(Credits: Far Out)
Method acting has long been a source of entertainment, mockery and scandal in the film industry, whether it be actors taking things too far for the sake of a great performance, or going to extreme lengths and delivering a distinctly average one. It could be Jared Leto and his laughably average performances that somehow warrant him mailing dead rats to his co-stars, or it could be Daniel Day-Lewis and his year spent in Italy learning how to make shoes.
Each case varies from being endearing to completely psychotic, with many stories of some who even jeopardised the safety and well-being of their co-stars in order to immerse themselves in the mindset of a particularly unhinged character. From Gary Oldman to Meryl Streep, there are countless Hollywood heavyweights who have adopted the controversial technique to perfect their craft, with mostly exceptional results that somewhat prove the validity of the method.
However, while there are now countless people who have utilised this technique, many associate it with the towering talents of Marlon Brando, who popularised method acting through performances in films like On The Waterfront, Apocalypse Now and The Godfather. The actor was known for his fierce and often intimidating presence on screen, captivating audiences through each role and creating a seismic impact on Hollywood as a whole.
But while Brando might have popularised the method, as well as bringing certain controversy to its reputation through his challenging behaviour while working with Francis Ford Coppola and the disturbances that plagued the production of Last Tango in Paris, he was surprisingly not the first actor to use this technique. He might be widely known as the first method movie star, but John Garfield was actually the first.
Who was Hollywood’s first method actor?
John Garfield had a huge presence during 1940s Hollywood, beginning his career at the height of the studio system and pioneering a new approach towards acting that favoured a more naturalistic style. The actor died in 1952 and was quickly overlooked as other stars like Brando rose to fame, with a legacy that was slightly overshadowed by the changes that shortly swept through the industry.
However, the actor has not been forgotten for his contributions to the craft, with Garfield passing on many of the teachings he learnt while studying at the Group Theatre under the great Russian director Konstantin Stanislavski. While his ideas have long been debated and discussed, his aim was pretty simple, with the director creating a series of exercises that allow actors to experience the character in an authentic and all-encompassing way, as though they are the character themselves.
While Garfield didn’t remain in the group for long, he incorporated these techniques into his own performances, with films like The Postman Always Rings Twice and Gentleman’s Agreement remaining equally as impressive today as they were when they were released. His style is minimalistic and incredibly thoughtful, with many emotions running through him that make every expression and movement completely engrossing.
While the actor was renowned for his work on screen, he once said, “I would much rather talk about the theatre because I think the movies are not an actor’s medium. Movies are a writer’s and director’s medium.” While he might have demonstrated his talents through cinema, many actors have also flocked to the theatre and declared it as the ultimate medium for ‘true’ actors, with a level of freedom that is almost irresistible to those who take on the method themselves.
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