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John Wayne famously stormed up to Douglas after a screening to rage: “Christ, Kirk, how can you play a part like that

I’m Spartacus!” – “I’m Spartacus!” – “I’M SPARTACUS!” Every film buff knows that moment, every panel-show comedian riffs on it. A mob of defeated slave rebels in the pre-Christian Roman empire is told their wretched lives will be spared, but only if their ringleader, Spartacus (Kirk Douglas), comes out and gives himself up to be executed. Just as he is about to sacrifice himself, one slave, Antoninus (Tony Curtis) jumps up and claims to be Spartacus, then another, and another, then all of them, a magnificent display of solidarity, while the man himself allows a tear to fall in closeup.

This variant on the Christian myth – in the face of crucifixion, Spartacus’s disciples do not deny him – is a pointed political fiction. In real life, Spartacus was killed on the battlefield. The screenplay was written by Dalton Trumbo, the blacklisted author who had to work under aliases and found no solidarity in Hollywood. Yet Douglas himself, as the film’s producer, stood up for Trumbo. He put Trumbo’s real name in the credits, and ended the McCarthy-ite hysteria.

Kirk Douglas in SpartacusHe’s Spartacus: Douglas in his most famous role.The main reason the scene is so potent is its extraordinary irony. Who on earth could claim to be Spartacus when Spartacus looked like that? Douglas is a one-man Hollywood Rushmore, almost hyperreal in his masculinity. He is the movie-world’s Colossus of Rhodes, a figure of pure-granite maleness yet with something feline, and a sinuous, gravelly voice. Douglas is a heart-on-sleeve actor, mercurial and excitable; he has played tough guys and vulnerable guys, heroes and villains. And, as a pioneering producer, he brought two Stanley Kubrick films to the screen: Spartacus (he hired Kubrick to replace Anthony Mann) and his first world war classic Paths of Glory in which he was superb, playing a principled French army officer.

One hundred years ago today, Douglas was born Issur Danielovitch, the son of a Moscow-born Russian Jewish ragman, in upstate New York. An uncle had been killed in the pogroms at home. In his 1988 memoir, The Ragman’s Son, Douglas describes the casual antisemitism he faced almost throughout his career. Rebranding yourself with a Waspy stage-name was what actors – and immigrants in general – had to do in America to survive and thrive.
After a start on the Broadway stage, he made his screen reputation playing the driven fighter Midge Kelly in the exhilarating boxing movie Champion (1949), which earned him the first of his three Oscar nominations. Champion has stunning images and a notable slo-mo scene: it is much admired by Martin Scorsese and transparently an influence on Raging Bull. In Detective Story (1951), directed by William Wyler, Douglas gives a grandstanding star turn in a melodrama set in a police station, playing the vindictive, violent McLeod, an officer with an awful secret. It was a movie that laid down the template for all cop TV shows, including The Streets of San Francisco, which was to star Douglas’s son Michael.
But it was in Ace in the Hole (1951), directed by Billy Wilder, that Douglas gives his first classic performance: the sinister newspaper reporter Chuck Tatum, who prolongs the ordeal of a man trapped in a cave to create a better story. He is an electrifying villain in that film, a Phineas T Barnum of media untruth. At one stage he slaps the wife of the trapped man (whom he is also seducing) because she wasn’t sufficiently demure and sad-looking for his purposes, like an imperious film director looking for a better performance. He is also brilliant in Vincente Minnelli’s The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) as Jonathan Shields, the diabolically persuasive movie producer who betrays everyone.
Arguably, it is in Paths of Glory (1958) that Douglas finds his finest hour as the tough, principled Colonel Dax, who stands up to the callous and incompetent senior officers of the high command. Douglas’s handsome, unsmiling face is set like a bayonet of contempt.
Douglas himself prizes his sensitive and Oscar-nominated performance as Vincent van Gogh in another Vincente Minnelli film, Lust for Life, from 1956. Some may smile a little at this earnest and high-minded movie now, but it is very watchable, with a heartfelt belief that Van Gogh’s art can be understood by everyone. There is a bold, passionate performance from Douglas, who simply blazes with agony. Not everyone liked it. John Wayne famously stormed up to Douglas after a screening to rage: “Christ, Kirk, how can you play a part like that? There’s so goddamn few of us left. We got to play tough, strong characters. Not those weak queers!”
Douglas has endured a scene of almost Freudian trauma in his career. Having bought the rights to Ken Kesey’s novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in the 1960s, he himself played the lead for its Broadway adaptation: McMurphy, the subversive wild-man imprisoned in a psychiatric hospital.
PROC. BY MOVIES

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Prince Harry’s Triumph in the U.S. Brings Joy to King Charles During Recovery

Prince Harry’s recent success in the United States has sparked a wave of positivity within the royal family, particularly uplifting the spirits of his father, King Charles, who is recovering from a health battle. Harry’s achievements have not only bolstered his own career but also helped mend strained relationships between father and son. To honor his son’s efforts, King Charles has granted Harry a new royal title, marking a significant step toward reconciliation. This gesture reflects a shift towards healing within the family, signaling a new chapter of unity and mutual support.

The timing of this development is notable, as it comes when King Charles is navigating the challenges of cancer recovery. Despite the private nature of his health struggle, the King’s ability to witness such a positive turn in his family dynamic has been a source of comfort. The news has been met with widespread approval, particularly from royal fans in the UK who see this as a hopeful sign of familial unity.

