What's my line? Walter Brennan

[cyncityful]

Actually Walter Brennan DID stump the panel. Mr. Daly did not turn a card for "one" particular answer. There were ten "no's". What a wonderful actor. He could play any part. Loved him in RIO BRAVO and as the crazy pirate in the Bob Hope picture, THE PRINCESS AND THE PIRATE.

Thanks for posting.

[Metallica3636]

Did anyone else see Mr. Daly not flip the card on a wrong answer (would have been #2)

[DrakeGrad]

Are you a member of the Communist Party that might have been a good question

[PeterFormaini]

@DrakeGrad - Yeah - right - because his work for Goldwater in 64, George Wallace in 68 (because he thought Nixon was too liberal) and Reagan in 80 definitely tells us that he was a Communist sympathizer. [eyeroll] Really, are you as monumentally stupid as your comment makes you appear?

[DrakeGrad]

@PeterFormaini Why get personal..I had read somebooks stating that he had those kind of leanings ( Communist) Why take it so personal"?. ..appears that I might have it a nerve. Lightin up we are talking Walter Breenan here

[dafrieze]

Unquestionably one of the greatest character actors of all time.

[mtzlypk]

miss him another great actor gone but not forgotten!

[Vitte4]

Actually, there were 10 "nos" -- not 9. Daly forgot to flip a card at 1:14.

[meandalyssa]

Walter Brennan said he was not a singer but did record a number of songs and had a hit with " Ol Rivers".

[TheDonz1943]

@meandalyssa Ol Rivers was not Recorded until the Summer of 1962 and this Show Aired in 1957

[TheDonz1943]

@meandalyssa Ol Rivers was not Recorded until the Summer of 1962 and this Show Aired in 1957

[Richard40171]

I love Bennet Cerf's question: "You've been in silent pictures; does that mean you're elderly?" What else can it mean?

[CEscates]

By the way, Walter Brennan and Walter Huston have the odd distinction of being the ONLY two actors to win Oscars for roles in which they did not wear their dentures.

[CEscates]

Greer Garson was the essence of grace and charm. Talk about a class-act.

[librarybob1958]

That old fox! He's really having fun with this!

[kdrayf01]

He's really funny!

[wdchefdave56]

Three Oscars?

I never knew that.

[TheStanbabe]

How the hell did Adolph knew that it was Walt Brennan.?

[tazal5011]

@TheStanbabe i think he put all the facts together and guessed

[kimmieanne1]

@TheStanbabe Looked like his blindfold was too the side...

[leahblashful]

I loved Sergeant York! Great movie. They don't make pictures like that anymore. It's too bad

[AuntieN2]

I ran out of space on my thought. Look how popular it has been through the years with male actors playing women. Tootsie, Uncle Miltie (Milton Burl) One of the most popular things to do as a male actor. Does anyone say they are sexist? Or intent was there?

[Toral3533]

Walter Brennan won 3 supporting actor awards over a 4-year period. The irony is that the one year he didn't win, in which he was also nominated, for "Sergeant York", was probably his best performance of the four. He could easily have won 4 straight oscars.

[Hypsan]

To all the folks who consider Walter Brennan RACIST based upon his appearance on this show are genuinely out of their minds; looking for racism where none exists; have waaay too much time on their hands; are so thin-skinned it is a wonder that their blood remains inside their bodies; would make You Tube vastly more enjoyable if you would all burn your computers and never go online again; would get a life and stop labeling everyone, for that in and of itself could be considered racist; go away!!

[supermandisco]

YEA, Walter Brennan!

[chrisring123]

Just noticed that at 1:13 they didn't tally a "no" response - maybe he'd have stumped them

[AuntieN2]

I'm not sure who mentioned Japenese on here ... but if you listen carefully to this clip ... Bennet Serf was the person that said Japenese and Brenan picked it up and said "Oh you would have never got it if I had done Japenese!" with an accent. Brennan and Mejou were in several movies together and were in college together. Google before you say stuff .

[torchkit]

@AuntieN2 I don't hear Cerf say that. At 5:32 Brennan raises his hand and addresses Mejou, saying "I should have made it the Japanese." He then goes into the Japanese accent. Doesn't sound racist at all, though.

[Lockemeister]

@torchkit yeah, just before Cerf does indeed say it. It's barely audible, but since Walter Brebben is right there he picks up on it and does another voice disguise very easily.

[AuntieN2]

@torchkit It's right as the applause was going on. Hard to separate probably around or just before 5:30

[Lockemeister]

@AuntieN2 You're very astute. I had to carefully listen twice, but indeed, Cerf did say it!

