Peter O’Toole’s 10 best movies, ranked

Peter O’Toole was a true icon of cinema whose acclaimed roles have endured through generations. With his film debut in 1960 and working consistently until his death in 2013, with eight Academy Award nominations, O’Toole held the record for the most Oscar nods without ever winning. From classic as Lawrence of Arabia to family-friendly favorites such as Lending His Voice to Pixar’s RatatouilleO’Toole left an undeniable mark on Hollywood and the history of film.

Although O’Toole called himself “The biggest loser“Despite his failure to receive an Academy Award, looking back on his career, he delivered several Oscar-worthy performances that proved his reputation as one of the all-time greats. Equally comfortable in comedic and dramatic roles, O’Toole imbued all his characters with deep humanity as his effortless charm elevated every role he played. With a Shakespearean sensibility that added gravitas to his acclaimed performances, O’Toole deserves to be remembered alongside the best actors, not just of his generation but of all time.

10

Caligula (1979)

Peter O’Toole as Tiberius

Caligula was among the most controversial movies of the 1970s, as its explicit sexual content led it to be called obscene, with the film’s financier Penthouse Even going to court to defend the movie (by Washington Post.) The release of this film caused quite a stir, and it was banned in several countries for its hardcore sexual content. As a dramatization of the rise and fall of the Roman Emperor Caligula (Malcolm McDowell), this was a film that did not shy away from the sexual excesses and the fraught political tensions of his reign.

Having already achieved status as a Hollywood icon, The presence of Peter O’Toole as the Roman Emperor Tiberius helped add an air of legitimacy to the film. which many perceived as a blend of historical fiction and outright pornography. Caligula has since become a cult classic, and a 178-minute Final Cat The film was released in 2021 which contained previously unseen footage and was well received. As the most controversial and graphic movie in O’Toole’s filmography, Caligula has since been hailed as a trail-blazing release that pushed the boundaries of what could be depicted in mainstream cinema.

9

What’s new, pussycat? (1965)

Peter O’Toole as Michael James

Although his screenwriter and co-star Woody Allen would later create much more acclaimed work, a fascinating early release in his career was What’s new, pussycat? The screwball comedy paired Allen with acclaimed performers such as Peter Sellers and Peter O’Toole and featured The iconic theme song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and sung by Tom Jones. As the story of a playboy who decides to settle down and marry the love of his life, this outrageous comedy explores, in typical Allen fashion, the neurosis of womanizing and the awkward confusion of young, sexually active , attractive people.

O’Toole played Michael, the young playboy who called every woman he met “Pussycat“To avoid having to remember their names. Although there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments throughout and it’s enjoyable to see O’Toole in this kind of light entertainment, What’s new, pussycat? lacked the power of his best work. There’s a lot to enjoy here, but it’s not Lawrence of ArabiaOr even Annie Hall For that matter.

8

The Ruling Class (1972)

Peter O’Toole as Jack Gurney, 14th Earl of Gurney

The ruling class was a truly wild and underappreciated cult classic that stood as a unique, strange and dark reflection of the British class system. With Peter O’Toole as the paranoid schizophrenic 14th Earl of Gurney who believes he is Jesus Christ, The ruling class was a commercial failure when it was first released but has since become a cult classic. A powerful satire of aristocracy, O’Toole perfectly characterized the chaos of his unhinged nobleman, who inherited his father’s estate.

With an unashamed theatrical performance, O’Toole looked the part of his mentally unstable character as he donned a massive blonde wig and posed as the incarnation of God himself. As Gurney’s family tries to steal his inheritance from under him, themes around the fickle nature of familial loyalty begin to emerge. As a satirical commentary on people being forced to fit into roles they’re not suited for, The ruling class Deserves to be recognized as one of O’Toole’s best films.

7

Goodbye Mr. Chips (1969)

Peter O’Toole as Arthur “Chips” Chipping

Peter O’Toole delivered a gentle and enigmatic performance in the musical Goodbye, Mr. Chips opposite 1960s singing sensation Petula Clark. As Arthur “Chips” Chipping, O’Toole played a studious teacher of Latin and Greek at Brookfield School, a public school just outside of London. As a devoted advocate of young minds, Mr. Chiefs was torn up and down when his colleague and future wife sadly died, and he was devastated by the broken young lives he saw as they were taken to war.

with Great chemistry between O’Toole and Clarke, Goodbye, Mr. Chips Was a touching school-set story that the actor to abandon his usual flamboyance for a more grounded and sensitive performance. O’Toole also showed off his musical talents as he sang through many beautiful songs, including “Where Did My Childhood Go?” With a 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, Goodbye, Mr. Chips was a true gem among O’Toole’s impressive body of work.

6

Venus (2006)

Peter O’Toole as Maurice Russell

Peter O’Toole earned his eighth and final Academy Award nomination for his outstanding late-career performance in Venus. As the feature debut of Future Doctor Who Starring Jodie Whittaker, the heartfelt drama saw O’Toole playing an elderly actor whose life is turned upside down by a brash teenager played by Whittaker. With great chemistry between the pair, the humane and tender exploitation of maturity on two ends of life’s spectrum felt heartfelt and poignant.

