Want to know the best Gena Rowlands movies? How about the worst Gena Rowlands movies? Curious about Gena Rowlands box office grosses or which Gena Rowlands movie picked up the most Oscar® nominations? Need to know which Gena Rowlands movie got the best reviews from critics and audiences? Well, you have come to the right place….because we have all of that information.
Gena Rowlands (1930-2024) was an Oscar®-nominated American actress. She has been acting in movies, stage and television for over 65 years. She is known for her collaborations with her late actor-director husband John Cassavetes in ten films, including A Woman Under the Influence (1974) and Gloria (1980), which earned her nominations for the Academy Award® for Best Actress. Her IMDb page shows 105 acting credits from 1954 to 2017. This page will rank Gena Rowlands movies from Best to Worst in six different sortable columns of information. To do well in our overall rankings a movie has to do well at the box office, get good reviews by critics, be liked by audiences, and get some award recognition.
Gena Rowlands Movies Ranked In Chronological Order With Ultimate Movie Rankings Score (1 to 5 UMR Tickets) *Best combo of box office, reviews and awards.
| Year | Movie (Year) | Rating | S |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Movie (Year) | Rating | S |
| 1974 | A Woman Under the Influence (1974) AA Best Actress Nom |
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| 2004 | The Notebook (2004) |  |
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| 1976 | Two-Minute Warning (1976) | |
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| 1962 | Lonely Are The Brave (1962) | |
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| 2007 | Persepolis (2007) |  |
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| 1967 | Tony Rome (1967) | |
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| 1963 | A Child Is Waiting (1963) | |
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| 1968 | Faces (1968) | |
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| 1978 | The Brink's Job (1978) | |
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| 1977 | Opening Night (1977) | |
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| 1995 | Something to Talk About (1995) | |
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| 1998 | Hope Floats (1998) | |
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| 2005 | The Skeleton Key (2005) | |
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| 1962 | The Spiral Road (1962) | |
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| 1998 | Paulie (1998) | |
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| 2006 | Paris, je t'aime (2006) |  |
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| 1991 | Once Around (1991) | |
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| 1984 | Love Streams (1984) | |
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| 1991 | Night on Earth (1991) | |
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| 1980 | Gloria (1980) AA Best Actress Nom |
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| 1971 | Minnie and Moskowitz (1971) | |
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| 1998 | The Mighty (1998) | |
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| 1982 | Tempest (1982) | |
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| 1958 | Shadows (1958) | |
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| 1988 | Another Woman (1988) | |
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| 1998 | Playing By Heart (1998) |  |
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| 1958 | The High Cost of Loving (1958) | |
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| 1987 | Light of Day (1987) | |
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| 2007 | Broken English (2007) | |
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| 1996 | Unhook the Stars (1996) | |
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| 1997 | She's So Lovely (1997) | |
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| 2014 | Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks (2014) |  |
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| 1969 | Machine Gun McCain (1969) | |
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| 1993 | Silent Cries (1993) | |
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| 2001 | Wild Iris (2001) Showtime Movies |
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| 1995 | The Neon Bible (1995) | |
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| 2004 | Taking Lives (2004) | |
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| 2011 | Olive (2011) |  |
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| 2013 | Yellow (2013) | |
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| 1999 | The Weekend (1999) | |
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| 2014 | Parts Per Billion (2014) | |
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| 1991 | Ted & Venus (1991) |  |
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| 1994 | Parallel Lives (1994) Showtime Movies |
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Gena Rowlands Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table
The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies any way you want.
- Sort Gena Rowlands movies by her co-stars
- Sort Gena Rowlands movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
- Sort Gena Rowlands movies by yearly domestic box office rank
- Sort Gena Rowlands movies by how they were received by critics and audiences. 60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
- Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each Gena Rowlands movie received.
- Sort Gena Rowlands movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score. UMR puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.
