When I used to teach theatre history I would tell the students about the great melodramatic actors of the 19th century: Henry Irving, William MacCready, Edwin Booth, etc.. When some of them doubted that there could be "great" acting in a melodramatic style, I showed them a few scenes of Lon Chaney Sr. and of Edward G. including this one. They got it, and some of them were blown away.
Thank you for leading young people to these moments of greatness, the kind which may seldom occur in these days. Grateful for the films like this that do survive, and hope that it makes its way to easier access than not.
And of course, all in one take. Ed G. is my favorite actor, and "Two Seconds" is my favorite of his films. It showcases his talents like no other. Just IMO. A close second is the very different "Double Indemnity." He played Keyes in a polar opposite role, and was absolutely brilliant in that too. Ya gotta love him! Thanks for uploading this. I'll bet many EGR fans have never seen "Two Seconds," as it's pretty obscure. I have a copy on VHS that I must have played 30 times now. The best.
Phenomenal acting! It's interesting how the director allowed Edward G. so much freedom to complete the scene without any interruption from court personnel. Amazing! Thanks for the upload.
I've seen a lot of movie in my time, and there are only two performances that will always stand out in my head delivered by an actor. F. Murray Abraham in Amadeus, and Edward G. Robinson in the ending of Two Seconds.
Amazing as this scene is, it's not even the best in the movie! Edward G is incredible in an earlier episode when he learns he won some money and can finally pay off his shaming debt and punish his fleecing, two-timing wife for the death of his best friend. The performance is absolutely mesmerizing!
Amazing! I have always loved Edgar G. Robinson, and yet? I had never even heard of this movie! Now I feel even more respect for him! Thank you for posting this.
Eddie as Johnny Rocco in Key Largo was his best gangster role IMO. I would say this performance in Two Seconds and Christopher Cross in Scarlet Street were his greatest.
Jesus, that's a phenomenal scene. Nobody today could pull this off without injecting an inappropriate hint of sarcasm or sense of irony. But EGR plays it straight, across a whole range of emotions in just a couple of minutes. Note that even here, pre-Code, we see a couple of Code-like elements such as the shocked "crime DOESN'T pay!" stare of the young man at the end.
Melodrama is out of style in Hollywood and it's a shame. Everything has to be fuckin' "realistic" and many of the actors working today are personality deprived theater students. Ryan Gosling is a prime example of the type of hack I speak of. Thankfully, there are some great actors around like Adam Driver and Tom Hardy.
He played Dathan, the treacherous whistle-blower on Moses, to Pharaoh. Dathan is actually mentioned in the Bible, although no details about him are given. The character in De Mille's epic is a creation of the scriptwriters, and Robinson.
Ending still packs a punch. America imposed the death penalty frequently back then, and executions were carried out relatively quickly. You can imagine some small-time Depression-era hood ducking into a theater to kill some time, and watching this. Walking out again: Holy moly. That coulda been ME. I'm going straight!
His first talkie, "Hole In The Wall" (1929), a remake of an earlier silent film, is on UA-cam. His familiar persona is already established. You can tell that he and co-star Claudette Colbert (also making her talking-motion-picture debut) were headed for major stardom.
the fact that Edward G. Robinson never won the Oscar (in general, not necessarily because of his amazing performance in this film), is a MATHEMATICAL PROOF why "film specialists" are so ugly (inside). they don't feel a thing, they can't feel a thing, no souls, no feelings, no emotions, no nothing. who gave them a license to be movie critics ?????? ;-)
@@borkair6581 You are nuts. It was WARNER BROS. not a poverty studio. First National was buyed by Warner in 1929, and several films between 1931 and 1932 have the Firdt National logo, although were produced by Warner (maybe by reduce taxes during depresion). Read the little letters : Warner Bros. - First National in several films in 30's, 40's and 50's.
Truly one of the greatest actors of all time. He's in the top five for sure.
I just saw this film for the first time, and this scene at the end absolutely blew me away. And people wonder why I love these old movies.
Super human acting.
One of the greatest movie scenes ever made.What depth,and focus this wonderful Man had.Wish I could have had the honor to meet Him.
When I used to teach theatre history I would tell the students about the great melodramatic actors of the 19th century: Henry Irving, William MacCready, Edwin Booth, etc.. When some of them doubted that there could be "great" acting in a melodramatic style, I showed them a few scenes of Lon Chaney Sr. and of Edward G. including this one. They got it, and some of them were blown away.
Not too long ago I saw Chaney in The Unknown. That film, and Chaney's performance, deserves every bit of praise it has received.
You obviously taught a great class! Clever choices for a good lesson. Kudos!
Thank you for leading young people to these moments of greatness, the kind which may seldom occur in these days. Grateful for the films like this that do survive, and hope that it makes its way to easier access than not.
This is one of my favorite Edward G. Robinson films. Packs quite a wallop in just 67 solid minutes.
Love Edward G.!!!! This is one of my favorite scenes from any movie, ever.
+Jim Danger Totally agree!
Greatest performance in Hollywood history.
Nonsense
Always moves me deeply.
And of course, all in one take. Ed G. is my favorite actor, and "Two Seconds" is my favorite of his films. It showcases his talents like no other. Just IMO. A close second is the very different "Double Indemnity." He played Keyes in a polar opposite role, and was absolutely brilliant in that too. Ya gotta love him! Thanks for uploading this. I'll bet many EGR fans have never seen "Two Seconds," as it's pretty obscure. I have a copy on VHS that I must have played 30 times now. The best.
