Surprisingly , Anthony Quinn’s name was not in the list of International movie personalities in MS.Thanks MS for adding it now i I have seen only a few of his movies.Thanks to my good friend Mohana krishnan who was a treasurehouse of information on Quinn movies The story of his life itself is no less than a Hollywood film script.Born in a poor family, forced to work as a shoe shine boy, a boxer, a butcher.... but quinn always had a dream in his mind .And when he died at the age of 86 .he had already become a legend .
What is unique about him is that he defies the image of a hollywood star. He is not your handsome and charming hero on whom girls droole over.If he was born in India he would have always remained a bollywood villain.Or perhaps during his last days he would have got some good oldman roles like what Amrish puri got.But he is in fact one of the greatest actors who has immortalised some of the great characters from classic literature.
My earliest memories of Quinn is as QUASIMODO in the Hunchback of nortredam.The character of Quasimodo created by the great French novelist VICTOR HUGO, stands alone in the world literature The most ugly creature in the world, with a huge hunch back , something between a man and a beast, that is Quasimodo.
Quinn is normally associated with very powerfful, rough and tough roles.But here he had to play a bellringer, loyal to to his master, a help less creature entirely at the mercy of circumstances..Quinn brought about a childlike innocense to the character.Quasimodo’s confusion, his pain , silent suffreng of his deformity, his longing for love ....a full range of emotions have been portrayed by QUINN without words, without dialogues.Can anybody name another actor who could portray the role of Quasimodo so convincingly?
GUNS OF NAVARONE is one of his movies which doesnot need any introduction.He presented a memorable performance as col Andrey stavrou along with Gregory peck and David Niven.Based on an Alister Mclean thriller, this war movie is on the top ten list of many.
Lawrence of arabia is another one of his classic movies.who can forget the villaneius bedouin he played in this all time classic.?
Zorba the Greek was a landmark in his career.He played the title role in this movie which is based on the novel by the famous Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis.Quinn was made for this role of an earthly peasant with a passion for anytthing he does.May be it reflected his real life personality.Zorba had a passion for pottery for which he cut his finger which was coming in his way.He considered it a sin not to make love when ever and wherever possible.Reflections on quinn who had fathered thirteen children?
Omar Mukhthar Lion of the desert is another not to be missed movie in which Quinn has immortalised the role of a libiyan guerilla fightinng against the mighty forces of Mussolini.I remember that the movie was very long may be three hours, but there was not even a boring moment.Quinn had given a great deal of diginity and honour to the charactar of Omar Mukhtar and he became a real life hero for the entire arab world.
GHOSTS CANT DO IT is another one of his moveies which I saw about ten years back .Quinn and BO DEREK were husband and wife with a lot of difference in age.So logically he dies first but the angel tells him to hang around for some more time.Now the problem here is that GHOSTS CANT DO IT! So they had to arrange a body in which the hubby could enter before he could finally enter....I dont know why Quinn agreed to do this movie.This one was awarded the WORST movie of the year award .Quinn just escaped being given the worst actor award!
He has also received a few Oscars but I have not seen those films.I will always remember him as the zorba, a free soul, passionate , full of zest for life, down to earth as Andrea in the Guns of Navarone, Quasimodo in the Hunch back, as Omar MUkhthar the guerilla....
But what did he think of himself?
" iam Anthony Quinn, son, brother fruit picker, student , lover, actor, husband , father , sculptor, painter, arrogant bastard. I am mexican, Irish , Indian , American, Italian , Greek , Spanish, Chinese, Eskimo, Muslim.Iam all these things. and more and less, But what am I most of all?Well at my core I am an artist.That has been my beginning and that will be my end."