I've asked this question on TCM, but I wonder if I might be permitted to frame this question here as well:
After viewing the excellent work of Kirk Douglas recently in Detective Story and Ace in the Hole (aka The Big Carnival), both made in 1951, it occurred to me that I really preferred his acting in his earlier roles to that of his later films, especially those after about '63. What happened? While Douglas is always sort of entertaining, he seemed to go from being really edgy, relishing playing complex and even unlikable men, to, well, not to be overly critical, but more often, sort of preening, even rather smug, self-congratulatory fellows in such films as The Big Trees, The Heroes of Telemark or The War Wagon.
Don't get me wrong, I always like Kirk, and treasure the occasional Paths of Glory and Lonely are the Brave, as well as his wonderfully entertaining turns in such popcorn classics as The Vikings, but I do wonder: What happened? Was it just a consequence of getting older, more successful or worried about maintaining his star status above his acting prowess?
I understand that many may vigorously disagree with my reactions, but hope that you might offer your own opinion and offer some comments about other actors, actresses or directors whose careers seemed to have a trajectory similar to that of Mr. Douglas.
Kirk Douglas, (center) acting up a storm, with Luis Van Rooten (left) & William Bendix(right), in Detective Story(1951).
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*"Jumping the Shark" was originally used as a phrase that described the impact of the episode of the program Happy Days in which Fonzie (Henry Winkler) literally jumped over a shark while on water skis. This is the cultural moment when the show and his character allegedly started to decline in quality. There's an amusing website called Jumping the Shark that many may be familiar with on the internet which documents these instances in tv shows.