Kurt Russell is 75 years old today. He was born on 17 March 1951.
I know what you’re thinking. “Frank’s gonna present a great film today!” You’re thinking something like The Thing or Escape from New York. Or maybe Stargate. At least he’s going to do Death Proof! Right?
Nope.
I like all those films. But I think they’d all be just as good with someone else. I think They Live was better with Roddy Piper.
Kurt Russell is a solid actor. But so are lots of people. I don’t think he really stands out. And he wouldn’t have been a star if he hadn’t had a successful actor for a father.
But I am fascinated with the live-action Disney films that Kurt Russell starred in. Again: he’s totally replaceable. But I loved these films as a kid. And I think they are still good. I really don’t know why these films have such bad reputations today.
He had roughly a dozen major roles in these films. And he was the star in four of them. He plays Dexter Riley in three of these films. And they are my favorites:
- The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1969)
- Now You See Him, Now You Don’t (1972)
- The Strongest Man in the World (1975)
Again: it could have been anyone. If it had been 20 years earlier, it would have been Roddy McDowall! (Kurt Russell’s entire career could be replaced with a handful of Roddys!)
So let’s celebrate three-quarters of a century of Kurt Russell by revisiting his first major Disney success, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes. You can’t expect too much from these kinds of films. But if you go in expecting nothing more than an amusing romp, you will enjoy yourself.
But I’m happy just to not have to listen to people go on about Snake Plissken, who is, at base, a reactionary character who most appeals to reactionary fans.
Kurt Russell via Wikimedia. It is in the public domain.