+Vebinz Sorry to get back to you so late, but yes, she was a prostitute. Go, Eddie G !!!
I know I have never seen it. I guess a four-minute clip will have to do.
he never got an oscar, in 101 films
@@borkair6581 And yet a shrill, overaged High School theater student like Leonardo DiCaprio won best actor. Fuck Hollywood.
Best actor of all time.... Edward G.
Phenomenal acting! It's interesting how the director allowed Edward G. so much freedom to complete the scene without any interruption from court personnel. Amazing! Thanks for the upload.
I was thinking that, too! Good directing! Great acting!
I bow to the master...
Just stunning!
I've seen a lot of movie in my time, and there are only two performances that will always stand out in my head delivered by an actor. F. Murray Abraham in Amadeus, and Edward G. Robinson in the ending of Two Seconds.
Wow. I'd forgotten how good this was.
Amazing as this scene is, it's not even the best in the movie! Edward G is incredible in an earlier episode when he learns he won some money and can finally pay off his shaming debt and punish his fleecing, two-timing wife for the death of his best friend. The performance is absolutely mesmerizing!
Any film with Edward G is worth watching. Check out FIVE STAR FINAL from 1931 for example. The little man could project great power in his speech.
Enough can't be said for the talent this man had.
Have never seen this before. Wow.
Master Class. Magnificent. Bravo 👏👏👏
Amazing! I have always loved Edgar G. Robinson, and yet? I had never even heard of this movie! Now I feel even more respect for him! Thank you for posting this.
I just discovered another lesser known gem of his- "The Whole Town's Talking" with Jean Arthur. He's phenomenal in that part as well!
I just finished watching the movie.
Jesus...
where can i find the movie? I've looked everywhere?
Too me this was Edward G.Robinson's best performance in Two Seconds i love this better than Little Ceaser
Eddie as Johnny Rocco in Key Largo was his best gangster role IMO. I would say this performance in Two Seconds and Christopher Cross in Scarlet Street were his greatest.
I've been looking for this, thanks for posting
I'd like to see the whole movie. Yes E G Robinson, one of the best
TCM has it in its library, and has aired it.
Jesus, that's a phenomenal scene. Nobody today could pull this off without injecting an inappropriate hint of sarcasm or sense of irony. But EGR plays it straight, across a whole range of emotions in just a couple of minutes. Note that even here, pre-Code, we see a couple of Code-like elements such as the shocked "crime DOESN'T pay!" stare of the young man at the end.
Melodrama is out of style in Hollywood and it's a shame. Everything has to be fuckin' "realistic" and many of the actors working today are personality deprived theater students. Ryan Gosling is a prime example of the type of hack I speak of. Thankfully, there are some great actors around like Adam Driver and Tom Hardy.
All in one take too. Movies nowadays over-cut everything. It's the editor, not the actor, who gives the performance.
In fact, he is great!
What a piece of acting.........the best of the best....EGRobinson....Bogart...Claude Rains ....but this guy is really top...... In my list !!!!!
I think this man had a part in the magnificent movie, "Ten Commandments" He was a phenomenal actor for his time.
He played Dathan, the treacherous whistle-blower on Moses, to Pharaoh. Dathan is actually mentioned in the Bible, although no details about him are given. The character in De Mille's epic is a creation of the scriptwriters, and Robinson.
He was a REAL scenery-chewer. He must have read well onstage.
Ending still packs a punch. America imposed the death penalty frequently back then, and executions were carried out relatively quickly. You can imagine some small-time Depression-era hood ducking into a theater to kill some time, and watching this. Walking out again: Holy moly. That coulda been ME. I'm going straight!
Wow.
Watch Eddie as a good man eaten alive by guilt in The Red House (1947).
His first talkie, "Hole In The Wall" (1929), a remake of an earlier silent film, is on UA-cam. His familiar persona is already established. You can tell that he and co-star Claudette Colbert (also making her talking-motion-picture debut) were headed for major stardom.
In a way this is like the 'trial ' scene in M
Don't worry, Eddie was back on top again--A Case of Murder, Brother Orchid, Key Largo, The Ten Commandments, and others. NYAHH, SEE??
How do i find a transcript of this speech?
It is great!, but, Does anybody knows where to get it with spanish subtitles?
How can I get the script of the movie? I'd like to do this monologue in acting class.
Why are ya giving Eddie the CHAIR?
the fact that Edward G. Robinson never won the Oscar (in general, not necessarily because of his amazing performance in this film), is a MATHEMATICAL PROOF why "film specialists" are so ugly (inside). they don't feel a thing, they can't feel a thing, no souls, no feelings, no emotions, no nothing. who gave them a license to be movie critics ?????? ;-)
it was also maybe because the studio was 'poverty row'
Amen.
@@borkair6581 You are nuts. It was WARNER BROS. not a poverty studio. First National was buyed by Warner in 1929, and several films between 1931 and 1932 have the Firdt National logo, although were produced by Warner (maybe by reduce taxes during depresion). Read the little letters : Warner Bros. - First National in several films in 30's, 40's and 50's.
Chief Wiggum?
very early attempt at drama but this was really a new frontier at the time... thoroughly enjoyed this film though
And the See? Catch phrases are alive in this scene.