Who are Kansas City’s film favorites? A dancer, a singer, a Thin Man and an Ant-Man
Local movie buffs have spoken: Ginger, Janelle and the Thin Man rule.
In advance of Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremonies, we decided to present our own tribute to the movies — with a Kansas City focus. And Ginger Rogers, Janelle Monae and William Powell were lopsided winners in The Star’s online poll to determine the area’s film favorites.
Rogers emerged as the voting favorite among actresses in the silent/B&W era, and Monae cruised in the modern era. Our male honorees are Powell in the silent/B&W era and Paul Rudd by a whisker over Ed Asner in the modern era. “In Cold Blood” was voted favorite movie, edging “Mr. and Mrs. Bridge.”
We also sought the input of several local film experts, and they agreed with the online voters — on William Powell. Not so much on the rest.
The experts were Robert W. Butler (longtime Star movie critic), Lonita Cook (KCTV-5 critic and Kansas City Film Critics Circle board member), Jerry Harrington (owner of Tivoli Theatre who is now film curator at the Tivoli at Nelson-Atkins) and Shawn Edwards (WDAF-4 critic and co-founder of the African American Film Critics Association).
They were in complete disagreement on actresses in the silent/B&W era, voting for four different candidates, including Cook’s write-in for Black movie pioneer Maria P. Thurston Williams. Harrington went for another silent movie legend, Gene Gauntier.
“She did anything to get a movie made, including stunt work, writing and directing,” Harrington said.
Edwards was adamant about his choice of Robert Altman’s “Kansas City” in the movie category.
“‘In Cold Blood’ isn’t a Kansas City movie; it’s a Kansas movie,” he said.
Although he admitted “Kansas City” is “not a great movie,” Edwards said, “The impact of what he (Altman) did with that film supersedes everything else. He literally saved two historic institutions: 18th and Vine and Union Station.”
As for our online poll, Rogers, from Independence, wound up as the top overall vote-getter among the roughly 100 submissions despite competition from the likes of Gauntier, Joan Crawford and Jean Harlow. Rogers and Crawford were Oscar winners.
Kansas City area folks have taken home at least 40 Oscars over the years. Of course, 26 were by Walt Disney (he won 32 according to the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco). Interestingly, director Robert Altman never won a competitive Oscar, though he received an honorary award in 2006.
Altman’s “Kansas City” tied for third in our movie category, finishing just behind another 1990s film that held sway over the city when it was filmed here, “Mr. and Mrs. Bridge.”
The 1990s, like the 1970s, were a golden era for local movies. No major film productions have come to Kansas City this century, however, largely because they now go to other states that offer bigger incentives.
On the other hand, as many locals as ever are breaking into big-time acting. In fact, we had so many candidates in each category that we thought it only fair to mention others and their stories.
For example, did you know Harrison Ford was from Kansas City?
Or that Kansas Citians played both Batman and Robin — in the same movie?
Or that porn star Linda Lovelace once made a (sort of) legitimate movie here?
More on all those later.
It should be noted that our poll is hardly scientific — but the same goes for the Oscars. Our criteria were that actors must have been born in the area and/or grown up here and that movies must have been at least partially filmed here.
Not eligible for consideration were actors who self-identify with other locales or who are almost exclusively associated with TV. Disqualifying on both counts were Ellie Kemper (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), born here but raised in St. Louis, and Mireille Enos (“The Killing”), born here but raised in Houston.
The latter category also included Trai Byers (“Empire”), Eric Stonestreet (“Modern Family”), Leslie Charleson (“General Hospital”), Scott Foley (“Scandal,” “Felicity”) and Wendy Moniz (Guiding Light,” “Yellowstone”).
Here, then, is our Kansas City homage to Hollywood.
Actresses, silent/B&W era
(56%) Ginger Rogers (1911-1995), Independence: Probably best known for dancing roles opposite Fred Astaire, but also the best actress Oscar winner for “Kitty Foyle” in 1941.
