WARNING: This Article May Contain Spoilers
Born: 11th February 1926
Died: 28th November 2010 (aged 84)
Leslie William Nielsen is probably best known for the comedy franchise Naked Gun but he started his career as a serious actor. At the age of 17 he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (that’s right he is Canadian he was born in Regina, Saskatchewan). He trained as an aerial gunner during World War II but was too young to be sent overseas, being legally deaf might also have hindered him. He gained a scholarship to the Neighbourhood Playhouse, whilst he was studying at the Lorne Green Academy of Radio Arts, and he moved from Toronto to New York to study theatre and music.
First let’s look at the character of Frank Drebin, the role made famous by Leslie Nielsen in the 80s TV series Police Squad. His character is a bit like a cross Dirty Harry and Inspector Clouseau. Lt. Frank Drebin is a police Lieutenant who bungles his way through each case but always “gets his man”. The series lasted four episodes (although six were made) yet it spawned three movies; Naked Gun: Files from the Police Squad (1988), Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) and Naked Gun 331/3: The Final Insult (1994). All these films are good to watch; they are a little risqué but it is never offensive unless you find the idea an older man with a younger woman wrong – but considering Nielsen was in his 60s when he made the first film he doesn’t look it.
It is no surprise that his top five box office hits include mainly spoof films (I’ve not included The Naked Gun films in this top 5 as he plays Frank Drebin in all three and I’ve already spoken about him). His first and second being Scary Movie 4 & 3, all I can say is NO – no, no, no, no, no! Why did they make us suffer four more Scary Movies when the first one isn’t even that good! It’s a spoof film trying to be like Airplane and Naked Gun and failing miserably. I have to ask myself was Leslie Neilsen asked to play the President in these two films to try and boost the ratings? It comes to something though when you find Leslie Nielsen is the ‘normality’ in a spoof movie! But I have to admit that they took his character too far in the fourth film. Sorry these two weren’t for me. It is a surprise to see The Poseidon Adventure out box-officed Airplane! but when you look at the stellar cast I guess it is of no surprise. Nielsen plays The Captain (he is even credited as The Captain – no name just The Captain) and although he isn’t in it for long he does bring the character to life; the gentle authority he has with ‘Master’ Shelby and then the distaste for Mr Linarcos when he orders him to go “Full Ahead”, it’s almost like he is the actual ship’s captain that would be putting his passengers in danger. Aiplane! splits two of The Naked Gun films. Airplane! is the original and, in my opinion, still the best spoof film – Nielsen plays Dr “don’t call me Shirley” Rumack (in-joke you’ll have to watch it) not the lead but an integral part of the plot from about half way through. The whole film is played serious which is why the jokes work so well. Superhero Movie splits the original Naked Gun from the 3rd and it wasn’t as bad as I was expecting – OK so it’s not like the original spoof movies but so much better than the Scary Movie films. The main plot is based on Spiderman and Nielsen plays Uncle Albert (obviously the equivalent of Uncle Ben in the Spiderman films) obviously, at the age of 82, there are a few bits that are a little cringe but he does have some of the more ‘traditional’ superhero lines like “Rick, the hero’s path is dangerous. You may fail or you may fly. All that matters is that you do it for the best of reasons. Helping others, Rick, that’s what makes you a real hero.” It’s nice that there is a more sincere side to Uncle Albert than other characters that Nielsen has played. Finally we have Mr Magoo. I have to admit I was unsure how a classic cartoon character would work as a live action movie but it was OK, better than I was expecting. Nielsen is obviously Mr Magoo, a short sighted man who gets into lots of problems thanks to his failing eyesight. I like his portrayal, at first I thought he might overplay the poor eyesight but he doesn’t and it is just a fun film; beautiful dog and watch to the end for the outtakes.
However much I love Airplane! and the Naked Gun films my favourite Nielsen film has to be Forbidden Planet, probably one of his earliest film works. When I first saw it I could not believe that this was the same man as all I had known was the comedic side of him but even with the comedy there was always a hint of a serious actor – as I always say the best comedy is not played for laughs. Nielsen plays Commander Adams who is our love interest and our hero both of which he plays beautifully. He carries the authority of his role well and even alongside Walter Pidgeon, who had at least thirty acting experience over his six, is not overshadowed.
Even though Leslie Nielsen appeared in many box office hits he never appeared in a film that was nominated for any awards; nor did he receive a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscars) which I think was an oversite on their part for such a talented actor. He was presented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1988 and thirteen years later was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame. He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada the following year even though he had been a naturalised citizen of the United Sates since the age of 32. Nielsen was married four times and had two daughters and died peacefully in his sleep from pneumonia at the age of 84. He was a well-known practical joker on set, his favourite being a portable fart machine leading to his epitaph being “Let ‘er rip”.
