Ernie Goggins at 27 Leggies posted Too Many RIPs on Thursday, noting the recent losses of Jerry Butler, Gwen McCrae, Ken Parker, Bill Fay and Roberta Flack (with Rick Buckler from The Jam also noted). "This has got to stop", pleaded Ernie.
Sadly, later the same day, news emerged that Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and one of the family dogs had all been discovered dead at the home on the Old Sunset Trail in Santa Fe County, New Mexico.
I will add some words to this post at a later date, as there is a greater understanding of the tragic circumstances that led to this discovery, and to reflect on the impact of Gene's immense and varied acting career.
In the meantime, in time-honoured knee jerk tradition, I've responded by collating an hour-long Dubhed selection, all song titles drawn from Gene's film and TV career. With over 100 credits, there were no shortage of quality contenders, but I think the final 14 hit the spot.
No apologies for tracks 11 and 14, which shoehorn in the film via the subtitle, they were too good to ignore. Likewise, who will argue that the opening song drops the definite article when it's Joni Mitchell?
Farewell, Gene and Betsy.
1) Conversation: Joni Mitchell (1970)
2) Route 66 (Single Version) (Cover of Nat King Cole & The King Cole Trio): Depeche Mode (1987)
3) Bonnie And Clyde (Cover of Serge Gainsbourg & Brigitte Bardot): Mick Harvey ft. Anita Lane (1995)
4) Misunderstood (Album Version): Leila ft. Donna Paul (1998)
5) Two Of A Kind: Superstar (1998)
6) The Mexican (Short Version): Jellybean ft. Jenny Haan (1987)
7) Downhill Racer (Kenny Dope Remix): Everything But The Girl (2004)
8) The Quick & The Dead: Ladyhawke (2012)
9) Twilight (Album Version): Hifi Sean & David McAlmont (2025)
10) Superman (Album Version) (Cover of The Clique): R.E.M. (1986)
11) Wish You Were Here... (Postcards From The Edge) (Remix By Ashley Beedle): The Aloof (1996)
12) Another Woman (Album Version): Moby ft. Barbara Lynn (2000)
13) Crimson Tide: Destroyer (2020)
14) Plug Me In (The French Connection) (Remix By Rick Phylip-Jones): Scarlet Fantastic (1987)
An impressive piece of research
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ernie. Greatly assisted by IMDB and my music collection via the Apple Music app!
DeleteWell played, sir.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Martin, a fine tribute at New Amusements too, it must be said.
DeleteTop work
ReplyDeleteThanks, CC!
DeleteIt took me until I was old to understand how brilliant Gene Hackman was. His role in "The Royal Tenenbaums" is one of the funniest in any film I know. Two weeks ago I saw “Mississippi Burning". Hackman and McDormand were pure magic. The mix looks very exciting. I'm looking forward to hearing it this weekend. Thank you for this surprising post. [sk]
ReplyDeleteThanks [sk]. I can't recall which film I saw first, but Gene's performances in both The Poseidon Adventure and Superman made a very lasting impression on me as a kid. I didn't know the language of film so much back then, but I knew that what Gene was doing was very special, not least given the vast differences between the characters and narratives in both.
DeleteThe two examples you've given are also spot on examples of Gene's ability to nail his parts in both a dramatic and comedic setting. He also had the skill to make an otherwise mundane or forgettable film worth your time and money.
I hope you enjoyed the selection. I would have included Class Action, but the only track of that title I own is a merciless techno number by Luke Slater, which didn't quite fit in. But maybe Gene would have liked that fact.
Hello Khayem, I really liked the mix. Besides Joni Mitchell, my favourites are Leila and The Aloof. They remind me of Nicolette and Gang Starr respectively. I often find Ladyhawke songs too simple when I first hear them, and later I love them.
DeleteYesterday, despite having the flu, I turned on the TV and watched an hour of "French Connection". There's a bar scene where the Three Degrees perform a Jimmy Webb Cover. That was pretty cool.
Small improvement: “Jimmy Webb Song” is better than “Jimmy Webb Cover”. [sk]
DeleteGene Hackman is someone I don't ever remember seeing in a film as a young man but I really respected the actor he was. Some more details seem to be emerging now about the tragic passing of the couple and family dog - all very sad.
ReplyDelete