Some of my favorite movie moments are not the ones most people remember... or even know of... or even notice, in some cases.
In Cannery Row, "The Seer", played by actor Sunshine Parker, looks out over the Monterey Bay as a horn wails in the background...
Sticks in my mind.
Hand movements have their moments.
In "The Four Musketeers" (1974), Charlton Heston, as Cardinal Richelieu, dismisses someone completely, finally, and powerfully with a negligent wave of his fingers.
I was reminded of this scene by watching Lionel Atwill as Professor Moriarity in "Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon" (1942), exercising the same level of power and command with a simple twitch of his fingers.
I saw Basil Rathbone (Sherlock Holmes) in person in the early 1960's and watched him wrap a room full of teenagers around HIS fingers, with just simple gestures and a command of voice, language, and story. With a few words, he became Ophelia, in Hamlet, and then, after lightly mocking Errol Flynn's swordsmanship, transported the room to 221b Baker Street, London, on a foggy night in the late 1800's when someone came in search of Sherlock Holmes.
In fact, I'll never forget the girl behind me who started out, bored, writing a letter, who, within minutes was listening intently, mouth partly open, the pen dangling from HER fingers.
Power and presentation, and lasting impression, does not always demand bombast or even strength.
Sometimes even the simplest of moments, of actions, exercise the greatest power over us.
Sometimes our most powerful influences are the result of our quietest and most heartfelt beliefs... and are most deeply ingrained within ourselves.
Just some errant thoughts.
Donovan Baldwin