(24%) Jean Harlow (1911-1937), Kansas City: Known as the original blond bombshell, she was a huge Hollywood star before dying at the age of 26.
(18%) Joan Crawford (1905-1977), born in Texas, St. Agnes Academy: A Hollywood legend, she won the best actress Oscar for “Mildred Pierce” and was given the Cecil B. DeMille Award by John Wayne at the Golden Globes in 1970.
(1%) Jeanne Eagels (1890-1929), Kansas City: She was a star on Broadway, in silent films and finally in talkies; posthumously nominated for a best actress Oscar in 1929 after dying from a drug or alcohol overdose at age 39.
(1%) Gene Gauntier (1885-1966), Kansas City: A silent era pioneer, she was called the “Kalem Girl,” often starring as daredevils in movies she’d written. She also wrote the first film adaptation of “Ben-Hur.”
Honorable mention: Evelyn Merchant/Harlene Wood/Jill Jackson Miller (1913-1995), Northeast High School: Starred in three Three Stooges movies and several Westerns, then co-wrote the song “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”
Experts’ picks: Harrington: Gene Gauntier; Cook: Maria P. Thurston Williams; Butler: Ginger Rogers; Edwards: Jean Harlow
Actresses, modern era
(56%) Janelle Monae (1985-), Schlagle High School: Grammy-winning singer has had major roles in “Hidden Figures,” “Moonlight” and “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.”
(31%) Dianne Wiest (1946-), born in Kansas City, high school in Virginia: She has best supporting actress Oscars for Woody Allen-directed movies “Hannah and Her Sisters” and “Bullets Over Broadway.”
(6%) Sandahl Bergman (1951-), Shawnee Mission East High School: Best known for playing heroine Valeria in “Conan the Barbarian,” for which she won the Golden Globe for best new star of the year; also appeared in “All That Jazz,” “Xanadu” and “Red Sonja.”
(4%) Katherine McNamara (1995-), Lee’s Summit: Primarily a TV actress (“Shadowhunters,” “Arrow,” “Walker: Independence”), but she appeared in “Trust,” two “Maze Runner” movies and last year’s Hallmark movie “Love, Classified.”
(3%) Lynn Cohen (1933-2020), Kansas City: Her credits include “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” “The Station Agent,” “Munich” and “Invincible”; plus tons of TV credits, highlighted by “Sex and the City” and playing Judge Elizabeth Mizener on “Law & Order.”
Honorable mention: Edie McClurg (1945-), Kansas City, taught at UMKC: Character actress has appeared in everything from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” to “Carrie” and “A River Runs Through It,” plus voice roles in “The Little Mermaid” and “Wreck-It Ralph.”
Experts’ picks: Harrington: Janelle Monae; Cook: (tie) Dianne Wiest and Janelle Monae; Butler: Dianne Wiest; Edwards: Dianne Wiest
Actors, silent/B&W era
(52%) William Powell (1892-1984), born in Pittsburgh, attended Central High School: Was Nick Charles to Myrna Loy’s Nora Charles in the “Thin Man” series; nominated for best actor Oscar three times.
(22%) Wallace Beery (1885-1949), Kansas City: Younger brother of Noah was Oscar winner for “The Champ” and at one time the highest-paid film actor in the world.
(16%) Charles (Buddy) Rogers (1904-1999), Olathe, University of Kansas: Starred in “Wings,” the first movie to win the best picture Oscar; married to Mary Pickford.
(7%) Craig Stevens (1918-2000), Paseo High School: Although best known for playing private detective Peter Gunn on TV, Stevens appeared in many movies, including “Humoresque” starring Joan Crawford and “Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”
(3%) Noah Beery (1882-1946), Kansas City: Transitioned from silent era to sound movies, appearing in nearly 200 films; father of character actor Noah Beery Jr.
