A Talent Well Beyond the Dojo
The life of Pat Morita is explored in the new biographical film “More Than Miyagi.”
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As a standup comic, Pat Morita (pictured in 1966 on “Hollywood Palace”) billed himself as “The Hip Nip.”
A new documentary, “More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story,” directed by Kevin Derek, will be streaming worldwide from Feb. 5 on such platforms as iTunes and Apple TV.
While he is known for his iconic role as Mr. Miyagi in the “Karate Kid” movies, Morita’ career spanned decades on film, TV and stage.
The makers of the documentary shared a summary and other insights about the late actor:
André Gregory, at left, who plays himself, the sophisticated title character in “My Dinner with André,” and his co-star and co-author, the more down-to-earth Wallace Shawn, donned ski wear under their clothing to stay warm during the Richmond filming in December 1980.
Recently while heading east on Monument Avenue, past scarred granite stubs at four intersections, I remember the Confederate imagery that once crowned those plinths. Then, passing the Jefferson Hotel I wonder: Do hotel visitors still ask about another icon, the lobby’s red-carpeted staircase where Scarlett O’Hara never fell?
Probably not. “Gone With the Wind” is now relegated to the backlot, joining “The Birth of a Nation” as one of Tinseltown’s outdated missteps.
JENNIFER MOODY
For The E
All right, movie-loving folks, time to pick your favorite children, and none of the rest get any Christmas presents.
Weâll admit we might be exaggerating just a bit, but thatâs what it feels like when asked to pick the top 10 Oregon movies. Top 10 as in what? Dollars generated? Iconic scenes? Percentage actually shot in the Beaver State? Population of the annual visiting pilgrimage? Did we have to actually know it was in Oregon when we first watched it for it to count?Â
Itâs all subjective, every last cinematic cell of it. So weâre going to just be that way about it and list our 10 favorites here; state sugarplums you can savor and share.