| CreditRank | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Review % | Oscar Nom / Win | S | UMR Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CreditRank | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Actual B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | B.O. Rank by Year | Review % | Oscar Nom / Win | S | UMR Score |
| 1 | A Woman Under the Influence (1974) AA Best Actress Nom |
Peter Falk & Directed by John Cassavetes |
18.50 | 106.9 | 106.9 | 29 | 86 | 02 / 00 | 91.9 | |
| 2 | The Notebook (2004) | James Garner & Ryan Gosling |
81.00 | 140.6 | 200.7 | 32 | 68 | 00 / 00 | 88.8 | |
| 3 | Two-Minute Warning (1976) | Charlton Heston & Walter Pidgeon |
27.60 | 139.7 | 139.7 | 23 | 55 | 01 / 00 | 83.7 | |
| 4 | Lonely Are The Brave (1962) | Kirk Douglas & Walter Matthau |
2.80 | 40.7 | 40.7 | 87 | 83 | 00 / 00 | 81.6 | |
| 5 | Persepolis (2007) | Catherine Deneuve & Danielle Darrieux |
4.40 | 7.0 | 35.6 | 175 | 90 | 01 / 00 | 79.7 | |
| 7 | Tony Rome (1967) | Frank Sinatra & Jill St. John |
9.80 | 86.9 | 86.9 | 31 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 78.6 | |
| 6 | A Child Is Waiting (1963) | Burt Lancaster & Judy Garland |
2.50 | 31.2 | 31.2 | 79 | 81 | 00 / 00 | 78.5 | |
| 8 | Faces (1968) | John Marley & Seymour Cassel |
2.10 | 17.6 | 17.6 | 116 | 81 | 03 / 00 | 76.8 | |
| 9 | The Brink's Job (1978) | Warren Oates & Peter Boyle |
15.40 | 71.0 | 71.0 | 47 | 65 | 01 / 00 | 76.5 | |
| 10 | Opening Night (1977) | Joan Blondell & Peter Falk |
1.20 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 130 | 85 | 00 / 00 | 74.6 | |
| 11 | Something to Talk About (1995) | Julia Roberts & Dennis Quaid |
50.90 | 126.1 | 172.9 | 34 | 46 | 00 / 00 | 73.4 | |
| 12 | Hope Floats (1998) | Sandra Bullock & Harry Connick Jr. |
60.10 | 138.0 | 187.3 | 34 | 42 | 00 / 00 | 73.4 | |
| 13 | The Skeleton Key (2005) | Kate Hudson | 47.90 | 80.7 | 80.7 | 61 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 72.3 | |
| 14 | The Spiral Road (1962) | Rock Hudson & Burl Ives |
6.60 | 94.5 | 94.5 | 39 | 53 | 00 / 00 | 71.0 | |
| 15 | Paulie (1998) | Jay Mohr & Tony Shalhoub |
26.90 | 61.8 | 61.8 | 67 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 70.2 | |
| 16 | Paris, je t'aime (2006) | Natalie Portman & Willem Dafoe |
4.90 | 8.0 | 28.6 | 187 | 78 | 00 / 00 | 67.6 | |
| 17 | Once Around (1991) | Richard Dreyfuss & Holly Hunter |
14.90 | 38.0 | 38.0 | 78 | 67 | 00 / 00 | 66.1 | |
| 18 | Love Streams (1984) | Directed by John Cassavetes | 0.20 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 184 | 79 | 00 / 00 | 65.6 | |
| 19 | Night on Earth (1991) | Winona Ryder & Giancarlo Esposito |
2.00 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 149 | 77 | 00 / 00 | 64.9 | |
| 20 | Gloria (1980) AA Best Actress Nom |
Gena Rowlands & Buck Henry |
3.50 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 123 | 72 | 01 / 00 | 63.9 | |
| 21 | Minnie and Moskowitz (1971) | John Cassavetes | 0.70 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 170 | 75 | 00 / 00 | 61.9 | |
| 22 | The Mighty (1998) | Sharon Stone & Harry Dean Stanton |
2.70 | 6.1 | 14.1 | 163 | 73 | 00 / 00 | 59.4 | |
| 23 | Tempest (1982) | Susan Sarandon & Molly Ringwald |
5.00 | 18.4 | 18.4 | 96 | 68 | 00 / 00 | 57.4 | |
| 24 | Shadows (1958) | Directed by John Cassavetes | 0.60 | 10.3 | 10.3 | 160 | 70 | 00 / 00 | 56.5 | |
| 25 | Another Woman (1988) | Mia Farrow & Gene Hackman |
1.60 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 168 | 69 | 00 / 00 | 51.0 | |
| 26 | Playing By Heart (1998) | Sean Connery & Angelina Jolie |
4.00 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 154 | 67 | 00 / 00 | 50.0 | |
| 27 | The High Cost of Loving (1958) | José Ferrer | 0.90 | 15.7 | 29.8 | 149 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 46.3 | |
| 28 | Light of Day (1987) | Michael J. Fox & Joan Jett |
10.50 | 28.9 | 28.9 | 81 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 44.9 | |
| 29 | Broken English (2007) | Parker Posey & Melvil Poupaud |
1.00 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 223 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 44.4 | |
