tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post3878996036713148055..comments2024-03-24T13:26:57.317-07:00Comments on Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule: ROBERTS BLOSSOM 1924 - 2011: BALLADS OF SLIGHT, SAD MENDennis Cozzaliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01954848938471883431noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-53250165177255499012011-08-01T15:14:19.660-07:002011-08-01T15:14:19.660-07:00Wonderful tribute. Did you know that when Close E...Wonderful tribute. Did you know that when Close Encounters was re-released - sometime in the 1980s, as I recall - Blossom's great line about Bigfoot was cut? I was stunned. Spielberg added scenes onboard the alien spaceship, and I suppose he felt the need to trim some time. I've never bought the DVD, because I don't know which version I'd get, and I don't want one without Blossom's line - it's the heart of the movie!wwolfenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-40090696358654943342011-07-21T13:57:05.442-07:002011-07-21T13:57:05.442-07:00Amazing post. For an actor who never really recei...Amazing post. For an actor who never really received much screen time in his movies, he certainly left an indelible impression. For me, his most memorable turn came as Louden Swain's ruggedly self-sufficient grandfather in "Vison Quest." Admittedly, the film is a personal favorite of mine, but the scenes that have stayed with me the most are not the wrestling scenes or those dealing with the romance, but Louden's interactions with the short-order cook and particuarly the one appearance by Blossoms. He had maybe 90 seconds of screen time but I've never forgoten it; when he spoke his words had so much authority-- not because of his character (not fleshed out at all) or personal charisma (non-existent)-- but because he was able to convey a sense of unshaking truth and emotional authenticity while seemingly doing nothing at all. Again, I've never forgotten it.tibster24https://www.blogger.com/profile/18443068699884508427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-43184565756698082372011-07-21T11:10:01.479-07:002011-07-21T11:10:01.479-07:00I hadn't realized that Blossom worked with Spi...I hadn't realized that Blossom worked with Spielberg 3 times. Once on <i>Close Encounters</i>, once in <i>Always</i> (he played the impoverished man who relates communication between Dreyfuss and Brad Johnson), and once on the "Ghost Train" pilot of <i>Amazing Stories</i>, which Spielberg personally directed himself. Blossom's performance in the latter is my favorite: I fondly remember him and young Lukas Haas making their way down the train-tracks in the opening scenes.Adam Zanziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14524618281515322239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-60501318118734820242011-07-17T19:06:08.471-07:002011-07-17T19:06:08.471-07:00Actually, Blossom has 2 lines in CLOSE ENCOUNTERS....Actually, Blossom has 2 lines in CLOSE ENCOUNTERS... he also has the first big laugh line in the picture, after the first reveal of the saucers:<br /><br />"They can fly rings around the Moon, but we're years ahead of 'em on the highway."Robert H.http://mimezine.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-67353027556725510652011-07-16T11:45:59.112-07:002011-07-16T11:45:59.112-07:00I first saw him as a kid in an American soap opera...I first saw him as a kid in an American soap opera in the 70s. As I recalled, he played a creepy caretaker or something like that. I think the soap was called Another World. Anyway, he was great. RIP.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-43322684890026545232011-07-15T12:30:26.100-07:002011-07-15T12:30:26.100-07:00Fine tribute to an excellent character actor, Denn...Fine tribute to an excellent character actor, Dennis. So many films across the last four decades he's graced. Most wouldn't have recognized his name, but surely his performances and the roles were baked into our memory. May he rest in peace. Thanks.le0pard13https://www.blogger.com/profile/09421175808461787862noreply@blogger.com