert Ellis in a very good role) playing together in vaudeville.
Although it tugs at the heartstrings it is an enjoyable musical/drama.

By: David Hargrove

David Hargrove — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:37:31 +0000

Only at TCM’s website could one find such a terrific tribute to a character actor. Thoughtful and beautifully composed, your post delivers information as well as conveying your admiration.

I particularly like Carson’s performance in “A Star is Born” as Libby, and his turn in “Mildred Pierce” showed depth and understanding. Aside from his comic skills, his ability to express the anger inherent in his characters is always a welcome surprise no matter how many times I view the films.

Thank you for this terrific piece.

By: John Armstrong

John Armstrong — Fri, 08 May 2009 12:42:16 +0000

Love the article…I’ve always admired Jack Carson for all the reasons you mention especially his dramatic efforts. His Libby in the ’55 Star is Born” was inspired casting and he pulls it together very well.The scene at the race track with James Mason
is a great example of him pulling out the stops. Maybe it’s because I wanted to be a character actor once but I have a great regard for the one’s that endure in the imagination like Jack Carson.

By: Richard Harland Smith

Richard Harland Smith — Thu, 07 May 2009 22:20:32 +0000

Your timing with this post is uncanny, as I was sitting around with family that very day talking about Jack Carson. I can’t remember how Carson entered my radar but he’s been there a long time. Thanks for your affectionate post and the link to the fan site.

By: murf

murf — Thu, 07 May 2009 19:05:39 +0000

Jack’s partnering with Roz Russell in Roughly Speaking was truly magical. They balanced one another perfectly and made their incredibaly quick courtship believable

By: MDR

MDR — Wed, 06 May 2009 15:07:38 +0000

Glad to see that there is so much appreciation for Jack Carson!

Although I focused on his dramatic (meatier) roles, Carson appeared in so many classics that it’s impossible to do his work justice in such a short article (so definitely visit the linked-to website). Among those earlier films that I failed to mention (in which he plays smaller, character roles) are: Stage Door (1937), Carefree (1938), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Destry Rides Again (1939), and several others.

When I mentioned above the actor’s three straight films with Doris Day, I failed to list My Dream is Yours (1949), which is perhaps the best of them; the selflessness and self-awareness (of his own limited talent) that Carson’s character shows while promoting Day’s is truly heart-breaking.