Honorable mention: Harrison Ford (1884-1957), Kansas City: No, not Indiana Jones; this Harrison Ford was such a force in silent films that he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Experts’ picks: Harrington: William Powell; Cook: Charles (Buddy) Rogers; Butler: William Powell; Edwards: William Powell
Actors, modern era
(35%) Paul Rudd (1969-), Shawnee Mission West High School: “I Love You, Man,” “Anchorman” and “Ant-Man” star was People magazine’s 2021 Sexiest Man Alive.
(32%) Ed Asner (1929-2021), Wyandotte High School: Emmy winner who gained fame on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” appeared in dozens of movies; played John Wayne’s adversary in the “El Dorado” and voiced Carl in “Up.”
(12%) Don Cheadle (1964-), born in Kansas City, grew up in Denver: Oscar-nominated for “Hotel Rwanda” and “Crash”; appeared in all three “Ocean’s” movies as well as “Devil in a Blue Dress,” “Traffic” and multiple TV shows.
(12%) Chris Cooper (1951-), Southwest High School: Has appeared in “American Beauty,” “The Bourne Identity” and many more films, winning the best supporting actor Oscar for “Adaptation.”
(9%) Jason Sudeikis (1975-), Shawnee Mission West High School: Sure, “Ted Lasso” is a TV show, but don’t forget “We’re the Millers,” “Hall Pass” and “Horrible Bosses.”
Honorable mention: Stephen Henderson (1949-), Sumner High School: His name might not be familiar, but his face probably is from movies such as “Fences,” “Lincoln,” “Lady Bird,” “Dune” and “Manchester by the Sea.”
Experts’ picks: Harrington: Don Cheadle; Cook: Ed Asner; Butler: Ed Asner; Edwards: Don Cheadle
Movies
(23%) “In Cold Blood” (1967): Classic adaptation of Truman Capote’s classic nonfiction novel; mostly a western Kansas story.
(20%) “Mr. & Mrs. Bridge” (1990): Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward starred in film based on Kansas City author Evan S. Connell’s novels.
(17%) “The Day After” (1983): Hugely popular TV movie about nuclear winter coming to Kansas.
(17%) “Kansas City” (1996): Director Robert Altman’s homage to his hometown, filled with Kansas City jazz.
(9%) “Truman” (1995): TV movie starring Gary Sinise as the president from Independence.
(8%) “Bird” (1988): Story of Kansas City jazz legend Charlie “Bird” Parker, directed by Clint Eastwood, won Oscar for sound.
(3%) “Article 99” (1992): Brought Ray Liotta, Kiefer Sutherland and Forest Whitaker (who also starred in “Bird”) to Kansas City to film a comedy/drama set at a veterans hospital.
(2%) “Ride With the Devil” (1999): Ang Lee-directed Civil War era bushwhacker romance/drama was filmed throughout the area.
(1%) “Bucktown” (1975): Shot here and set in a small Southern town, this “blaxploitation” film starred former Kansas City Chiefs player Fred Williamson and Pam Grier.
(0%) “Prime Cut” (1972): Lee Marvin, Gene Hackman and Sissy Spacek starred in an odd story of a slaughterhouse owner, a cattle rancher and sex slaves.
Honorable mentions:
“Kansas City Confidential” (1952): A bank heist flick considered a film noir classic, but not filmed here.
“Pete Kelly’s Blues” (1955): Another classic set in Kansas City but filmed mostly in Burbank, California; with Jack Webb, Janet Leigh, Peggy Lee and Kansas City jazz.
“Kansas City Bomber” (1972): Recently deceased Raquel Welch evidently was briefly in town, but most of the movie was filmed in Portland, Oregon.
“The Burden of Proof” (1992): This two-part TV miniseries starring Hector Elizondo and Brian Dennehy is filled with views of Kansas City landmarks.
Experts’ picks: Harrington: “Mr. and Mrs. Bridge”; Cook: “Mr. and Mrs. Bridge”; Butler: “In Cold Blood”; Edwards: “Kansas City”
More KC in the movies
Horror queen
Dee Wallace (1948-), KCK: Before and after playing the mother in “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” (1982), she built a career largely in horror films, with dozens among her more than 250 IMDB credits.
