A Girl and a Gun: Anne Bancroft (1931-2005)

June 08, 2005

Anne Bancroft (1931-2005)

The obituaries of Anne Bancroft, who died yesterday at seventy-three, have mostly emphasized her rigorously independent, self-reliant streak, a woman who recognized reasonably young that if you took any of what the New York Times calls bull----, from anybody at any time, you had only yourself to blame. Interestingly, although knowing almost nothing about her personally until these stories marking her death, that is the premier quality I would have identified in her as an actress. Again and again, her characters staked out positions in her own terms, and struggle with maintaining them as the characters might, you could sense her inner strength and commitment. Whether or not the character was conventionally sympathetic or not, you could not help but admire the resolve.

Obits have largely emphasized her peak years as the 1960s, and truly The Miracle Worker (1962) was stunning work, one of those rare Oscars that deserved the recognition; she was also extremely fine in The Pumpkin Eater (1964) and of course as the legendary Mrs. Robinson, immortalized by her own talent, Dustin Hoffman's skillful pose of bewilderment in the face of middle-aged lust (Bancroft was only thirty-six at the time), and Paul Simon's lyrics, in The Graduate (1967). But if you overlook The Turning Point (1977) and especially 84 Charing Cross Road (1986), you're missing out on some of her best work. I'm especially fond of the latter film, in part because she so faithfully translates (not copies, translates) the voice of Helen Hanff's book of the same title into the cinematic idiom. I think the book is still in print, and if you love books and don't know it, get acquainted.

The depth and texture of Bancroft's best work makes a great deal of what passes for acting throughout the length of her career pale. She was a dedicated artist with the talent to match her devotion to her work; not many of those around.

June 08, 2005 at 12:28 PM | Permalink

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A Girl and a Gun

June 08, 2005

Anne Bancroft (1931-2005)

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