Talk:Walter Brennan

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Section sizes

Section size for Walter Brennan (29 sections)
Section name	Byte count	Section total
(Top)	2,172	2,172
Early life	2,621	2,621
Career	11	18,582
Early work	8,207	8,207
Work at MGM	1,287	1,287
Move to supporting actor	887	887
First Oscar: Come and Get It (1936)	1,843	1,843
Second Oscar: Kentucky (1938)	1,933	1,933
Third Oscar: The Westerner (1940)	2,284	2,284
Western roles	2,130	2,130
Later work	15	7,315
Television	2,082	3,694
The Real McCoys	1,612	1,612
Singing career	801	801
Other TV roles and Disney	1,373	1,373
Later career	1,432	1,432
Personal life	1,561	5,296
Religious and political views	3,735	3,735
Legacy	3,190	3,190
Filmography	16	18,386
Film	14,439	14,439
Television	1,759	1,759
Radio	339	339
Discography	1,833	1,833
Awards and nominations	781	781
See also	66	66
References	28	28
Further reading	223	223
External links	2,295	2,295
Total	60,955	60,955

Radio Shows

He did considerable work on radio which needs to be added. The Real McCoys ran for 5 years before the TV show and starred Brennan. He made numerous other long appearances on radio in the 1950s and before. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.57.224.233 (talk) 19:30, 2 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Songs

I would like to know if there was a song i wish i wer 18 agin by mr. brennan if any one knows please e-mail me at swg92314@yahoo i would love to hear it again and have the lyrics..Thank You!!

I thought I saw Walter Brennan's grave at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City.

I love that Walter Brennan was the crush of Jimmy Wah in the movie "Good Morning Vietnam"! —Preceding unsigned comment added by Aewold (talk • contribs) 17:03, 24 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I have a copy of Mr Brennan singing (or reciting, I suppose) "The Shifting, Whispering Sands." At least it certainly sounds like him.206.123.253.186 (talk) 11:27, 13 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Edits from Banned User HC and IPs

Wikipedia's banning policy states that "Any edits made in defiance of a ban may be reverted to enforce the ban, regardless of the merits of the edits themselves. As the banned user is not authorized to make those edits, there is no need to discuss them prior to reversion."

1) HarveyCarter (talk · contribs) and all of his sockpuppets are EXPRESSLY banned for life.

2) Be on the look out for any edits from these IP addresses:

AOL NetRange: 92.8.0.0 - 92.225.255.255

AOL NetRange: 172.128.0.0 - 172.209.255.255

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Walter Brennan's acting skills

The introduction of sound forced a major change in film acting style. Sound films are implicitly "realistic", so actors were obliged to take a more understated and less "histrionic" approach different from silent films or stage acting.

Walter Brennan might have been the first actor to go beyond this. When I saw The Westerner on AMC some years ago, I was struck by the way Brennan fully "inhabited" the character of Judge Roy Bean. This was not a popular and easily recognizable actor playing a role, but a performance in which any distance between the actor and the character portrayed was effaced. Such performances remain uncommon (think Robert Duvall in Lonesome Dove, Robert Deniro in King of Comedy). Was Walter Brennan the first movie actor to reach this level of acting ability? It's a point worth discussing. WilliamSommerwerck (talk) 11:53, 26 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Well, he was the first actor to win 3 Oscars (all for Best Supporting Actor). The rules back then may have been a little primitive by our current standards, but still, you don't win even one Oscar, let alone three, for nothing. -- JackofOz (talk) 12:24, 26 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I'm watching Kentucky on this, and Brennan's performance should never have been nominated, let alone won. Brennan plays his trademark "crotchety geezer" in a noisy, unsubtle, one-note lump of "acting" that could have been phoned in. In fairness to Brennan, it's a poorly written one-dimensional role that an actor even of his skills would have trouble with. That, however, does not justify an Oscar as a consolation prize. WilliamSommerwerck (talk) 18:06, 12 May 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Limp

Supposedly his limp was a prop, someone told him to put a rock in his shoe to simulate a limp and it worked so well it became a trademark of his. But, I can not find what wiki would consider a reliable source for this. — Rlevse • Talk • 02:53, 11 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Movie missing from the list - I just watched it. Affairs of Cappy Ricks (1937)142.179.22.204 (talk) 10:21, 1 January 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Sentence #3 of this Article

