I didn't think it was possible for Hollywood to produce a film that makes a total mockery of religion from the atheistic point of view. Well, they did it for Sinclair Lewis' book entitled Elmer Gantry. While there are many outstanding scenes, Burt Lancaster gives the most fiery performance of his career. He's never been better, having won the Oscar. This is a different league for him. Sometimes, comparing Burt Lancaster with Marlon Brando isn't far off.

If I'm forced to think quickly of a masterful performance by Burt Lancaster, it's as Robert Stroud which is right up there with From Here to Eternity, Elmer Gantry, and The Swimmer. But boy...he's touching for 143 consecutive minutes in Birdman of Alacatraz. There's a lot to like: the direction, the black-and-white cinematography, the screenplay, and the supporting cast. It only takes thirty minutes to be hooked, and after that, the movie is impossible to stop.

The spume...Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr...on the beach from here to eternity. It's among the greatest scenes of all time. The power of their embrace is overwhelming which is why I continue to revisit From Here to Eternity countless times. Montgomery Clift's acting is perfect, and he should've won the Oscar for Best Actor. Actually, it's more of a tie with Burt Lancaster because their performances are so close in quality that it's hard to pick one over the other.

Burt Lancaster's role in The Swimmer is very challenging because he has nothing to work with. It's just him and his bathing suit. Not many actors can do what Burt Lancaster did while making the performance work without any hint of embarrassment. He, at age 52, was in outstanding shape at that time. In fact, Burt Lancaster said this was the best work he had done in his career and called it Death of a Salesman in swimming trunks.

Highly influential to The Wild Bunch and the Spaghetti Westerns by Sergio Leone, Vera Cruz offers an interesting contrast of acting styles between Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster. All draped in black, the latter plays a quite likeable character for a hard-to-figure-out heel with a violent streak. It's amazing to see him dominate the screen although the former did a good job of holding his ground.

Chalk up The Train as one of the most exciting WWII pictures. Nothing beats the sight of Burt Lancaster in action. He going down the ladder quickly, jumping off the train while it's in motion, running across the bridge, and getting through the mountain range with a injured leg are some of the film's highest points. Hence, he's as thrilling as anyone can be in the action genre, easily knocking off Marlon Brando in the all-around great actor category.

The Rose Tattoo is pure Tennessee Williams. Anna Magnani was actually foundering on her own during the first half. As soon as Burt Lancaster showed up, the show finally took off, making her look better. Hence, it's a strange movie with two eccentric characters. If the script called for them to give overdone performances, then so be it. That being said, the negative reviews pointing out this aspect are completely unwarranted.

Burt Lancaster can be safely added to the top tier of film noir male icons which had been populated by only two actors: Humphrey Bogart and Robert Mitchum. As Bill Saunders, he's extremely irresistible, and Joan Fontaine can't have enough of him, hence their rock-solid chemistry. From start to finish, Russell Metty's photography is unbelievable; it's not often that a genre is so well-represented this way.

Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas did seven films together although The List of Adrian Messenger doesn't really count, and the very first one was I Walk Alone when their movie careers were just getting started. Tough guy Burt Lancaster steals the show, and Kirk Douglas isn't even in his league, acting-wise. Supplying enough sex appeal, Lizabeth Scott is better than usual. The writing is terrific, and the editing is always on the point.

Like The Wild Bunch and The Hunting Party, Ulzana's Raid is a brutal Western picture. A lot of it reminds me of The Searchers. Giving another outstanding performance, Burt Lancaster plays a world-weary scout who has seen it all. When he gives advice, everybody should heed it, but Lieutenant Garnett DeBuin (Bruce Davison) is too idealistic to believe him, hence the ending that's not thought-out well.

Burt Lancaster once answered a question about the difference between him and Paul Scofield, "I'm a movie star. He's a great actor." I have to disagree with him because he's both a movie star and a great actor. At the age of 58, Burt Lancaster performed all of his stunts in Scorpio as he ran through the construction site, jumping on and off platforms and climbing ladders, and made a two-part 20-foot fall.

Those who had never been to Atlantic City will be fooled by the glamorous advertising and the famous name. In reality, the gambling resort has been dead for decades; instead, it hoards wealth from the poor and senior citizens who are dependent on welfare checks. Yet Burt Lancaster turns in a fine performance. He epitomizes class like no one does. When I think of the movie, I think of his sorry, sappy, and sentimental character.

If you love Burt Lancaster's films, you're in a treat for The Kentuckian, the only fully directed picture of his career. The most impressive of all is the sight of Burt Lancaster running across the pond to get his man before he reloads his flintlock gun. Maybe with the exception of Sylvester Stallone, nobody could've done something like that at full speed and still make it dramatic.

Remember the setting takes place in the early (the first five years from 1959 to 1964), not the middle or final, stage of the war. A lot of vets have attested to the film's accurate portrayal of what was really going on at that time. At a spiffy age of 64, Burt Lancaster has great acting scenes, however few of them there are, so be on the lookout for them. They're priceless. He was actually limping, having suffered a knee injury.