On the memory of Kirk Douglas...

When Kirk Douglas passed away, he was 103 years old. He led a complete, satisfactory life. Despite being nominated thrice for the Oscar award, he never received it for his acting prowess.The denied Oscar award was given to his son, Michael Douglas, for his role in Oliver Stone's 'Wall Street'. Late in his life, he was awarded a lifetime achievement Oscar.

His parents were Jewish Russian immigrants. During the Second World War, he served in the American Navy. After that, he became a stage actor and then entered into the movie world.

When thinking about him, the first thing that comes to mind is his character Spartacus, A Roman slave who revolted against the Roman Empire in the movie Spartacus. He lived as Spartacus on the screen in the film directed by Stanley Kubrick.Another famous character of his is the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh in the movie Lust for Life. He was nominated for an Oscar for his acting in that role. In my view, he should have been awarded an Oscar for that character.

He acquired the movie rights to the novel 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,' written by Ken Kesey. and gave them to his son Michael Douglas, hoping he would act in the movie. However, Michael Douglas, instead of acting, produced the film featuring Jack Nicholson. That movie received many Oscar awards, including the Best Actor category, which was awarded to Jack Nicholson.

For me, I came to know about him through his film 'There Was a Crooked Man.' I watched the movie at Manohara Theatre in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, during my teen years. In the movie, he looted half a million dollars from a rich man. All participants in the robbery, except him, were killed. He placed the money in two bags and left it in the den of rattlesnakes. In the meantime, he was caught. The rich man identified him as the robber, and he was sent to jail. When he escaped from the jail, the jail warden, Henry Fonda, followed him.

He went to the den where he left his loot. He killed all the snakes and grabbed the bags. When he opened one of the bags, unexpectedly, a rattlesnake hidden inside jumped at him and bit him. Some movies have memorable endings, and this movie is one of them. I never forgot the excitement I felt when I saw the movie.

When I think about Kirk Douglas, the movie 'There Was a Crooked Man' comes to mind. His hypnotic eyes, acting prowess, and smile are his strengths. He was one of the greatest Hollywood ever produced.