Superhero king
David Dastmalchian (1975-), Shawnee Mission South High School: He’s had supporting roles in “The Dark Knight” (2008), “The Suicide Squad” (2021) and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” (2023), as well as TV’s “The Flash.”
Batman connection
Robert Lowery (1913-1971) and Johnny Duncan (1923-2016), both born in KC: Lowery was Batman to Duncan’s Robin in “Batman and Robin” (1949). Lowery, a former Kansas City Blues baseball player, became a TV regular in the 1950s and 1960s. Duncan went on to play “Beheaded Man” in “Spartacus” (1960).
A wonderful role
Karolyn Grimes (1940-): Born in Hollywood, she appeared in several movies as a child, highlighted by playing ZuZu Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) when she was 6. After both parents died, she was sent to live with an aunt in Osceola, Missouri, as a teenager and eventually became a medical technologist in the Kansas City area before moving back to the West Coast.
Art in the park
“Linda Lovelace for President” (1975): Coming off “Deep Throat,” which caused a national sensation, Lovelace capitalized on her fame with a campy movie filmed partly in Swope Park.
Chiefs in the movies
Fred Williamson (1938-): “M*A*S*H” (1970), many more
Buck Buchanan (1940-1992): “M*A*S*H” (1970), “Shoot It Black, Shoot It Blue” (1974)
Noland Smith (1943-): Known as “Super Gnat”; “M*A*S*H” (1970)
John Amos (1939-): Tried out for team but was cut; “Let’s Do It Again” (1975), “Good Times” (TV), “Roots” (TV)
Matt Moore (1984-): Former quarterback was football coordinator on “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022).
Rockhurst High School connection
Spencer Tracy (1900-1967): Yes, that Spencer Tracy. He was a Hawklet for one semester, though we don’t claim him as a Kansas Citian.
Robert Altman (1925-2006): Directed “M*A*S*H,” “Kansas City” and many others; attended Rockhurst and Southwest.
Greg Joseph (1946-): “Adam at 6 A.M,” also a writer
Jeff East (1957-): “Tom Sawyer” (1973), “Huckleberry Finn” (1974)
Edward Kerr (1966-): “Above Suspicion” (1995), “Pretty Little Liars (TV)
Beyond the camera
Maria P. Thurston Williams (1866-1932), KC teacher and writer: She became the first Black woman producer with the silent movie “Flames of Wrath” (1923), which she also directed. She was shot to death, and the murder was never solved.
Walt Disney (1901-1966), born in Chicago, moved to KC as child: Legendary animator and director got his start with Laugh-O-Gram Studios in Kansas City.
Friz Freleng (1904-1995) and Ub Iwerks (1901-1971), both born in KC: Earned Oscars after beginning as Disney animators.
Paul Henning (1911-2005), Independence: Best known for “The Beverly Hillbillies” and other TV shows, but he was Oscar-nominated for writing “Lover Come Back” (1961).
Kevin Willmott (1959-), KU faculty: Wrote and directed “C.S.A: Confederate States of America” (2004), won an Oscar for co-writing “BlacKkKlansman” (2018).
Peter Spears (1965-), Shawnee Mission South High School: Claimed best movie Oscar as producer of “Nomadland” (2020).
Darren Lynn Bousman (1979-), Overland Park: Directed “Saw II” (2005), “Saw III” (2006) and “Saw IV” (2007).
Musical contributions
Virgil Thomson (1896-1989), born in Kansas City, Central High School: Famous composer’s best-known film scores were for the documentary “The Plow That Broke the Plains” (1936) and “Louisiana Story” (1948), which earned him a Pulitzer Prize.
Julia Lee (1902-1958), Lincoln High School: Jazz legend performed in Altman’s “The Delinquents” (1957), and she was on the soundtrack of the Robin Williams movie “Cadillac Man” singing “(Opportunity Knocks but Once) Snatch and Grab It.”
