 |
John Houseman as Professor Charles Kingsfield in "The Paper Chase". Source: https://www.tvinsider.com/people/john-houseman/ (May be subject to copyright) |
A few years ago, I read Houseman’s autobiography, expecting to read all about “The Paper Chase” and beyond. However, that made up a small part of the entire story.
In fact, he said something very interesting about that role. Houseman said he played that part, and it became the same role he played for the next decade – but it was just a role.
It was not the actual John Houseman.
Although he died in 1988, John Houseman was born 122 years ago today.
It reminded me of that comment he made about not being Professor Charles Kingsfield, just playing him.
The early years
John Houseman’s career dates back to 1930. It is highlighted by a lot of work in theatre, some movies, and finally in television.
John Houseman’s career dates back to 1930. It is highlighted by a lot of work in theatre, some movies, and finally in television.
Early on his career featured a collaboration with Orson Welles, which started when Houseman convinced Welles to star in a play Houseman was staging called “Panic”. That forged a partnership between the two.
In 1936, Houseman headed the Federal Theatre Project, which was part of the Works Progress Administration. It put unemployed theatre performers and employees to work. Houseman immediately hired Welles, assigning him to direct a production of “Macbeth”. They would collaborate on another production, “The Cradle Will Rock”, but controversy led to Houseman being fired and Welles resigning.
That in turn led to their formation of the Mercury Theatre in 1937. They staged productions such as “Julius Caesar”; “The Shoemaker’s Holiday”; and “Danton’s Death”. The Mercury Theatre moved to radio in the summer of 1938 with a weekly dramatic radio program. The most famous production was the adaptation of H.G. Wells’ “The War of the Worlds”, which panicked much of the country.
The collaboration of Houseman and Welles continued onto the big screen. They began work on a production that evolved into “Citizen Kane”, but Houseman was the businessman and Welles the artist. When faced with financial issues, they parted company. Houseman did return to oversee screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz, and ended up having an influence on shaping the story.
Houseman returned to theatre, directing “The Devil and Daniel Webster”; and “Liberty Jones”. He also produced the Mercury Theatre’s “Native Son”, directed by Welles.
Houseman returned to Hollywood, producing movies such as “Jane Eyre” in 1943. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Houseman quit his job and became head of the overseas division of the Office of War Information, working for the Voice of America.
In 1945, he returned to Hollywood producing movies for a number of different studios. Those productions included the classic “The Blue Dahlia”; “Letter from an Unknown Woman”; “They Live by Night”; “The Company She Keeps”; “On Dangerous Ground”; “The Bad and the Beautiful”; “Julius Caesar”, for which he received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture; “Executive Suite”; “Lust for Life”; and more.
He also kept returning to Broadway to produce shows such as “Lute Song”; “Joy to the World”; “King Lear”; “Measure for Measure”; “The Duchess of Malfi”; and more.
Houseman began producing television shows as well, such as “Playhouse 90”; “Dillinger”; and “The Great Adventure”, and he taught acting at both the Juilliard School and the Acting Company.
However, I came to know John Houseman through his acting, which began in the latter part of his career.
Moving in front of the camera
John Houseman’s first movie role was in 1938 in “Too Much Johnson”, directed by Orson Welles. His next role was 26 years later in “Seven Days in May” in 1964.
John Houseman’s first movie role was in 1938 in “Too Much Johnson”, directed by Orson Welles. His next role was 26 years later in “Seven Days in May” in 1964.
His acting career took a different trajectory in 1973 when he played law professor Charles Kingsfield in “The Paper Chase”. He is absolutely amazing in this role as a tough, demanding, but fair contract law professor. For his efforts, he won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor Motion Picture.
He followed that up with roles in “Rollerball” and “Three Days of the Condor” both in 1975; “St. Ives” in 1976; “The Cheap Detective” in 1978; and “Old Boyfriends” in 1979.
Houseman also started appearing on television, starting with an episode of “Great Performances” in 1975, then the TV movie “Fear on Trial”; the miniseries “The Adams Chronicles”; and more TV movies.
In 1976, he appeared as the villain in one of my all-time favourite episodes of “The Six Million Dollar Man” and “The Bionic Woman”. “Kill Oscar” is a three-part crossover story where Houseman plays Dr. Lee Franklin, a disaffected scientist. He creates a fleet of female robots called fembots, and intends to use them to take over the world through an experimental weather machine.
As Houseman said in his autobiography, Dr. Franklin is just an evil version of Professor Kingsfield. Still, it is an awesome performance and story line.
Houseman kept on appearing in miniseries such as “Captains and the Kings”, “Washington: Behind Closed Doors”, “Aspen”, “The French Atlantic Affair”, and more.