| 30 | Unhook the Stars (1996) | Gérard Depardieu & Marisa Tomei |
0.30 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 235 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 42.6 | |
| 31 | She's So Lovely (1997) | John Travolta & Sean Penn |
7.30 | 17.1 | 17.1 | 126 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 41.8 | |
| 32 | Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks (2014) | Rita Moreno | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 221 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 38.7 | |
| 34 | Machine Gun McCain (1969) | Peter Falk & Ennio Morricone |
1.30 | 9.8 | 9.8 | 128 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 33.0 | |
| 33 | Silent Cries (1993) | Annabeth Gish | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 255 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 33.0 | |
| 35 | Wild Iris (2001) Showtime Movies |
Laura Linney | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 383 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 28.8 | |
| 36 | The Neon Bible (1995) | Denis Leary | 0.10 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 240 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 28.3 | |
| 37 | Taking Lives (2004) | Angelina Jolie & Ethan Hawke |
32.70 | 56.7 | 113.7 | 85 | 41 | 00 / 00 | 27.8 | |
| 38 | Olive (2011) | John Scurti | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 360 | 55 | 00 / 00 | 19.8 | |
| 39 | Yellow (2013) | Melanie Griffith & Ray Liotta |
0.10 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 328 | 50 | 00 / 00 | 12.5 | |
| 40 | The Weekend (1999) | Brooke Shields & Deborah Kara Unger |
0.00 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 342 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 12.1 | |
| 41 | Parts Per Billion (2014) | Frank Langella & Rosario Dawson |
0.00 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 426 | 48 | 00 / 00 | 10.5 | |
| 42 | Ted & Venus (1991) | Bud Cort | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 232 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 10.0 | |
| 43 | Parallel Lives (1994) Showtime Movies |
Treat Williams | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 273 | 42 | 00 / 00 | 5.1 |
Check out Gena Rowlands‘s career compared to current and classic actors. Most 100 Million Dollar Movies of All-Time.
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I first saw Gena back in 1958 or early 1959 when The High Cost of Loving in which she co-starred with Jose Ferrer was showing at our Ritz cinema as the supporting feature to Charlie Bill Stuart’s Imitation General.
Jose also directed High Cost of Loving and I’m surprised that The Work Horse didn’t highlight that. The omission may have something to do with the fact that Jose is the uncle of Gorgeous George of whom I get the impression WH could be a bit jealous. Anyway it was Gena’s first film and as Bruce’s figure suggests it lost money for MGM.
However because it was on the same bill as Imitation General at around the time when Charlie Bill had just been designated the No 1 US box office star by Quigley and because Charlie Bill was always very popular in Belfast during his heyday I had to queue for quite a while to get in to see the double bill; and indeed Wikipedia confirms that Imitation General made a splendid profit for MGM worldwide.
I have seen 3 Gena Rowlands movies.
The Notebook and Lonely Are the Brave are favourites. I have also seen Tony Rome.
Regarding the last Joel subjects to get a page on UMR – I did not realize that Ralph Richardson and Michael Redgrave did not win Oscars
Hey Flora. Thanks for the thoughts on Gena Rowlands. Tally count…14 for me and 3 for you. I have seen and enjoyed your two favorites. Her movies with Cassavettes do not really interest me….plus that are not very easy to find. Yep…Richardson and Redgrave did not win Oscars. Heck…combined they only got 3 Oscar nominations…2 for Ralph and 1 for Michael. Good stuff as always.
Wow Gena’s 90. Gena Rowlands is # 774 on the 2020 Oracle of Bacon list. These are the other actors on the list she has appeared with.
