Randy Quaid has amassed great recognition in the entertainment industry and here’s a look into his top four highest-rated movies.
American and Hollywood actor Randy Quaid, who is a Golden Globe receiver and an Academy Award-nominated actor, belongs to Hollywood’s class of renowned stars. Before his rise to fame, Randy Quaid, as a child, desired to be an actor, which led to his decision to study drama at the University of Houston.
The actor came rose to the limelight after his performance in ‘The Last Detail,” which earned him nominations for a couple of awards at the Golden Globe Awards, The BAFTA Awards, and the Academy Awards.
After then, Quaid gave the best of his performances in other TV productions like “Brokeback Mountain,” “Independence Day,” and “National Lampoon’s Vacation.” However, his performance in “LBJ: The Early Years” as President Lyndon Johnson remains the best. The film bagged him his first Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award nomination.
Randy Quaid has appeared in over 90 movies since he started his acting career in 1971. Also, this revered actor got his first Oscar nomination at 21, featuring among the youngest Oscar Awards nominated stars.
Although Quaid’s career has been put on hold recently due to many legal disputes, the actor has made a ground-breaking success with some movie appearances, which are still well-acknowledged today. In light of that, below are Randy Quaid’s top four highest-rated movies.
The Last Picture Show
The high school story filmed in 1971 centers around some teenage psyches who- in the quest for more emotional honesty and will fulfillment, end up in an unexpected twist. This movie, however, portrays how teenagers approach strict decision makings as they outgrow the teen phase into adulthood.
The Academy Award-winning movie also owes its success and recognition as one of the best teenage films ever made to the director Peter Bogdanovich. Although the film has its barriers for not portraying what should have exactly been teenage-high school worthy, it remains a fan favorite. According to Rotten Tomatoes, The Last Picture Show has a 100% rating.
Meanwhile, the movie is R-rated due to the numerous sexual scenes and choice of language. This reason sets it apart from every random teenage-high school movie at that time, where teenagers have a conventional way they act and relating to society.
During the filming of this epic movie, Randy Quaid was studying Drama at the university- where Peter Bogdanovich discovered him. The director saw potential in Quaid and opted to cast him alongside other upcoming stars like him. Randy Quaid, however, portrayed Lester Marlow in the franchise.
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
The underlying story of Duddy Kravitz sets the movie as a sad, hilarious, and entertaining one. A significant attribute that stands out in this film is the theme of ambitions/dreams. The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz follows the story of a young boy with a somewhat unrealistic ambition who wouldn’t stop for anything until these dreams manifest.
Although Duddy, at a point in the movie looked greedy due to some decisions, fans still loved him and wished him all the best in his pursuit of greatness. According to Rotten Tomatoes, “The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz” has a 93% rating. The 1974 production served as a stepping stone for Randy Quaid yet again, where he gave a top-tier performance as Virgil Roseboro, Duddy’s epileptic driver.
Midnight Express
Like a satire, “Midnight Express” addresses the struggles of a young mid-American Billy Hayes (Brad Davis), who, in the pursuit of a better life, got involved in a shady business in Istanbul. This case caused him to serve a 5-year jail term far from home- in a Turkish prison- which proceeded to a striking 30-year sentence after a new trial by the Turks.
However, Billy made friends with like-minded men while in jail, Max, portrayed by actor John Hurt, and Jimmy, played by Randy Quaid. Jimmy, however, never liked the idea of escaping the prison by “catching the midnight express.” Billy’s narrative turned darker when his friends finished serving their sentences.
Randy Quaid’s role appearance in Midnight Express sets the events that led to deriving the film title. Quaid, as Jimmy, bore the escaping idea, which boiled down to Billy toward the end of the movie. According to Rotten Tomatoes, “Midnight Express” has a 93% rating.
National Lampoon’s Vacation
The family comedy movie tells the story of a family vacation planned by the father that went wrong as things worsened. One of the plenty of circumstances was Billy’s closeness to having an affair. National Lampoon’s Vacation is an R-rated film due to the use of unseasoned words and sexual content. Randy Quaid created magic in this family comedy as Cousin Eddie. However, according to Rotten Tomatoes, National Lampoon’s Vacation has a 93% rating.