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Summary
As acclaimed in funniness as he was in play , Jack Lemmonwas truly one of the greatest actor of the 20th century who imbued every role he played with a powerful sense of humanity . As a two - time Academy Award winner , and the first actor to win both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor , Lemmon made Hollywood history over the course his more than 50 - year career . powerfully associated with playing vulnerable everyman characters , Lemmon showcased a determinated commitment to every role he played in more than 60 flick .
With a long - standing comedic partnership with Walter Matthau , iconic collaborations with director Billy Wilder , and acclaimed performances in intense drama film , Lemmon starred in some of the greatest film ever made . FromSome Like It HottoGlengarry Glen Ross , Lemmon ’s range and skill cemented his reputation as one of the finest performers of his generation . While the musical genre and styles of his movies vary over the old age , thebest Lemmon movies were always solidly entertaining filmsbacked up with an extraordinary performance .
10JFK (1991)
Jack Lemmon as Jack Martin
Cast
After an already extraordinary vocation of more than 40 yr in show business , Jack Lemmon gave one of his most memorable later - career performances with a abbreviated appearance as Jack Martin in Oliver Stone’sJFK . With a star - constellate hurl that also includedLemmon ’s frequent Colorado - star Walter Matthau , Lemmon as Martin , the humankind who helped kick off Jim Garrison ’s investigating into the character assassination of John F. Kennedy . With a rightfully impressive ensemble cast of characters , Lemmon add to the over-the-top appeal of this paranoia - lace political thriller .
Despite the controversial nature ofJFK , whichfully comprehend conspiracy theories about the truth behind the character assassination of Kennedy , the movie was a tense and in effect political thriller that Stone delineate as a “ parry myth ” ( viaRolling Stone ) to excuse the death of the 35th United States chairman . While many of its claims should be take with a apprehension of saltiness , this did not take away from the telling achievement that wasJFK . The first of three movies Stone made about presidents , he later followedJFKwithNixonandW.
9Missing (1982)
Jack Lemmon as Ed Horman
Costa - Gavras ’s Missing is a drama film based on the honest story of Charles Horman , an American diarist who disappears during a coup in Chile . asterisk Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek , the film sees Charles embark on a desperate search by his don and married woman during the height of political turmoil during a coup .
Full of political machination and a mysterious missing mortal , Missingstarred Jack Lemmon as Ed Horman in a moving-picture show inspired by a reliable storyset against the backdrop of the United States - backed Chilean coup of 1973 . Lemmon play a father who arrived in Chile in search of his Word , an American journalist , who disappeared during a military takeover . As Ed urgently searched for his son the conspiracy besiege him grew ever larger as it appeared everyone , admit the Government , was keeping dark and untold secret from him .
Lemmon like an expert play a loving founding father who was in over his mind trying to get answers as the staring realities of his son ’s disappearance slowly creep to the surface . With a hard supporting mould that include Sissy Spacek as Ed ’s secure - willed daughter - in - jurisprudence , Missing was a tense and effective dramatic play that too calculate at once at the American government and their deposition of democratically elected political physique . A overbold and intelligent biographical thriller , Missingshowcased that Lemmon was just as effective an actor in dramas as he was in comedy .
8Save The Tiger (1973)
Jack Lemmon as Harry Stoner
Save the Tiger is a drama film that star Jack Lemmon . Lemmon play a struggling garment manufacturer face brutal moral dilemma in trying to save his business following his coming back from World War II .
Jack Lemmon meet the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as the disillusioned war old stager Harry Stone inSave the Tiger , a tense play that explored moral conflict in contemporary America . Lemmon gave an sinful carrying out as a businessman who found extreme anxiousness permeate every aspect of his life while he struggle to keep his caller afloat and was consistently give disappoint by the moral failing of those around him . Forced to make difficult determination , Save the Tigerhighlighted the most cheerless aspects of the American Dream and those it so often allow for behind .
WhileSave the Tigerwas not as acclaimed asLemmon ’s most famous character , it was a real acting highlight in his long and varied calling that signalize him as one of the greatest actor of his generation . WhileSave the Tigerwas a slow burn that had featured lengthy scenes and overlong dialog , the commitment that Lemmon return to the part proved that nobody could portray anxiousness on screen like him . relieve the Tigerwas a forget gem from the New Hollywood era , when movies first come out to take unflinching flavour at smart set and did not care what they revealed .
7Grumpy Old Men (1993)
Jack Lemmon as John Gustafson Jr
Jack Lemmon proved he had not lost his comedic touch modality with the release ofGrumpy Old Men , a romantic comedy that geminate him once again with his most frequent carbon monoxide gas - star topology Walter Matthau . Grumpy Old Menwas a wanton - hearted film about two neighbors with a long - endure rivalrythat only intensified when a unexampled female neighbor moved in across the street . Although Lemmon and Matthau had funnier collaborations in the past , it was a real kickshaw to see these two legends sharing the concealment once again .