The granting of a new royal title to Prince Harry is symbolic of a broader reconciliation process. Royal experts view this move as an acknowledgment of Harry’s perseverance and the King’s desire to restore harmony. The gesture not only honors Harry’s personal and professional achievements but also represents the King’s ongoing commitment to healing relationships within the royal household.

Over the past few years, Prince Harry has faced significant public scrutiny, especially due to his departure from royal duties. However, his recent triumphs in the U.S. have shifted the narrative, showcasing his resilience and ability to overcome challenges. This success has further solidified his place within the royal fold, with King Charles’s gesture of granting him a title serving as an official recognition of this positive development.

The new title marks a turning point for the royal family, highlighting the strength of family ties even in times of adversity. As King Charles continues his recovery, it is clear that the bond between father and son is being repaired. This heartening story of perseverance and reconciliation serves as a reminder that even in the face of hardship, love and family support can pave the way for healing.

In conclusion, Prince Harry’s triumph in the U.S. has brought joy and hope to King Charles, signaling the beginning of a new chapter for the royal family. The new title granted to Harry reflects not only his professional success but also the ongoing efforts to mend family relationships. The royal family’s journey toward unity is now seen as a source of inspiration, reminding the world that even the most challenging circumstances can lead to moments of healing and renewal.

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What’s the First Color You See? The Answer Says a Lot

People may not always get the results they want on personality and IQ tests, but they are fun to take to pass the time. Based on the results of this personality test, the first color you see might tell someone something about you.

There are lots of fun and interesting personality tests you can take while you wait at the doctor’s office or the DMV. Even though they aren’t always true, they can be funny sometimes because the things they talk about are real. For example, this personality test looks at the first color a person sees to get a sense of how they see themselves and what kind of person they probably are.

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Purple

Purple is a color that is often linked to intelligence, creativity, and power. If the first color you see on this personality test is purple, you are probably a unique person who leans toward conservative values and might even be scary to other people. Still, your willingness to change things drives you to be that change, and your light shines through when you do.

Gray Appeared First in the Personality Test

Gray is a basic color that looks good with a lot of different things. This is a refined but more lively color than black or charcoal. It’s a better choice for business or formal wear because it’s lighter and more cheerful. This color can be used instead because it is nicer and brighter. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that finding a gray coloration early on could mean that you are calm, reasonable, and very sensible. On the other hand, people who have trouble controlling their feelings may feel threatened or in danger.

Yellow First

Kids use yellow to show that it’s sunny outside and to make their faces look happy. The connection between color and happiness is like the connection between light and color. People often associate this color with new life and the start of spring. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that someone who got a yellow on the personality test is seen as hopeful. This is because the color yellow is linked to hope in a good way. They love what they do and make the most of every moment by enjoying each wonderful moment and living each day to the fullest. The sad truth is that people who are always unhappy about life will never be able to connect with someone who is always positive.

It’s possible that you didn’t notice just one of those three colors, even though they can give you some clues about who you are. Instead, it’s more likely that you saw two or three of them. You are more likely to be the same if the second color you saw was blue, brown, or green. This might make people with shady goals question your intentions.

The third Color Noted in the Personality Test

As was already said, you are probably smart if you saw blue, brown, or green after seeing two other colors. This could scare other people who might feel weak or unprepared. These people might be scared of how smart you are.

This personality test is just for fun, but it’s a great way to kill time when you have some free time. If you have trouble going asleep, this could be what’s wrong. It’s a great way to kill time when you don’t have anything else to do. Please look at the following list of more interesting personality tests.

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Baby called ‘hideous’ is a gorgeous little girl now

Every person is beautiful in their own way, and the same goes for the newborn babies.

When a baby girl named Angelica was born in 2018, her family was overjoyed. She had beautiful facial features and a heart-shaped port wine stain which made her even more special. Sadly, not everyone saw the beauty of her unique mark.

According to Angelica’s mom, her family accepted her the way she is and even love her birthmark, but there have been those who give themselves the right to comment on this girl’s looks.

“The worst comment online that I’ve gotten is when someone asked if her face had been pushed onto a skillet. Basically, saying her face looked grilled,” Angelica’s mom, Marianna Bowering told the Mirror.

Marianna further said that there were times when her daughter was labeled “hideous” and a “defect.” This affected the family in a negative way and only added to the challenged they faced, but they were determined to overcome the negative effects of the mean words and comments.

No matter what others said, Angelica’s family taught her to love herself the way she is.

In order to help her daughter feel better, Marianna decided to paint her face with what resembled a birthmark just like the one of Angelica.

“I got the idea from vascular birthmark awareness day, where they encourage people to paint a heart on the cheeks,” the mom said, according to The Epoch Times. “Initially I just did the heart with my makeup look but then I thought why don’t I go all out and do Angelica’s port wine stain.”

Whenever someone tried to ‘comfort’ Marianna that her daughter’s mark would eventually fade away or that she could hide it with makeup once she gets older only crushed this mother even more as she couldn’t help but wonder if Angelica would be forced to hide her natural beauty instead of embracing it.

It was a reminder that societies have these norms about what a person needs to look like in order to fit the group and be accepted.

 

Her family has always told Angelica that she should love herself for who she is. There were times when Marianna would cover her daughter’s wine port stain with glitter so that it could shine bright.

“Thankfully, we’ve done tests and Angelica is totally healthy,” Marianna said of her girl, referring to the fact that children with these types of birthmarks can develop other health conditions. “We just need to have regular check-ups, especially for her eyes as glaucoma can be a concern.”

 

We are glad Angelica is taught how to love herself and embrace her birthmark.

She is a very beautiful young lady, don’t you agree?

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