The Spielberg Effect
Steven Spielberg is a movie director who needs no introduction! From Jaws (1975) and the Indiana Jones series (1981-2008) to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and Bridge of Spies (2015), each of his films have never ceased to entertain us and they will continue to do so for years to come. Like Garry Marshall, Steven Spielberg also invites repeat performances by actors in continuing his work. And several of the actors who have worked with Spielberg have received Academy Award nominations for their performances. They have also been in films that are Disney-produced or have had the Disney label, and I thought we could discuss that today.
Richard Dreyfuss appeared under Spielberg’s direction with in Jaws (1975) and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). For Disney, Dreyfuss voiced the Centipede in James and the Giant Peach (1996), starred in Disney/ABC’s non-musical adaptation of Oliver Twist (1997), and for Touchstone Pictures, made the movies, Stakeout (1987), What About Bob? (1991), Another Stakeout (1993), Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995), and Krippendorf’s Tribe (1998). (His “Close Encounters” co-star Melinda Dillon received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Jillian Guiler.)
Whoopi Goldberg received a Best Actress Oscar Nomination for her performance as Celie Johnson in The Color Purple (1985), and Oprah Winfrey received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar Nomination her performance as Sofia. For Disney, Goldberg voiced Shenzi the Hyena in The Lion King (1994) and Winfrey voiced Eudora, Tiana’s mother in The Princess and the Frog (2009).
Anthony Hopkins was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as John Quincy Adams in Spielberg’s Amistad (1997). 2 years prior to that, he received a Best Actor Oscar Nomination for impersonating another former president, Richard Nixon in Nixon (1995), which was produced by Hollywood Pictures, another one of many film companies spawned by Disney. Hopkins also starred in the Touchstone Pictures film Bad Company (2002) and currently portrays the role of Odin in the Disney/Marvel Thor franchise (2011-present).
Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes were both nominated for their performances (Neeson in Best Actor and Fiennes in Best Supporting Actor) as Oskar Schindler and Amon Geoth in Schindler’s List (1993). While Ralph Fiennes has never made anything for Disney, Liam Neeson starred in Touchstone’s, The Good Mother (1988). He also made Hollywood Pictures films Before and After (1996) and Gun Shy (2000). He portrayed Qui-Gon Jin in Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace (1999) and for films under the Disney label, he voiced Aslan the Lion in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008). (He reprised the role for “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” which was released under 20th Century Fox.) He also voiced Fujimoto in the Disney English dub of Hayao Miyazaki’s Ponyo (2008). Ironically, Liam Neeson was beaten for the Best Actor Oscar in 1993 by frequent Spielberg collaborator, Tom Hanks for his performance as Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia (1993).
Tom Hanks received his 4th Best Actor Oscar Nomination for his performance as Captain Miller in Saving Private Ryan (1998). With Spielberg, Hanks also made Catch Me If You Can (2002), The Terminal (2004), and Bridge of Spies (2015). Hanks and Spielberg have also produced several projects together, including the HBO series, Band of Brothers (2001). You might remember from my previous blogs everything that Hanks has made for Disney.
Christopher Walken received an Oscar Nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Frank Abagnale Sr. in Catch Me If You Can (2002). Walken's first film that was Disney-produced was Things to do in Denver When You’re Dead (1995). He portrayed Reed Thimple in the Disney live-action film The Country Bears (2002) and just recently provided the voice of King Louie in The Jungle Book (2016).
Daniel Day-Lewis won his 3rd Academy Award for impersonating Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln (2012) making him the 1st Oscar Winner to win an Oscar for a performance in a Spielberg film as well as the 1st Oscar Winner ever to win 3 Oscars for portraying leading roles, having previously won for My Left Foot (1989) and There Will Be Blood (2007). “Lincoln” was released under Touchstone Pictures. Lewis was also nominated for his performance as William “Bill the Butcher” Cutting in Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York (2002), which was also released under Touchstone.
Mark Rylance won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Rudolf Abel in Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies (2015) which was released under Touchstone. Rylance also portrayed the titular character in Disney’s The BFG (2016) which was also directed by Steven Spielberg. (The movie was also Spielberg’s first film released under Disney.)
Whoopi Goldberg received a Best Actress Oscar Nomination for her performance as Celie Johnson in The Color Purple (1985), and Oprah Winfrey received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar Nomination her performance as Sofia. For Disney, Goldberg voiced Shenzi the Hyena in The Lion King (1994) and Winfrey voiced Eudora, Tiana’s mother in The Princess and the Frog (2009).
Anthony Hopkins was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as John Quincy Adams in Spielberg’s Amistad (1997). 2 years prior to that, he received a Best Actor Oscar Nomination for impersonating another former president, Richard Nixon in Nixon (1995), which was produced by Hollywood Pictures, another one of many film companies spawned by Disney. Hopkins also starred in the Touchstone Pictures film Bad Company (2002) and currently portrays the role of Odin in the Disney/Marvel Thor franchise (2011-present).
Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes were both nominated for their performances (Neeson in Best Actor and Fiennes in Best Supporting Actor) as Oskar Schindler and Amon Geoth in Schindler’s List (1993). While Ralph Fiennes has never made anything for Disney, Liam Neeson starred in Touchstone’s, The Good Mother (1988). He also made Hollywood Pictures films Before and After (1996) and Gun Shy (2000). He portrayed Qui-Gon Jin in Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace (1999) and for films under the Disney label, he voiced Aslan the Lion in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008). (He reprised the role for “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” which was released under 20th Century Fox.) He also voiced Fujimoto in the Disney English dub of Hayao Miyazaki’s Ponyo (2008). Ironically, Liam Neeson was beaten for the Best Actor Oscar in 1993 by frequent Spielberg collaborator, Tom Hanks for his performance as Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia (1993).
Tom Hanks received his 4th Best Actor Oscar Nomination for his performance as Captain Miller in Saving Private Ryan (1998). With Spielberg, Hanks also made Catch Me If You Can (2002), The Terminal (2004), and Bridge of Spies (2015). Hanks and Spielberg have also produced several projects together, including the HBO series, Band of Brothers (2001). You might remember from my previous blogs everything that Hanks has made for Disney.
Christopher Walken received an Oscar Nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Frank Abagnale Sr. in Catch Me If You Can (2002). Walken's first film that was Disney-produced was Things to do in Denver When You’re Dead (1995). He portrayed Reed Thimple in the Disney live-action film The Country Bears (2002) and just recently provided the voice of King Louie in The Jungle Book (2016).
Daniel Day-Lewis won his 3rd Academy Award for impersonating Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln (2012) making him the 1st Oscar Winner to win an Oscar for a performance in a Spielberg film as well as the 1st Oscar Winner ever to win 3 Oscars for portraying leading roles, having previously won for My Left Foot (1989) and There Will Be Blood (2007). “Lincoln” was released under Touchstone Pictures. Lewis was also nominated for his performance as William “Bill the Butcher” Cutting in Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York (2002), which was also released under Touchstone.
Mark Rylance won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Rudolf Abel in Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies (2015) which was released under Touchstone. Rylance also portrayed the titular character in Disney’s The BFG (2016) which was also directed by Steven Spielberg. (The movie was also Spielberg’s first film released under Disney.)
Each of these movie stars arguably made some of the best movies of their careers under the direction of Steven Spielberg. The actors’ talents combined with Spielberg’s seem to be an extraordinary combination!
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