An unfortunate history of white people playing other races

[gollygee]

[Travis_0004]

1. Al pacino did one hell of a job in scarface

He may not be Cuban, but I'm not so sure the movie would have been the same without him.

[JustAnotherGen]

3. Andy Garcia a Cuban

Was great playing the Italian Modigliani!


My husband is from Italy. He's team Picasso and I'm team Modi for most brilliant cubist.

First time I shared this movie with him -
"Beautiful movie"

He lived in Paris for a few years building his body of work in the early 90's (Sculptor from Italy abroad)
"Accurate reflection of the artist community life in Paris"

Complaint -
"They couldn't find a SINGLE REAL ITALIAN TO PLAY AN ITALIAN!!!!Swears in Italian."


He still grumbles when we watch it.

[Kind of Blue]

10. Let's not forget the slew of ancient Greek and Roman movies

with a lot of British actors and their accents

Loved the artist and the movie Modigliani. Nice to know we're not the only ones sickened by ridiculous casting.

[JustAnotherGen]

2. Two White Men - in Birth of A Nation

[NV Whino]

4. I understand the racial and cultural affront of (mostly) whites playing ethnic roles

I really do. But think of it from an actor's point of view.

Actors step into the shoes of others when they take on a role. The ultimate challenge of one's talents, I think, would be to portray another ethnicity. Is it right? Is it wrong? It is neither. It is acting.

In those early clips that were shown, you have to take into account that ethnic actors simply were in short supply.

Do not take this statement to be anti black, native American, Asian or anything else. If Densel Washington were to portray George Washington, I'd be all for it.

Apologies, I meant to respond to the OP.

[JustAnotherGen]

7. Know you aren't responding to me

But if I died tragically and as much as I love Charlize Theron - she was hired to play me?

I'd flip a shit and haunt that set.

George Washington as Denzel? No. I can't see that.

Ethnic actors really weren't in short supply. Not even in 1915. There were actual "black films" they were shuffled into.

Better yet - look up Vincent Minelli's body of work. He had an extremely successful all black cast film that made Lena Horne a star.

[Number23]

5. Anybody else a bit queasy after seeing that?

Or is it just me??

[JustAnotherGen]

6. Yep

[Kind of Blue]

11. It's not just you.

One of my most infuriating pet peeves.

[Lisa D]

13. More than a bit queasy.

And it makes me question the judgment of the actors taking those roles--especially the more recent ones.

[wildeyed]

8. That is STILL goes on.

That no one said WTF are you THINKING?!?! NO! Before they actually made this.

http://www.theweek.co.uk/film/61550/exodus-ridley-scott-explains-racist-gods-and-kings-casting

[Kind of Blue]

9. Now why did I watch that knowing it

was gonna set my teeth on edge??? The one of John Wayne in particular. OMG, Bruce Lee, "Kung Fu" and how painful that was for him after he created the show.

[JustAnotherGen]

12. Don't forget

Those old B List Westerns filled white men in Native makeup.

[Kind of Blue]

14. Ican't forget. I loved watching Westerns

and couldn't stand those attacking Indians. Then we came here and I was shocked and saddened for so long that those movies are seen around the world just infiltrating young minds with so many lies.

Imagery is everything. The lack of respect for indigenous people by such insenstive treatment is disgusting.