Grumpy Old Menproved that Lemmon and Matthau had not lose any of their unlearned comedic chemical science as they expertly played off one another with hilarious consequences . With Lemmon in his recent 60s , Grumpy Old Menwas an age - appropriate office that lean into the acclaimed legacy of its two starsand feature a strong endure performance from Ann - Margaret . A less acclaimed subsequence calledGrumpier Old Menwas released two years later , although this proved the joke really only worked once .
6Mister Roberts (1955)
Jack Lemmon as Ensign Frank Thurlowe Pulver
Mister Roberts is a war - drama film place by John Ford and Mervyn LeRoy . The film star Henry Fonda as an officer aboard a loading ship during World War II who battles tedium and Stalinism , constantly trying to gain a transport until he is coerce to postdate the purchase order of the ship ’s captain .
Mister Robertsbrought Jack Lemmon his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor as his incredible comedic powers were on full display through the theatrical role of the laundry and morale officer Ensign Frank Thurlow Pulver . The sensation - studded dramatis personae also featured Henry Fonda , James Cagney , and William Powell as Navy officeholder in the waning days of World War II who were frustrated by the petty denials of their captain . With sight of laugh - out - brassy moments and at - sea joke , Mister Robertswas a classic comedy that exploit its incredible comedic talent .
Despite the riotous product account ofMister Roberts , as the original music director , John Ford , was replaced by Mervyn LeRoy due to behind - the - scenes conflict with Fonda and Cagney ( viaFar Out ) , the movie was a hit with audiences and critics . Lemmon ’s character was so popular he even led the sequelEnsign Pulverin 1964 , although Lemmon did not return and was replace by Robert Walker in the title function . An underappreciated clowning , those with a erotic love for Lemmon ’s peerless comedic science should watch outMister Roberts .
5The Odd Couple (1968)
Jack Lemmon as Felix Ungar
The greatest conjugation of Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau wasThe Odd Couple , a funny , moving , and at times deeply sad drollery about friendly relationship and all the hardships that came with it . Lemmon play Felix Ungar , a down - on - his - luck grass widow who ruminate end it all after his married woman leave him , and Matthau was Oscar Madison , the mussy ally who invited him to move in with him while he got back on his understructure . What started as a caring helping hired man soon turned to difference of opinion as the pair name just how different they were from one another .
Lemmon ease up a powerful and hilarious performance as Felixthat simultaneously conveyed all his fussy eccentricities while also suggest at the deep sadness hidden underneath his eccentric . The Odd Couplecould have been a concluded farce but it maintained a common sense of vulnerability that was sprinkled throughout its quick - witted dialogue and shrill comebacks . As one of the best comedies of the 1960s , the same can decidedly not be order about its lusterless sequelThe Odd distich IIfrom 1998 .
4Days Of Wine And Roses (1962)
Jack Lemmon as Joe Clay
Days of Wine and Roses is a 1963 drama directed by Blake Edwards , focusing on an publicizing executive whose struggles with alcoholism impact his marriage . Starring Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick , the film explore the couple ’s turbulent relationship as they combat dependency ’s destructive effect .
While at firstDays of Wine and Roseslooked like it had all the qualification of a classic romanticism characterization , the story soon devolves into a tragic narrative of potomania , dependency , and the painful means that addiction brought down everybody around it . Jack Lemmon delivered an sinful functioning as Joe Claywho , after finding the love of his life , consistently bestow her down to partake his passion for drinking with him . A low-spirited limning of the way that alcohol disuse puts people on a path toward destruction , Days of Wine and Roseswas a heart - breakingly sad movie by director Blake Edwards .
Full of pity - inducing scenes Lemmon gave one of his expert performance as Clay that was equally matched in passion and exposure by Lee Remick as his love - pastime and later wife Kirsten Arnesen - Clay . At the fourth dimension of its release , Days of Wine and Roseswas Lemmon ’s most striking roleas it outline the difficulty of romantic lovemaking superseding an unhealthy love for alcohol . Days of Wine and Rosesbecame even more tragically sorry as when Clay tried to clean - up his human action , he was pull to see his wife falling further into the quarry of addiction that he had thrown her into .
Custom image by Yeider Chacon.
3Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
Jack Lemmon as Sheldon Levene
Glengarry Glen Ross is a drama aim by James Foley , adapted from David Mamet ’s Pulitzer Prize - winning play . The film stars Al Pacino , Jack Lemmon , Alec Baldwin , and Kevin Spacey , and centers on a chemical group of literal estate of the realm salesmen whose job are on the channel as they compete in a high - stakes gross revenue contest . The vivid narrative blossom forth as desperation and unethical tactics come to the forefront in the conflict for survival .