In 1978, he reprised the role of Professor Kingsfield for the TV adaptation of “The Paper Chase”, which ran until 1986. The role earned him Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor Television Series Drama in 1978 and 1979.
The 1980s were about to start, and it would be the last decade of Houseman’s life.
Through it, he kept on working.
In the movies
Houseman continued appearing in movies such as “The Fog”; “Wholly Moses!”, opposite Dudley Moore; “My Bodyguard”, with Canadian Chris Makepeace; “Ghost Story”; “Murder by Phone”; “Bright Lights, Big City”, with Michael J. Fox and Kiefer Sutherland; “Another Woman”; “Scrooged”; and his final film role in 1988 in “The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!”.
Houseman continued appearing in movies such as “The Fog”; “Wholly Moses!”, opposite Dudley Moore; “My Bodyguard”, with Canadian Chris Makepeace; “Ghost Story”; “Murder by Phone”; “Bright Lights, Big City”, with Michael J. Fox and Kiefer Sutherland; “Another Woman”; “Scrooged”; and his final film role in 1988 in “The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!”.
His television work was prolific, including TV movies such as “Gideon’s Trumpet”, “The Babysitter”, and “A Christmas Without Snow”; miniseries such as “Marco Polo”, “A.D.”, “Noble House”, and “Lincoln”; and TV shows such as “The Associates”, “Mork and Mindy”, and “227”.
He was also in two productions I dearly remember and loved.
Grandfather dearest
“Silver Spoons”, which debuted in 1982, focuses on Edward Stratton III, played by Joel Higgins. He is a wealthy playboy, but also a man who never grew up. Suddenly, he is forced to grow up in a hurry. Edward is confronted by Ricky Stratton, played by Ricky Schroder. He is Edward’s son from a brief marriage who now comes to live with him.
“Silver Spoons”, which debuted in 1982, focuses on Edward Stratton III, played by Joel Higgins. He is a wealthy playboy, but also a man who never grew up. Suddenly, he is forced to grow up in a hurry. Edward is confronted by Ricky Stratton, played by Ricky Schroder. He is Edward’s son from a brief marriage who now comes to live with him.
John Houseman plays Edward’s father. It is another version of Professor Kingsfield, only with a comedic twist at times. He is serious and straight-laced most of the time, but he is brilliant when he cracks a joke or has to deal with some unforeseen situation.
“Silver Spoons” ran from 1982 to 1987 for five seasons and 116 episodes.
In war time
“Winds of War”, which aired in 1983, was based on the 1,000-plus-page novel by Herman Wouk. It centered on Victor “Pug” Henry and his family. Henry was an envoy for the United States government in the late 1930s, and he toured the world, providing the perfect opportunity to see what was happening in Washington, London, Berlin, Rome and Moscow.
“Winds of War”, which aired in 1983, was based on the 1,000-plus-page novel by Herman Wouk. It centered on Victor “Pug” Henry and his family. Henry was an envoy for the United States government in the late 1930s, and he toured the world, providing the perfect opportunity to see what was happening in Washington, London, Berlin, Rome and Moscow.
His middle child is Byron Henry, played by Jan-Michael Vincent. He falls in love with a Jewish woman, Natalie Jastrow, played by Ali McGaw,. Byron ends up in the navy, serving in battle, while Natalie is trapped in Poland with her grandfather Aaron, and ends up in a concentration camp.
Houseman played Aaron and was absolutely brilliant as the stubborn old man who refuses to leave his home simply because of his religion. He wants to stay and fight that anti-Semitism. For his efforts Houseman was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor Series, Miniseries or Television Film.
“Winds of War” remains one of my favourite books and miniseries.
Sadly, John Houseman died on October 31, 1988 of spinal cancer.
He was 86 years old.
Parting thoughts
When I was young, I saw Rich Little doing an impression of John Houseman – and it was Professor Kingsfield.
When I was young, I saw Rich Little doing an impression of John Houseman – and it was Professor Kingsfield.
I have to admit, to me, John Houseman is Professor Kingsfield. It was the first role I saw him in. The next one was Dr. Franklin in “The Six Million Dollar Man” and “The Bionic Woman”, and the one after that was Ricky’s grandfather in “Silver Spoons”. All of them resemble Kingsfield in manner and tone.
His turn as Aaron Jastrow was similar, but the subject material was so much more serious and dramatic. Aaron Jastrow was a Jew suffering persecution and facing the possibility of going to a concentration camp. The role demanded a different kind of performance, and Houseman gave it.
However, as Houseman said in his book “Unfinished Business”, that role of Professor Kingsfield and its variations on a theme were only part of his career.
He did so much more, from theatre and teaching to radio, movies and that memorable collaboration with Orson Welles.
It was a large, productive life – much more than Professor Kingsfield.
No comments:
Post a Comment