Key films of Rod Taylor
Australian-born Rod Taylor came to Hollywood in 1955 and became a successful and personable leading man of the 1960s. He proved capable of handling a diversity of genres, from drama to light comedy and adventure, though by the end of the 1960s, he seemed to settle mostly in rugged action roles in films which unfortunately became of lesser quality. The following lists chronologically the feature films I consider were the most significant in his career, whether because Taylor's performance was particularly memorable or because the film made a notable contribution to his popularity or recognition as an actor. I recommend these films to any-one interested in seeing Rod Taylor's best and most defining moments on the screen.
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- DirectorRichard BrooksStarsBette DavisErnest BorgnineDebbie ReynoldsWhen Jane Hurley tells her parents Tom (a struggling cab driver) and Agnes (a domestic engineer) that she is marrying Ralph Halloran, Agnes starts planning a big wedding, even though Jane and Ralph don't want it and Tom cannot afford it.In his first significant Hollywood role, Taylor is 5th-billed as a Bronx school teacher in love with Debbie Reynolds in this critically acclaimed family drama based on a TV play by Paddy Chayefesky and scripted by Gore Vidal. Despite his Australian roots, Taylor gives a convincing and confident performance, showing much promise for a young actor only 18 months in the U.S. He would follow up with supporting roles in several quality productions, including Giant, Raintree Country, Separate Tables and Ask Any Girl.
- DirectorGeorge PalStarsRod TaylorAlan YoungYvette MimieuxA man's vision for a utopian society is disillusioned when travelling forward into time reveals a dark and dangerous society.After half a decade proving his worth a supporting player, Taylor was more than ready for his first starring role as the time traveler in this adaptation of H.G. Wells' The Time Machine, which would become a classic of the genre. Though only 30, Taylor is quite believable as the scientist designing the time machine, ably conveying passion and excitement for his work. Next to The Birds, this would remain his most famous role (and some would argue his best).
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsRod TaylorTippi HedrenJessica TandyA wealthy San Francisco socialite pursues a potential boyfriend to a small Northern California town that slowly takes a turn for the bizarre when birds of all kinds suddenly begin to attack people.Following The Time Machine, Taylor was surprisingly not very active on the big screen for a few years, though he did star in the somewhat successful one season TV series, Hong Kong (1960-61). Hitchcock then gave him the male lead in The Birds, a role which firmly launched him to stardom. As the only central male character in the film, Taylor essentially provides the reassuring presence of the story, displaying charm and affection in his scenes with Tippi Hedren, and courage and strength against the nasty birds.
- DirectorAnthony AsquithStarsElizabeth TaylorRichard BurtonLouis JourdanAs fog delays departure for a group of travelers bound for New York City, they wait at the lounge of London's Heathrow airport, each passenger at a moment of crisis in his or her life.While Taylor is only one of several stars in an ensemble cast headed by Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, his scenes with Maggie Smith are arguably some of the more memorable ones in this glossy and commercially successful soap opera of the rich and famous. He gives a fine performance as a business tycoon trying to save his business with the help of Smith as his mousy secretary. Of course they fall in love at the end.
- DirectorPeter TewksburyStarsRod TaylorJane FondaCliff RobertsonOn a Sunday, Eileen Tyler, still a virgin, leaves Albany to visit her airline pilot brother in New York but a chance encounter with a man on a city bus threatens to derail her upcoming marriage to boyfriend Russ.Taylor shows his flair for romantic sex comedy as he seduces and then unknowingly breaks Jane Fonda's virginity in this entertaining and talky romp. While he is third-billed behind Cliff Robertson and Fonda in the movie poster, he is top-billed in the film's opening credits, and carries the male lead with charm, humor and assurance.
- DirectorGeorge SeatonStarsJames GarnerEva Marie SaintRod TaylorGermans kidnap an American Major and try to convince him that World War II is over so they can get details about the Allied invasion of Europe out of him.Taylor is unusually cast but excellent as a sympathetic German officer masterminding an elaborate scheme to make American officer James Garner reveal the details of D-Day. Ultimately, he is almost too likable and sincere to be true, but he plays his role with intelligence and conviction, making a strong contribution to this captivating war-time thriller.
- DirectorsJack CardiffJohn FordStarsRod TaylorFlora RobsonJack MacGowranThe misadventures of a young idealist man in Dublin, Ireland in the early twentieth century.While Taylor may not have looked like Sean O'Casey, he may have given his best dramatic performance as the young Irish playwright, painfully learning the price of keeping his artistic and intellectual convictions. This interesting biographical drama successfully recreates the atmosphere of Dublin at the beginning of the 20th century. Taylor again enjoys some good chemistry with Maggie Smith.
- DirectorFrank TashlinStarsDoris DayRod TaylorArthur GodfreyAfter a series of misunderstandings, the head of an aerospace research laboratory begins to suspect that his new girlfriend is a Russian spy.Following Rock Hudson and James Garner, it's now Rod Taylor's turn to play Doris Day's love interest, first in 1965's Do Not Disturb, and now in this more amusing romantic comedy where he mistakes Day as a Russian spy.
- DirectorJack CardiffStarsRod TaylorYvette MimieuxPeter CarstenA band of mercenaries led by Captain Curry travel through war-torn Congo across deadly terrain, battling rival armies, to steal $50 million in uncut diamonds. But infighting, sadistic rebels and a time lock jeopardize everything.Taylor's strong physique and commanding presence makes him an effective leader of a group of mercenaries carrying out a dangerous mission in war-torn Congo. Also known as Dark of the Sun, this well-executed actioner would lead to Taylor being increasingly cast as a tough lead of action-packed adventures. Unfortunately, Taylor began to decline soon after and few of his later films made much of an impression.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsBrad PittDiane KrugerEli RothIn Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a plan to assassinate Nazi leaders by a group of Jewish U.S. soldiers coincides with a theatre owner's vengeful plans for the same.Director Quentin Tarantino's fondness for The Mercenaries may have led him to cast the 79-year old Taylor as Winston Churchill in a key scene of this hair-raising WWII epic. Taylor essentially came out of retirement to play the role, which would be his last. While it was only one scene, and Taylor may have been unrecognizable from his younger days, he received well-deserved notice for his powerful portrayal of the legendary Minister of War.