While Venus was a sensitive and life-affirming story, it was also a dark comedy about an older man who met a woman who was much too young for him. The concept could feel unfair if the script wasn’t so well written and the performances didn’t feel so real and engaging. like One of O’Toole’s most notable late-career roles, Venus It’s worth checking out for those only familiar with his films as a much younger person.

5

My Favorite Year (1982)

Peter O’Toole as Alan Swann

Peter O’Toole’s often underappreciated comedic talents are best exemplified by his Oscar-nominated performance in My favorite year. Like the alcoholic swashbuckling acting star sensation Alan Swann, O’Toole captured the hilarious unpredictability of a man drinking his career away. Starring Mark Linn-Baker as the young comedy writer tasked with keeping Swann sober in the week leading up to his appearance on a live variety show, My favorite year held the laughter from beginning to end.

My favorite year was set in 1954 and was a heartfelt ode to the early days of television and the often frantic and haphazard challenges of live broadcasting. O’Toole was completely believable as a washed-up former star whose best days are behind him. There was both humor and sorrow in his constant need to stay drunk throughout. With a unique sense of humor, an over-the-top performance and a fast-paced script, My favorite year was the perfect vehicle for O’Toole’s talents.

4

Beckett (1964)

Peter O’Toole as King Henry II of England

Beckett was the first of two films of the 1960s where Peter O’Toole was nominated for an Oscar for playing King Henry II of England. The historical drama cataloged the tumultuous relationship between the king and his friend-turned-bishop Thomas Becket and is based on the 1959 play. Beckett or the honor of God by Jean Anouilh. While this visually stunning story lost the Academy Award for Best Picture My beautiful ladyIt earned the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

carried forward by Two tour-de-force performances by O’Toole and Richard Burton As the title character, Beckett Has all the makings of a true classic and deserves more attention from modern viewers. As a story of collaboration, honor and God, Becket was a slow-moving drama that built to an epic conclusion. It was a testament to acting legends O’Toole and Burton that they shared the screen together with such dignity, with neither mammoth performer surpassing the other.

3

Ratatouille (2007)

Peter O’Toole as Anton Ego

Peter O’Toole’s career has been a vast and varied journey through modern cinema that even included a memorable performance in Pixar’s. Ratatouille. O’Toole portrayed the cynical and hard-to-please food critic Anton Ego, whose opinion of chef Alfredo Linguini’s restaurant could make or break his lucrative business. However, it is the rat who loves to eat, Remy, whose cooking ignites Anton’s taste buds as he brings back nostalgic memories of his mother’s cooking.

O’Toole’s prim and proper voice was the perfect accompaniment to rugged, angular features and stern, uncompromising opinions. Ratatouille Stood among Pixar’s finest films and received widespread critical acclaim while boasting a story that is equally enjoyable for adult and child viewers. The presence of O’Toole among the voice cast added an air and prestige to this family-friendly film, and Ratatouille He took home the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

2

The Lion in Winter (1968)

Peter O’Toole as King Henry II of England

Just four years after playing King Henry II to widespread acclaim in BeckettPeter O’Toole reprized the role of the 12th-century king for another Oscar-nominated performance in The lion in winter. This time, the story focused on King Henry’s attempt to establish a line of succession during a family gathering at Christmas 1183. However, his efforts unleashed personal and political turmoil as conflict erupted between him and his estranged wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine (Katharine Hepburn ), their three surviving sons, the French king, and the king’s half-sister and mistress, Alois.

The lion in winter was an intense historical drama based on a play by Jacob Goldman. While O’Toole sadly lost the Oscar to Cliff Robertson for CharlieHepburn won Best Actress and became the first three-time Academy Award winner in the category. generally, The lion in winter was an intense historical and political drama lifted by the consistent lead performances of O’Toole and Hepburn, who made this a smart, melodramatic and engaging monarchy film.

1

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Peter O’Toole as TE Lawrence

When you think of Peter O’Toole’s career, one movie comes to mind above all the rest, and that was Lawrence of Arabia. As director David Lean’s magnum opus, Lawrence of Arabia was an epic exploration of the real-life British Army officer TE Lawrence’s experiences in the Ottoman provinces of Hejaz and Greater Syria during the First World War. With grand sweeping visuals and an engaging characterization of an almost legendary figure, Lawrence of Arabia has earned its place not only at the top of O’Toole’s body of work, but as among the greatest films ever made.

A masterpiece of acting, directing, editing, cinematography and production design, Lawrence of Arabia has gained iconic status as one of the purest examples of what filmmaking can achieve. As Lawrence struggled with the violence of war and his fractured identity as a native British man carving out new alliances with Arab desert tribes, this was the thematically rich history of the British Empire at a time of great change. More than any other performance, Lawrence of Arabia Showed why Peter O’Toole is considered an icon of cinema.

Source: Washington Post