She deserves a better memorial. As it says in the linked article, she disliked being associated solely with her role in The Graduate. Her filmography and stage history goes much deeper, as did her life. Her marriage to Mel Brooks lasted nearly 40 years, and they were as devoted and harmonious as two people could be. She remained a beautiful and versatile actor right up to the end of her life. A lot of people are going to miss her. So will I. posted by melissa may at 4:02 PM on June 7, 2005
Ditto on being unaware of her marriage to Mel Brooks. I would never have guessed that one. Incidentally, Katherine Ross, who played Elaine Robinson, is married to Sam Elliot... I find this to be an equally surprising match for some reason. This is not meant as a jab at either Sam Elliot or Mel Brooks. posted by Tullius at 4:26 PM on June 7, 2005
She was hilarious in Mel Brooks' remake of To be or not to be (even if one might argue it shouldn't have been remade). posted by Aknaton at 4:30 PM on June 7, 2005
Thanks for the (better than the link) links, melissa may. posted by interrobang at 4:39 PM on June 7, 2005
she was wonderful--in everything. Rent 84 Charing Cross Rd. if you ever get a chance. posted by amberglow at 4:41 PM on June 7, 2005
. She was wonderful. (And not to be disrespectful, but I happened to have watched the reissued dvd of The Graduate lately, and the character of Mrs Robinson had to be one of the original milfs.) posted by R. Mutt at 4:43 PM on June 7, 2005
Welcome, interrobang. I should correct myself: Brooks and Bancroft were married in '64, so they did make it to 40 years. And yes, she was great in Charing Cross, and Heartbreakers, and The Elephant Man, and everything else I've ever seen her do. posted by melissa may at 4:48 PM on June 7, 2005
*headblue* Er - my incredible bad - I read that as "they didn't make it". NO idea why. Apologies, Melissa May posted by tzikeh at 4:51 PM on June 7, 2005
And sadder for good Sir Mel. posted by grabbingsand at 5:42 PM on June 7, 2005
"We walk for about 40 minutes a day - and we keep our upper bodies in good shape by having a terrible fistfight every day" (Brooks and Bancroft in "The Obvious Diet")
any time I think of either of them, I think of that quote. They had a remarkable marriage.
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I just want to say that my university German Professor (who is Swiss) looks exactly like Anne Bancroft. posted by zardoz at 6:30 PM on June 7, 2005
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She deserves a better memorial.
Amen. In some ways *the* classic American Jewish actress, Bancroft has been one of my favorite screen faces since I was a kid. Her performance in 84 Charing Cross Road is poignant and beautiful; it's a great little film, like amberglow says, but after The Graduate my fave would be Prisoner of Second Avenue, a classic mid-70's Neil Simon comedy with Jack Lemmon. Worth watching for Bancroft's performance alone, if you've never seen it. I had no idea she was set to play sculptor Louise Nevelson (!) in an Albee play (!!) a couple of years back. Too bad she got sick; sounds like it would have been great.
May she rest in peace.
(Hey, Duug, next time you make an obituary post, try putting a little thought and just a tad more effort into it.) posted by mediareport at 6:58 PM on June 7, 2005
Too bad for her that no one gets to pick how she's remembered in this world. She'll always be Mrs. Robinson to me. posted by ChrisTN at 6:58 PM on June 7, 2005
In some ways *the* classic American Jewish actress,
Oops. Got carried away there. She sure plays Jewish well, but she's Italian, not Jewish. Damn, but she looks like my aunt, too.
She defined 'sexy' when its definition was still infant.
Here's to older women. posted by mudpuppie at 7:32 PM on June 7, 2005
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I'm having a hard time imagining Mel Brooks in mourning. posted by PlusDistance at 7:35 PM on June 7, 2005
I didn't make the connection that she was married to Mel Brooks until the last season finale of Curb Your Enthusiasm, which had some nice moments between them at the end. posted by docpops at 7:36 PM on June 7, 2005
While I knew of their marriage I didn't know this,
She also was the one who suggested that he make a stage musical of his movie "The Producers." She explained that when he was afraid of writing a full-blown musical, including the music, "I sent him to an analyst."cnn
Except that I can't help but pay tribute to her talent by noting that she was only 35 when she acted in The Graduate, opposite Dustin Hoffman, then aged -- not a misprint -- 29 and getting his first big film break after years of theater. Yes, they were barely six years apart. Takes a lot more guts to play the "much older" woman under those circumstances. posted by dhartung at 9:41 PM on June 7, 2005
I remember her most in the role of Harvey Fierstein's mother in "Torchsong Trilogy" (my favorite film). She was, of course, perfect. Funny she's Italian, I always thought of her as Jewish also, especially being married to Mel Brooks.
I'm shocked to hear of her demise, and my sympathy goes out to her husband. posted by Goofyy at 9:48 PM on June 7, 2005
She was always more attractive than all my parents' friends.
zardoz, my mother looked exactly like Anne Bancroft twenty years ago, but not so much now. And speaking of lookalikes, I came across a traffic court judge in Santa Barbara that was Glenn Close's doppelganger.
mediareport - nope. Won't do any more obituary posts. Not really interested. It's just that I was on the BBC site when the news came up and thought I'd post it. Sorry to all the offended, didn't realise there was some sort of 'policy'. posted by Duug at 12:31 AM on June 8, 2005
A tremendous actress and a wonderful woman. She and Mel Brooks are really the Hollywood couple that set the standard for all other Hollywood couples. So sad for Mr. Brooks. Rest in Peace, Ms. Bancroft. posted by Joey Michaels at 2:37 AM on June 8, 2005
Duug - of course there's no "policy;" you know how this place works (or should, at least). The only thing keeping it together is respect for the community. One way that respect frequently manifests itself is when users put some thought and effort into posting to the front page.
Won't do any more obituary posts. Not really interested.
If you really cared about Bancroft, you would have given the community something substantial to honor her death. If you didnn't really care about Bancroft, then why the hell are you posting about her death to Mefi's front page? Just trust that someone who actually gives a fuck about her will handle it. posted by mediareport at 3:13 PM on June 8, 2005
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