The Forgotten Star Alain Delon Called Hollywood's Greatest Rebel
French film icon Alain Delon rarely gave out praise, but he made an exception for one Golden Age actor he considered a true pioneer. Discover the story of the man whose groundbreaking method acting and tragic downfall left an indelible mark on Hollywood, even if history tried to forget him.
Alain Delon, a man not known for handing out compliments, once offered high praise for a frequently overlooked figure from Hollywood's Golden Age. Few actors have ever personified “cool” the way Delon did. He was at the epicenter of the French film industry's revolution during the second half of the 20th century. If a French director was making waves, chances are they worked with Delon. His collaborators included legends like Agnès Varda, Louis Malle, Michelangelo Antonioni, Jean-Luc Godard, Jean-Pierre Melville, and Luchino Visconti, cementing his status among European film royalty. While Delon is linked to many French cinema subgenres, he was a trailblazer in the modern neo-noir style, starring in classics like Le Samouraï and Purple Noon that profoundly influenced global cinema.
A Noir Pioneer
It makes sense that one of Delon’s acting idols was a man who had a similar impact on the earliest days of the noir genre in America decades earlier. The genre grew out of pulp novels about hard-boiled detectives and reluctant heroes pulled into webs of intrigue. One of the first major films in this style was Body and Soul, a gripping drama about a boxer surrounded by corruption. Though the film isn't as remembered today as it should be, it did secure an Academy Award nomination for its lead, John Garfield.
Garfield had already earned a nomination nearly ten years prior for his part in the 1938 musical Four Daughters. He soon cultivated a “method acting” approach, immersing himself completely in his roles. At a time when the press paid little attention to the craft of acting, his techniques quietly influenced a generation of stars who followed, including James Dean and Marlon Brando.
A Talent Ahead of His Time
It was Delon who told The Los Angeles Times that Garfield was “20 years ahead of his time”. While he also admired Montgomery Clift and Robert Walker, Delon noted that “with Garfield, you could feel something coming from his guts”. This comment wasn't just about his forward-thinking acting style; it was also a somber reflection on the actor's tragic fate.
At the peak of his career, Garfield was summoned before the House Un-American Activities Committee to answer questions about supposed communist ties. He denied any involvement but also refused to name names, which led to him being blacklisted. The timing was terrible, as his performance in The Postman Always Rings Twice was being celebrated as a masterpiece and later inspired a remake with Jack Nicholson.
The immense pressure of the public hearings and the subsequent destruction of his career took a heavy toll. Tragically, Garfield died of a heart attack at just 39, an event widely believed to have been brought on by stress. While Hollywood has largely tried to write Garfield and his innovative work out of its history, icons like Delon have ensured his memory endures.