Burt Bacharach (1928-2023), born in Kansas City, moved to New York as youth: Won Oscars for original song in “Arthur” (1981) and for original song (“Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”) and score in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969).
Basil Poledouris (1945-2006), born in Kansas City: Wrote the scores for “Conan the Barbarian” (1982), “RoboCop” (1987), “The Hunt for Red October” (1990) and many other films and TV shows, winning an Emmy for “Lonesome Dove” (1989).
Pat Metheny (1954-), Lee’s Summit: Iconic jazz guitarist wrote the scores for “Lemon Sky” (1988) and “Passage to Paradise” (1998) and is on the soundtracks of “Training Day” (2001), “Django Unchained” (2012), “Wild” (2014) and many other films.
Film nods to KC
“Oklahoma!” (1955): Lets the world know that everything is up to date in “Kansas City.”
“Top Gun” (1986): Lots of action took place in Kansas City Barbeque, a real San Diego restaurant and bar.
“Casino” (1995): The KC mob was at the heart of the casino-skimming scheme, and at least two characters supposedly were based on real local gangsters.
“Let’s Do It Again” (1975): John Amos, who briefly was with the Chiefs, played a character named Kansas City Mack; his real-life son is actor/director K.C. Amos.
“Rampage” (2018): Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson plays Davis Okoye, paying homage to former Chiefs running back Christian Okoye, known as the “Nigerian Nightmare.” Also, Danai Gurira plays Okoye in both “Black Panther” movies and other films.
“Who Is Amos Otis?” (2020): Film made in Cincinnati is about a presidential assassin, not the former Royals outfielder.
“Vengeance” (2022): Comedy written and directed by B.J. Novak features sisters Paris, Abilene and Kansas City Shaw.
Other movies filmed here
“Rodeo Rhythm” (1942)
“The Delinquents” (1957)
“The Cool and the Crazy” (1958)
“Honky” (1971)
“Shoot It Black, Shoot It Blue” (1974)
“The Student Body” (1976)
“Where Pigeons Go to Die” (TV movie, 1990)
“A Deadly Vision” (TV movie, 1997)
“The Painting” (2001)
“Silence” (2002)
“Raising Jeffrey Dahmer” (2006)
“All Roads Lead Home” (2008)
“The House on Pine Street” (2015)
“The Matchbreaker” (2016)
Special mentions:
“As the World Rolls On” (1921): Starred boxer Jack Johnson.
“Jesse James as the Outlaw” and “Jesse James Under the Black Flag” (1921): Both starred Kansas City lawyer Jesse E. James as his father.
“Adam at 6 AM” (1970): Filmed in Excelsior Springs and Cameron, with a young Michael Douglas.
“Sometimes They Come Back” (TV movie, 1991): Based on a Stephen King short story; Liberty is prominently featured.
Other movies set here
“The Kansas City Massacre” (TV movie, 1975)
“City Heat” (1984)
“Going to Kansas City” (1998)
“The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” (2007)
“The Good Lie” (2014)
“The Royal” (2022)
Other films with Kansas City in title
“Kitty From Kansas City” (1931)
“Kansas City Princess” (1934)
“Kansas City Kitty” (1944)
“Seven Nuns in Kansas City” (1973)
Documentaries
“Prom Night in Kansas City” (2002)
“Bazaar Bizarre” (2004)
“Kansas City Murder Factory” (2011)
“We Are Superman” (2012)
“Our Divided City” (2016)
“Bobbi Jo — Under the Influence” (2021)
“Kansas City Dreamin’” (2023)
“Parker” (2023)
Local movies on the horizon
“Between Two Worlds,” world premiere March 23 at LifeMission Church in Olathe
“Return of The Shihan,” world premiere March 25 at the Gem
“Nelly Don: The Musical Movie,” expected release in the fall
“The Devil Comes to Kansas City,” expected release sometime this year
