Two of Dullea's strongest (and most popular) performances are in Otto Preminger's Bunny Lake is Missing (1965) and Bob Clark's Black Christmas (1974). In both movies, which have each achieved cult status, Dullea displays a remarkable ability to add depth to already complex characters. His boyish good looks are augmented by a playful smirk, but underneath that grin lies quiet aggression. As Steven in Bunny Lake, the brother to a woman who believes her daughter is missing (while police question whether or not the child even exists), Dullea generates warmth and sympathy. He is kind and protective, and that underlying strength is a welcome relief when the protagonist, Ann (Carol Lynley), seems to be breaking down. But this same style of performance has the opposite effect in Black Christmas. Dullea plays Peter, who spends a great deal of the movie upset over his girlfriend's decision to abort their unborn child. In this case, he is frightening, and it's not surprising that Jess (Olivia Hussey) would want him to stay away from her. It is amazing that Dullea developed such elaborate characters that contrast so distinctly, and it is difficult to imagine another actor in either role.Dullea received recognition for his second film, Frank Perry's David and Lisa (1962), playing a man with obsessive-compulsive disorder befriending a woman (Janet Margolin) with dissociative identity disorder. The following year, Dullea won Best Actor at the San Francisco International Film Festival for David and Lisa. He also won a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year (Actor), along with three other men nominated, Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif for Lawrence of Arabia and Terence Stamp for Billy Budd. (That particular Golden Globe category, for Actor and Actress, was retired in 1983.)
Dullea has made numerous appearances on television shows and made-for-TV movies, guest starring on the police drama Naked City (in 1961 and 1963, as two different characters), the long-running Western, Bonanza, and the Angela Lansbury mystery series, Murder, She Wrote, in 1989. The actor also appears frequently on stage, where he has stated that he prefers to work. In 1969, he starred in Leonard Gershe's successful Broadway production, Butterflies Are Free. He also appeared as Brick in a 1974 production (and revision) of Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. In 1983, he and his wife, Susie Fuller, co-founded the Theatre Artists Workshop of Westport, Inc.Later in his career, Dullea had a significant role in Robert De Niro's The Good Shepherd (2006) and appeared in Law & Order (twice, like in Naked City), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and the pilot episode of the ABC mystery/comedy Castle. In 2010, Dullea received much praise for his performance as Tom Garrison in the Off-Broadway revival of Robert Anderson's I Never Sang for My Father.
Keir Dullea is a splendid pick for Underrated Performer of the Month! As you wrote, his versatility enabled him to play all kinds of roles--sometimes as the same character in a movie. For example, in my favorite Keir Dullea film (unnamed here so as not to ruin the plot), he plays what appears to a sensible, caring man. But, as the film progresses, he reveals snippets of his character's true nature...which is actually that of a seriously disturbed person. It was interesting to learn he played Brick and also started his own theatre. I haven't seen DAVID AND LISA in years, but would love to do so again. Great profile, Sark.
ReplyDeleteSark, you couldn't have selected a better Underrated Performer for me to read about. I am a big Keir Dullea fan. I have always thought he was incredibly handsome and a very talented actor. The two movies you mentioned BUNNY LAKE IS MISSING and BLACK CHRISTMAS are among my all time favorite movies. Both of those movies I watched recently. I also have seen DAVID AND LISA which is good too. Dullea can portray a intensley creepy man better than anyone to me. Needless to say he is outstanding in 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. I would have loved to have seen him on stage in anything. This is a great review and I hope that Keir Dullea finds this and reads it himself. Oh, I loved the photos of Keir. Nicely written, Sark, and I enjoyed it!!
ReplyDeleteKeir Dullea is definitely underrated, Sark. I got to play the part of Lisa in "David and Lisa" in our high school play, and I remember picturing Keir Dullea in place of the classmate who played David. I have to say that I loved Dullea in "2001", and used to drive my brother David crazy when he would ask me to do something by responding very calmly, "I'm afraid I can't do that, Dave." Wonderful writeup -- I learned more about Dullea than I ever knew about.
ReplyDeleteOutstanding choice for Underrated Performer, Sark! I especially loved Dullea's carefully nuanced performance in "Bunny Lake is Missing." I would have loved to have seen him on stage.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I've never seen Black Christmas. Is that shown much on TV or is it hard to find? You have me intrigued.
ReplyDeleteAgree, he is under-rated in moviedom, maybe not his stage work?
ReplyDeletehmm.. the word verification is 'ingenizi'. Sounds like an italian sports car.
Becky, BLACK CHRISTMAS shouldn't be hard to find. It's on DVD, and I think it's even been released on Blu-ray, too. You should be able to find it at a rental store, online or otherwise. I've never seen it broadcast on TV, but I know they used to show it under the title STRANGER IN THE HOUSE.
ReplyDeleteKeir Dullea could also do melodrama well. He is perfect as the son who unwittingly defends his own mother for murder in Madame X. I dare you not to cry during his touching scenes with Lana Turner!
ReplyDeleteWe have just completed a black and white film starring Keir Dullea and his real life actress wife Mia Dillon about the unraveling of two marriages. It also stars Sachi Parker, Shirley Maclaine's only daughter. It is an ultra low budget film shot in a few days for 15,000. Are any of the Keir Dullea fans interested?
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