The crowning achievement of the latter part of Jack Lemmon ’s career came with his extraordinary performance as Sheldon Levene inGlengarry Glen Ross . AlthoughGlengarry Glen Rosswas well remembered for Alec Baldwin ’s powerful “ always be conclude ” aspect , the film was so much more than this as Lemmon take nuance and vulnerability to this adjustment of Pultizer Prize - winning turn by David Mamet . Dubbed ‘ Shelley the Machine’,Lemmon run a once - successful real the three estates salesman whose job was in dangerif he could not bear witness his worth by becoming one of the top business deal finisher of the month .
coif over the course of two days , Sheldon had a sickish daughter in infirmary and the pervading sense of anxiety for his soon to be crumbling existence was felt throughoutGlengarry Glen Ross . Lemmon ’s performance was unfeignedly a standout face of Glengarry Glen Ross , which was even more telling considering the cast consisted of the the like of Al Pacino , Alan Arkin , and Ed Harris . WhileGlengarry Glen Rossbombed at the box office , it received universal critical plaudits and has since pull in a report as a cultus classic .
2Some Like It Hot (1959)
Jack Lemmon as Jerry / Jerraldine
Some Like It Hot is a funniness crime film star Marilyn Monroe , Tony Curtis , and Jack Lemmon . point by Billy Wilder , Some Like it Hot is gear up in Prohibition - geological era Chicago and center on two player named Joe and Jerry who go on the run and disguise themselves as fair sex after witness a family hit .
The greatest of all Jack Lemmon ’s out - and - out comedies has to beSome Like It Hot , the farcical sexuality - turn crime drollery that he co - asterisk in with Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe . As funny today as when it was first release , Lemmon ’s pure commitment to his role as on full display as himself and Curtis toy two men who disguise themselves as instrumentalist to escape mafia gangsters . With an horrific secret plan , Some Like It Hotcould have shine flat on its foot his not for convert trio that was Lemmon , Curtis , and Monroe , who all fork over vocation - defining performances .
Produced without the approval of the Motion Picture Production Code , Some Like It Hot pushed the bound of what could be depicted onscreen and was a prime example of the dismantlement of societal taboos within media during the 1960s . Some Like It Hotwas canny , racy , and at times deeply insightful , and acted as the first of four collaborations between Lemmon and director Billy Wilder . An almost perfect comedy , Some Like It Hotwas as trailblazing as it was hilarious .
Costa-Gavras’s Missing is a drama film based on the true story of Charles Horman, an American journalist who disappears during a coup in Chile. Starring Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek, the film sees Charles embark on a desperate search by his father and wife during the height of political turmoil during a coup.
1The Apartment (1960)
Jack Lemmon as C.C. “Bud” Baxter
Billy Wilder ’s The Apartment is a comedy - drama picture show that features Jack Lemmon as C.C. Baxter , an ambitious business office doer who bestow his flat to company executive for adulterous affaire to advance his career .
As the Best Picture winner of 1960 , The Apartment was director Billy Wilder and its star Jack Lemmon , firing on all cylinder and rescue what would be the best work in both of their acclaimed careers . A Christmas comedy - drama , The Apartment feature Lemmon as a faint-hearted business office employee at an policy company in New York City who ended up lending out his seek - after city apartment to his superiors to run into with their schoolmistress . As Bud Baxter , Lemmon was devastate to learn that the lift operator that he longed after was have an social function with his hirer in his own nursing home .
WhileThe Apartmentwas full of hilarious moments , it was also deep tragic as Baxter was walked on by his superiors and the lift operator , played by Shirley MacLaine , was strung along to the decimal point that she try out to finish her life . At its core , The Apartmentwas the story of a Isle of Man who learned how to stop letting citizenry campaign him around and place upright up for himself . Asthe dandy performance in Lemmon ’s entire filmography , the fact that he did not come through his Best Picture nomination was one of the biggest travesties in Oscar chronicle .
Sources : Rolling Stone , Far Out
Glengarry Glen Ross is a drama directed by James Foley, adapted from David Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play. The film stars Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, and Kevin Spacey, and centers on a group of real estate salesmen whose jobs are on the line as they compete in a high-stakes sales contest. The intense narrative unfolds as desperation and unethical tactics come to the forefront in the battle for survival.
Some Like It Hot is a comedy crime film starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon. Directed by Billy Wilder, Some Like it Hot is set in Prohibition-era Chicago and centers on two musicians named Joe and Jerry who go on the run and disguise themselves as women after witnessing a mob hit.
