Burt Lancaster Films - 1946-1975

I did a review of Burt Lancaster's films from 1946-1975, and I don't think any other American Leading Man did such a wide variety of films, or went through such distinct and varied career changes. Analysis as follows:

Crooked Burt 1946-1949
In the first four years of film career, Lancaster made 9 films, all of which except All my Sons, was a film Noir/crime movie. He was Barbara Stanwyck's murderous husband in Sorry Wrong Number", a vengeful gangster in I walk Alone, a reformed killer in Kiss the Blood off my Hands, a tough lifer in Brute Force, and a fall guy who gets involved in a Heist in The Killer and Criss Cross.  Only in Desert Fury is Lancaster on the right side of the law.

 Box Office Burt  1950-1957
This was Lancaster's most popular time.  Determined to shake off the Film Noir image (and make some $$), he made 18 films during this period, including 5 Westerns (all in Technicolor),  5 Adventure Comedies,  Trapeze which showed off his acrobat skills,  a rom-com (Mr. 880), a sports BioPic (Jim Thorpe - All American), and a war movie (From Here to Eternity). Only 4 of his movies were serious dramas (Rainmaker, Rose Tattoo, Sweet Smell of Success, and Come Back Little Sheba).  This was Lancaster at his most charming and athletic - and the American Public loved it.

Serious Actor Burt 1958-1964
Lancaster changed once again, deciding that he'd made enough money and it was time to stretch as an actor. And so, during this 7 year period, Burt made 12 films -  8 of which were serious dramas.  The other four movies?  A war film with Clark Gable (Run Silent, Run Deep),  a Shavian comedy with Larry Olivier (Devils Disciple),  a WW2 movie playing a French train engineer (The Train) and his only Western (The Unforgiven) with Audrey Hepburn and John Huston.  All the serious drama didn't pay off at the Box Office - but did with the critics - as Lancaster got two AA nominations (Elmer Gantry and Birdman of Alcatraz)

Aging Burt - Final Call as Leading Man 1965-1975
Despite being fairly old for a leading man, Lancaster continued to make a lot of movies. During these 11 years he made another 14 movies. Whether out of choice or necessity, he cut back on the serious dramas and added a lot more Westerns and action spy films. Unfortunately, few of them were hits, and some were box office bombs.  Of the 6 westerns, only one was both popular and good - The Professionals.  Two others got critical approval (The Scalphunters and Ulazna's Raid)  but did little business.  His 3 Spy/Political/Crime movies died without a trace.  As for the other five movies.  The Swimmer has become a cult movie but was hated by the critics and the public.  His Italian film (The Conversation Piece) was ignored,  and the Gypsy Moths and Castle-Keep  were considered complete misfires.  Out of 14 films, only Airport  was massively popular - and Lancaster was part of large ensemble Cast.  By 1975, even the most friendly producer knew 62 y/o Burt was past his "sell date" as a leading man.

The Big Picture 1946-1975 - What's Missing
Looking over the 53 movies during the 30 year period, we find 12 Westerns,  10 film-noir/crime movies,  15 or more serious dramas,  but none of the following:

• Sword and Sandal Movies
• Serious Romance movie (and only 1 Rom-com)
• Detective Movies (Police or Private)
• Science Fiction
• Musicals
• Contemporary Comedy 

Not  the All-American Hero
Lancaster only appeared in 4 War movies,  and only once in combat as an American Serviceman (Run Silent Run deep).  In the other three,  he's a French Train Engineer who joins the resistance, a crazy, one-eyed officer in a fantasy anti-war pic (Castle Keep), and a desk-bound Sergeant just before Pearl Harbor (From here to eternity).

Forget the Suit
Lancaster rarely played the typical Leading man part as a "Middle Class Professional" or  Business Exec.  He played a D/A ( young savages), a Psychologist (A Child is Waiting) and an Airport Manager (Airport). Otherwise, he left those roles to Gregory Peck.  Note: In the Swimmer, he's a failed, crazy, Madison Ave. exec - and only wears a swimsuit. In the Conversation Piece he's a retired Italian Art Professor.

Also, Lancaster never played a Pilot, Engineer, Doctor, Reporter, or Sea Captain (Tracy did all five).

Not John Wayne
 Of his 12 Westerns 2 were comedies,  2 were adventure films about Mercenaries in Mexico,  3 were anti-racism tomes (Unforgiven, Apache and Valdez is Coming), 2 were Law and Order Westerns, and in 1 he was a frontiersman in 1820 Kentucky.  Lancaster only fought the Indians in 2 movies, and then only reluctantly. He was NEVER the *serious* gunfighter, lone Cowboy or Calvary Officer.