The actor Al Pacino called “a phenomenon” and the “dignity” he brought to his work
Star of such classic movies as Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon and Scarface, Al Pacino is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors in American cinema history.
Rubbing shoulders with the elite performers of the 20th century, including Robert De Niro, Marlon Brando, John Cazale and Michelle Pfeiffer, Pacino is known for his sharp, dramatic delivery and bold sense of humour.
Rising to fame in the 1970s, Pacino saw success immediately, collaborating with Jerry Schatzberg for the drama The Panic in Needle Park just one year before he starred in the iconic ‘Best Picture’ winner, The Godfather. Suddenly, Pacino was a hot Hollywood property, capping off the decade with roles in such classics as Serpico, And Justice After All and Dog Day Afternoon.
In contemporary cinema, thanks to such aforementioned movies, Pacino is considered one of the greatest actors of all time, but the man himself doesn’t have the ego to include his name on his list of the best Hollywood performers. Speaking to Playboy back in 1979, years before he would appear in Brian De Palma’s Scarface, Pacino reflected on a staggering decade and discussed some of his most influential figures.
Covering a duo of directors first and foremost, Pacino exclaims: “Mel Brooks will have these flashes in his films; you laugh for hours afterward. I wonder how he is, what he’s like. The same with Woody; I go to see all of his films”. But soon, the conversation turns to actors, “Dick Van Dyke is also one of my favorites,” he starts, before naming George C. Scott as the best actor in contemporary America.
When asked who else he admires in the industry, Pacino responds: “Gary Cooper was kind of a phenomenon—his ability to take something and elevate it, give it such dignity. One of the great presences. Charles Laughton was my favourite. Jack Nicholson has that kind of persona; he’s also a fine actor. [Robert] Mitchum’s great. Lee Marvin, too. These guys are terrific actors”.
It’s not a phrase often attributed to performers in Hollywood today, but “dignity” as Pacino put it, is perhaps the defining quality of Cooper’s filmography. It became a hallmark of his performances and marked him out as perhaps one of the most understated yet reliable actors of his generation.
Well known, alongside the likes of John Wayne, James Stewart and Clint Eastwood, for his contributions to western cinema, Cooper starred in such classic movies as High Noon, Unconquered and Man of the West. Winning two Academy Awards during his Hollywood career, Cooper even drew the attention of American Presidents Harry S Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Bill Clinton, who each named 1952’s High Noon as their favourite movie.
Whether it was as the principled sheriff in High Noon or the understated hero in Mr Deeds Goes to Town Cooper allowed his work to do the talking for him, as he exuded artistic integrity everyt time he graced the screen. His characters fit this vision too, as they often found themselves deeply entrenched in internal battle between personal conscience and public duty.
This was part of Cooper’s enduring appeal and why he made such an impression on Pacino. He brought humility and vulnerability to all of his roles, no matter the compromising nature of that character. It’s something Pacino himself did so brilliantly within The Godfather and countless other roles. In an era of flamboyant performances and rapid dialogue, Cooper’s dignified simplicity stood out and inspired a generation, including the next generation’s most inspirational figure.