8 JOHN HURT The Skeleton Key (2005)
13 SEAN CONNERY Playing by Heart (1998)
19 WILLEM DAFOE Paris, je t’aime (2006)
22 GERARD DEPARDIEU Paris, je t’aime (2006)
22 GERARD DEPARDIEU Unhook the Stars (1996)
31 ROBERT DUVALL Something to Talk About (1995)
38 CHARLTON HESTON Two-Minute Warning (1976)
45 GEORGE KENNEDY Lonely Are the Brave (1962)
56 SUSAN SARANDON Tempest (1982)
57 HARRY DEAN STANTON She’s So Lovely (1997)
57 HARRY DEAN STANTON The Mighty (1998)
78 GENE HACKMAN Another Woman (1988)
95 IAN HOLM Another Woman (1988)
112 KIEFER SUTHERLAND Taking Lives (2004)
122 DENNIS QUAID Playing by Heart (1998)
122 DENNIS QUAID Something to Talk About (1995)
129 SEAN PENN Persepolis (2007)
129 SEAN PENN She’s So Lovely (1997)
130 STEVE BUSCEMI Paris, je t’aime (2006)
131 BURT LANCASTER A Child Is Waiting (1963)
135 BEN GAZZARA Opening Night (1977)
135 BEN GAZZARA Paris, je t’aime (2006)
145 BOB HOSKINS Paris, je t’aime (2006)
152 WOODY HARRELSON Ted & Venus (1991)
160 JULIA ROBERTS Something to Talk About (1995)
163 CLINT HOWARD Unhook the Stars (1996)
164 NICK NOLTE Paris, je t’aime (2006)
193 KIRK DOUGLAS Lonely Are the Brave (1962)
200 MARTIN BALSAM Two-Minute Warning (1976)
209 ROSANNA ARQUETTE Hope Floats (1998)
212 SHARON STONE The Mighty (1998)
220 ELLEN BURSTYN Playing by Heart (1998)
221 SEYMOUR CASSEL Faces (1968/I)
221 SEYMOUR CASSEL Love Streams (1984)
221 SEYMOUR CASSEL Minnie and Moskowitz (1971)
221 SEYMOUR CASSEL Opening Night (1977)
221 SEYMOUR CASSEL Shadows (1959)
232 SAM SHEPARD The Notebook (2004)
236 PAUL SORVINO The Brink’s Job (1978)
237 PETER FALK A Woman Under the Influence (1974)
237 PETER FALK Opening Night (1977)
237 PETER FALK The Brink’s Job (1978)
239 BEAU BRIDGES Two-Minute Warning (1976)
254 ANGELINA JOLIE Playing by Heart (1998)
254 ANGELINA JOLIE Taking Lives (2004)
259 MIA FARROW Another Woman (1988)
275 CAROL KANE Ted & Venus (1991)
276 MIRANDA RICHARDSON Paris, je t’aime (2006)
283 RICHARD DREYFUSS Once Around (1991)
296 JAMES GARNER The Notebook (2004)
306 JOSE FERRER The High Cost of Loving (1958)
318 TONY SHALHOUB PAULIE (1998)
331 EMILY MORTIMER PARIS, JE T’AIME (2006)
333 DANNY AIELLO Once Around (1991)
337 CATHERINE DENEUVE Persepolis (2007)
338 BRUCE DAVISON Paulie (1998)
343 PETER BOYLE The Brink’s Job (1978)
357 BURT YOUNG She’s So Lovely (1997)
375 JOHN TRAVOLTA She’s So Lovely (1997)
399 NASTASSJA KINSKI Playing by Heart (1998)
403 ARMIN MUELLER-STAHL Night on Earth (1991)
417 VINCENT SCHIAVELLI Ted & Venus (1991)
448 HARRIS YULIN Another Woman (1988)
449 MICHAEL MCKEAN Light of Day (1987)
450 PATRICIA CLARKSON PLAYING BY HEART (1998)
457 ELIJAH WOOD Paris, je t’aime (2006)
458 VITTORIO GASSMAN Tempest (1982)
475 BRITT EKLAND Machine Gun McCain (1969)
493 HOLLY HUNTER ONCE AROUND (1991)
498 TCHEKY KARYO Taking Lives (2004)
519 JAMES BROLIN Ted & Venus (1991)
521 NATALIE PORTMAN Paris, je t’aime (2006)
543 CHEECH MARIN Paulie (1998)
561 BLYTHE DANNER ANOTHER WOMAN (1988)
575 WINONA RYDER Night on Earth (1991)
578 DEBI MAZAR She’s So Lovely (1997)
590 ETHAN HAWKE Taking Lives (2004)
602 MARISA TOMEI Unhook the Stars (1996)
624 JULIETTE BINOCHE PARIS, JE T’AIME (2006)
635 FANNY ARDANT PARIS, JE T’AIME (2006)
638 PARKER POSEY Broken English (2007)
642 GEOFFREY KEEN The Spiral Road (1962)
650 CLYDE KUSATSU Silent Cries (1993)
683 ALLEN GARFIELD The Brink’s Job (1978)
694 TOM BOWER Two-Minute Warning (1976)
711 JARED HARRIS The Weekend (1999)
714 GIANCARLO ESPOSITO Night on Earth (1991)
719 WALTER MATTHAU Lonely Are the Brave (1962)
739 MICHAEL ROOKER Light of Day (1987)
741 GABRIELE FERZETTI Machine Gun McCain (1969)
746 MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL Paris, je t’aime (2006)
781 WARREN OATES The Brink’s Job (1978)
796 KATE HUDSON THE SKELETON KEY (2005)
832 GRIFFIN DUNNE BROKEN ENGLISH (2007)
832 GRIFFIN DUNNE ONCE AROUND (1991)
835 BILL COBBS Hope Floats (1998)
835 BILL COBBS Paulie (1998)
848 MICHAEL PARE Hope Floats (1998)
865 PHILIP BOSCO Another Woman (1988)
873 BUD CORT Ted & Venus (1991)
884 PATRICIA ARQUETTE SHE’S SO LOVELY (1997)
896 TOM NOONAN GLORIA (1980)
902 KENNETH WELSH Another Woman (1988)
907 WALTER PIDGEON Two-Minute Warning (1976)
924 MICHAEL J. FOX (I) LIGHT OF DAY (1987)
948 FRANK SINATRA Tony Rome (1967)
950 DAVID OGDEN-STEIRS ANOTHER WOMAN (1988)
983 DENIS LEARY THE NEON BIBLE (1995)
990 BROOKE SHIELDS The Weekend (1999)
Gena has appeared with 24 Oscar winners.