"He was born less than two miles from his family's home in Swampscott." I am a native speaker of English and I have a college education, yet I have no idea what this sentence is trying to say. Was Mr. Brennan's mother on her way back from a long walk when she gave birth? I myself happened to have been born about 5 miles from my family's home because my parents decided the delivery should be conducted in a hospital. What exactly is the point here? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Arcanicus (talk • contribs) 14:50, 18 April 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I concur. I also thought that sounded really stupid and pointless. Who is actually born in the house their parents live in, and why is it especially noteworthy if they are? I was born five miles from my house and my mother was born in the house that was her parents home! Absolutely pointless information! In fact this article needs a damn good rewrite, its not very encyclopedic at all. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.26.107.172 (talk) 01:57, 4 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Given his rather young age at the time, it seems unlikely he made a "fortune" in real estate and then lost it in the Depression. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.49.25.194 (talk) 03:15, 3 May 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Discography

The discography is incomplete. See [1]. Steelbeard1 (talk) 11:48, 25 November 2014 (UTC)[reply]

more photos, please

Because of the requirement that photos not be under copyright, Wikipedia's articles are often short on interesting photos. With respect to Walter Brennan... Before his genetic inheritance caused him to broaden and thicken, he was a damn fine-looking man (The Westerner, Centennial Summer). It would be nice if photos showing him prior to 1950 could be found and inserted. WilliamSommerwerck (talk) 12:49, 9 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

No mention of his racism and bigotry?

Someone drew this to my attention yesterday - I don't know a lot about it.

Bad grandpa? Book downplays actor Walter Brennan’s dark side

I've just started looking into this but it seems surprising that someone who was apparently well known and open about his views doesn't have them covered more thoroughly in his Wikipedia entry.--Jimbo Wales (talk) 08:31, 23 September 2021 (UTC)[reply]

I guess the inclusion based on a co-founder's urging is better than the hit-job potshots being taken at this long-dead actor I've observed with ridiculous sources (ones I've tried to fight off), but this sole source is no more convincing -- especially as it is reported through the Associated Press.--Artaxerxes (talk) 13:28, 28 March 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Old Rivers Song

Not about a mule but a black man. Listen to it and please correct this entry. 24.156.89.52 (talk) 16:25, 13 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

‘Nude photos…

… of Walter Brennan’. This is a running gag in Good Morning, Vietnam. Is this some scriptwriter’s revenge for Brennan’s attacks on suspected Communist Hollywood writers in the McCarthy-era witch hunts? 125.209.140.165 (talk) 09:27, 12 August 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Where are the sources to back up these assertions?

Brennan supported Barry Goldwater in the 1964 United States presidential election because Goldwater had voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but Brennan later endorsed George Wallace in 1968, believing that Richard Nixon was too liberal for a Republican.

If such statements are made, they should have supportive links so that the reader knows this is not just opinion. 24.143.10.44 (talk) 17:51, 20 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Origin Story Conflict

The Turner Classic Movies TCM Fan Site has an entirely different origin story for him:

Walter Brennan, born on July 25, 1894, in Swainsboro, Georgia, was a distinguished American actor celebrated for his distinctive voice, rugged demeanor, and versatility in portraying a wide array of characters. With a career spanning over five decades, Brennan left an indelible mark on Hollywood through his exceptional character acting.

Brennan's career began in the silent film era, but it was with the advent of sound films that his unique voice and acting style truly came to the forefront. Known for his ability to play a variety of roles, from grizzled old-timers to comical sidekicks, Brennan became a beloved figure in American cinema. His breakthrough came with his role in Come and Get It (1936), where he played a gruff lumberjack.

Walter Brennan was notably the first actor to win three Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor, a testament to his remarkable skill and range. His wins came for his roles in Kentucky (1938), The Westerner (1940), and Sergeant York (1941). Each of these roles showcased his ability to bring depth and authenticity to his characters, whether they were rural folks or rugged adventurers.

In addition to his work in Westerns, Brennan also made a mark in dramas and comedies. His portrayal of a cantankerous old prospector in The Real McCoy (1930) and his role as a cantankerous grandfather in The Hanging Tree (1959) further displayed his versatility and commitment to his craft.

Brennan's ability to seamlessly transition between dramatic and comedic roles, often with a distinctive and memorable voice, made him one of the most recognizable character actors of his time. His performances were characterized by a genuine and often endearing quality that resonated with audiences.

Walter Brennan's career, marked by his unique character portrayals and his significant contributions to the film industry, left a lasting legacy. He passed away on September 21, 1974, but his work continues to be celebrated for its impact on American cinema and its influence on future generations of actors. Cforemanumd (talk) 11:04, 7 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]