Comments on: The Robert Ryan Centennial

By: Robert Stephen Ryan

Robert Stephen Ryan — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 18:02:41 +0000

Not related, although coincidentally I also attenced Dartmouth and am also an actor, and there’s the rub. Periodically SAG or AFTRA screws up and I get correspondence intended for the other Robert Ryan. I had an email address for Lisa Ryan and used to forward things to her, but it appears to be out of date. If she is monitoring this board or if anyone could contact her, I would appreciate it. Just received a notice from AFTRA about a clip of her dad from “The Iceman Cometh” being used on American Masters recently.

Bob Ryan
ryansrob@earthlink.net

By: R Hope

R Hope — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 19:17:37 +0000

Though my father did not go to Ryan’s Catholic high school, they were neighbors by Lincoln Park. My father admired Robert Ryan so much that he told me that Ryan was the reason that he chose to go to Dartmouth College. At the time it was rather unusual for Illinois non-prep school boys to go East to college.
They were classmates at Dartmouth, ’32, though Ryan majored in English, and my dad majored in Philosophy.
A glimpse of Ryan’s intelligence was seen when he appeared representing Dartmouth on the national TV quiz show “Alumni Bowl”, a spinoff of “College Bowl.” As I recall, Ryan answered just about every question first and correctly. His intelligence and education shines through in all his roles.

By: Linda Anthony

Linda Anthony — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 18:57:04 +0000

A wonderful actor! I love everything I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching him in. Amazingly talented, great presence, and a credit to the acting profession. No matter his part in a movie, one is left asking: who is that actor?

By: Joseph Tages

Joseph Tages — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:33:35 +0000

I thought God’s Little Acre was one of Bob’s greatest roles. Very different from anything he had done up to that point. I also enjoyed his scenes with young Dean Stockwell in The Boy With Green Hair, especially the introduction where they eat hamburgers and shakes together. For a man who is known primarily as a heavy, Bob easily proved to be the most versatile actor of his time.

By: bob

bob — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:18:24 +0000

Just finished watching God’s Little Acre; actually the first timeI have seen that movie but I am a long-time Robert Ryan fan. As a matter of fact I cannot think of a movie I have seen of his that I did not appreciate his performance. Simply put, he is one of my favorite all-time actors. Bad Day at Black Rock, The Dirty Dozen, THe Naked Spur, Hour of The Gun, THe Tall Men are just a few that come to mind. Robert ryan was truly one of the greats.
Bob M

By: allan billingham

allan billingham — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:55:51 +0000

MR RYAN JUST HAD A POWERFUL ON SCREEN PRESENCE ENOUGH SAID.

By: Robert Kawasaki

Robert Kawasaki — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:21:17 +0000

The first film which introduced this great actor to me was THE PROFESSIONALS. His part was much weaker compared to Burt Lancaster’s or Lee Marvin’s, but I was more interested in this weary horse lover performed by Robert Ryan. He was stubborn, contrary, but yet little sad and likable.He was more complexed than any other characters in the film. Later, I learned his name was Robert Ryan, and I gained great desire to see his films. I watched THE WOMAN ON THE BEACH, CROSSFIRE, ACT OF VIOLENCE, THE SET-UP, ABOUT MRS.LESLIE, BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK, and THE WILD BUNCH. Beyond any doubt he was the man! He surely was believable in any roles, and he had a quiet charisma which most Hollywood stars did not possess. Also, he always carried sense of class or grace no matter the parts. Ryan was an American, but to me, he had a sophisticated mood which is particular to the European actors. Later on, I had chances to watch CAUGHT, ON DANGEROUS GROUND, CLASH BY NIGHT, THE NAKED SPUR, INFERNO, HOUSE OF BAMBOO, MEN IN WAR, GOD’S LITTLE ACRE, DAY OF THE OUTLAW, ODDS AGAINST TOMORROW, BILLY BUDD, AND HOPE TO DIE, and THE ICEMAN COMETH, then my feeling towards Robert Ryan almost became an obsesseion. Boy, this guy is truely great one! He took chances to play risky parts and prefered appearing in many artistic films. No wonder the great directors like Jean Renoir, Robert Wise, Nick Ray, Sam Fuller, Anthony Mann, Roy Ward Baker, Rene Clemant and John Frankenheimer prefered working with this great actor. Quiet art of Robert Ryan is now easily qualified as one of the legends in the film industry of 20th century.

By: Joseph Tages

Joseph Tages — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:21:21 +0000

I became a fan of Robert Ryan after watching The Wild Bunch for the first time. I recently caught Crossfire on TCM and Robert stole the film for me. What a performance! He was still working up to his death, with films such as The Iceman Cometh and Executive Action being released in 1973, his final year with us. Lord knows what more he could have given us beyond the 70′s!

I DVR-ed Robert’s films on TCM the past two days. I am watching Marine Raiders even as I write this. Thank you for honoring Robert on his Centennial and may his work live on forever.

By: moirafinnie

moirafinnie — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:30:32 +0000

Hi Mimi, Hope your daughter finds Robert Ryan's movies a joy for a long time (though I'd hold off on allowing her to see some of his movies until much lather--but what do I know?--kids are tougher now, right?) Hi Carol, About Mrs. Leslie turns up occasionally as a secondary market VHS and a DVD-r on the internet. I do wish that this film could receive an airing on cable someday soon again or have a DVD issuance. I thought that the combination of Shirley Booth and Ryan was novel and ultimately quite moving in a relatively simple, (but not simplistic), and mature love story.

By: in queue «

in queue « — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:48:10 +0000

[...] in queue November 11, 2009 in honor of robert ryan’s centennial… [...]