ANGELINA JOLIE Playing by Heart (1998)
ANGELINA JOLIE Taking Lives (2004)
BURL IVES The Spiral Road (1962)
BURT LANCASTER A Child Is Waiting (1963)
CHARLTON HESTON Two-Minute Warning (1976)
ELLEN BURSTYN Playing by Heart (1998)
FRANK SINATRA Tony Rome (1967)
GENE HACKMAN Another Woman (1988)
GEORGE KENNEDY Lonely Are the Brave (1962)
HOLLY HUNTER ONCE AROUND (1991)
JOSE FERRER The High Cost of Loving (1958)
JULIA ROBERTS Something to Talk About (1995)
KATE HUDSON THE SKELETON KEY (2005)
MARISA TOMEI Unhook the Stars (1996)
MARTIN BALSAM Two-Minute Warning (1976)
NATALIE PORTMAN Paris, je t’aime (2006)
PATRICIA ARQUETTE SHE’S SO LOVELY (1997)
RICHARD DREYFUSS Once Around (1991)
ROBERT DUVALL Something to Talk About (1995)
SANDRA BULLOCK Hope Floats (1998)
SANDY DENNIS Another Woman (1988)
SEAN CONNERY Playing by Heart (1998)
SEAN PENN Persepolis (2007)
SEAN PENN She’s So Lovely (1997)
SUSAN SARANDON Tempest (1982)
WALTER MATTHAU Lonely Are the Brave (1962)
Hey Dan. As always thanks for the thoughts on our latest page. For not making many movies from the 1950s to the late 1980s…I think a spot on the Oracle Top 1000 list is very impressive. I was also surprised when I realized she is 90. Probably the second most famous thespian that is 90….only behind Clint Eastwood. When looking at the most frequent Oracle co-star…the late great Seymour Cassel gets that honor. I did not realize Cassel was an Oscar nominated actor until researching this page. 24 Oscar winning co-stars is below average….but not too bad since she pretty much only made Cassavetes movies. Good stuff as always.
Great UMR Page
Thank you Mike.
One of Hollywood’s most respected actresses, Gena Rowlands works only occasionally and then strictly in husband John Cassavetes’ productions. Her performances in these have brought her critical acclaim, but not the public following her talent deserves.” -Rating the Movie Stars 1983 book.
Rating the Movie Stars 4 Star Gena Rowlands Performances
1962’s Lonely Are The Brave
1974’s A Woman Under The Influence
1980’s Gloria
21 Joel subjects to go. I have seen 14 of these movies or 34.14%. Favorites would include The Notebook, Two-Minute Warning and Lonely Are The Brave.
The Last 21 Joel Subjects That Will Get UMR Pages
Gene Autry
Alan Bates
The Beatles
Jean-Paul Belmondo
Madeline Carroll
Eddie Constantine
Catherine Deneuve
Gerard Depardieu
Mel Ferrer
Peter Finch Oscar® Winner
Bela Lugosi
Anna Magnani Oscar® Winner
John Mills Oscar® Winner
Robert Morley
Basil Rathbone
Aldo Ray
Michael Redgrave
Oliver Reed
Ralph Richardson
Jean Seberg
Johnny Weismuller