[AuntieN2]

@Lockemeister Thank you. As someone said earlier, you can't judge by today's standards. It was hard to hear Serf because of the applause. But, the time frame seems '60ish.  Why did Mickey Rooney play an oriental when clearly he wasn't in Breakfast a Tiffany's, Under the Yum Yum Tree was in the same time frame. I don't think any was racist, just popular thing to do at the time. There were a lot of impersonators or people making a living being one. Just before that pantomime was popular.

[XBoeingCapt]

that was a damn good guess on menjous part, wow!

[oki1213]

I bet Arlene could've gotten it...

[displayfireworks1]

Walter Brennan "No Brag Just Fact"

[gtlfb]

Brennan was set to make a movie for Sam Goldwyn and asked "with or without?"  When asked "with or without what?" he said, "Teeth!".

[63utuber]

Wow - that's the most worried expression John Daly ever had (at least in these YouTube clips).

[DrakeGrad]

Maybe he wasn't a racist but he was a member of the communist party, supported Gus Hall.. for President

[JumpinJesuits]

@DrakeGrad um false? he was a notorious conservative. supported goldwater, wallace (yes, THAT wallace) and reagan. hardly a 'communist'.

[keca1430]

He was not known as a singer. The records he made, he usually 'talked' or spoke the words, but he did not sing. He and Menjou went back to the silent movie days. Brennan was the first person to win 3 Oscars, still the only person to have won 3 Oscars as Best Supporting Actor, and tied with Jack Nicholson for most Oscars for an actor, 3. Died in 1974 at age 80.

[peterchoyce]

But he DOES sing. What? Old Rivers didn't come out till after this show???

[diptwares]

One of the greatest character actors to ever appear in films. "Was said" to have danced a jig......I would need a bit more than that to call him a racist. It was fun watching him on "Whats My Line."

[dorsy2]

@diptwares Sadly, I have to agree that WB was a racist. I have no reason to want to think it; he was born in my home town and was a big hero there. The information about his dislike of civil rights and his belief that black people were stirred up by outside agitators was documented in books by his nephew Larry Quirk, who wrote much about the family. When I was growing up in that area (I'm 82 now), there was much racism. It's no surprise to find an old man believing as he did. Sad, though.

[LividEmerald]

@dorsy2 I think it is wrong to judge people's attitudes and behavior by today's standards. Back in the day, men used to whistle at women, and women enjoyed that. Today, that would be sexual harrassment. I'm not justifying racism, but in his time, it was not condemned as it is today. By the 1960s, he was an old man. Old men rarely change their views and opinions. In any event, I never judge an actor on his political or social views, but on the skill of his art. And he was uniquely talented.

[luvdomus]

Brennan was a great actor and my respect for him is only enhanced by the terrific use of his voice to throw off the panelists.

[lindapittsburgh]

Who got the $45.00?

[CarlDuke]

Brennan was an immensely talented man equally at ease playing good guys and bad guys. He wore false teeth and would often ask the director before starting a film, do you want them in or out for the character. He certainly wasn't vain and was frequently cast opposite Gary Cooper. 

[19tc85]

Daly screwed up on the comedian question. Brennan answered no, and Daly didn't flip the card.

[Ulysses61]

Just Google Walter Brennan and racist and see what you get. He danced a jig of joy when MLK was assassinated.

[ThirdandPine]

@Ulysses61 This seems to be an unfair charge, but is difficult to refute because how do you disprove something. I took your advice and found the quote but it was not supported by any evidence and was only in the posting of someone writing into a website. Scant proof. Brennan was a conservative but only a wacko lefty would assume that equates to racist. Brennan was very respected in a very liberal community, Hollywood. Is it logical the powers there would have given him a pass.

[JuanMacready]

@ThirdandPine Brennan was a Goldwater Republican who opposed civil rights.

[filmaddict818]

he looked so sad to see him go at the end.

[local802blues]

Wonderful character actor in many great westerns

[MPL029]

Does anyone know why youtube took off the timestamp for entries posted?

[sjtom57]

That was fun. Thanks for posting.

[franklindavid]

The most prolific actor of his time, with a long career in movie making. No other supporting actor has won three academy awards till today.

[winterlandboy]

Whats My Line was yet another fixed show from the 50's . At the end of appearance by the star guest,somebody miraculously guessed who it was wjust before the last card was turned over.

LOL

[HowardOfOz3565]

@winterlandboy the only thing that should have been fixed were your parents so they wouldn't have had a child so stupid

[ipmoic]

How nice to read a comment from Mr. Brennan's grandchild! No need to make any excuses for him--he was a great actor, seemed a wonderful man and we are all enriched by his film legacy.

[iamyy4u1952]

I am not sure about which of the voices you two mean by a put on voice, but he was my grandfather, and the voice he used right at the end, saying how he watched the show every week, was his natural voice. I appreciate your kind words! Regardless of his views, he was an honest, well meaning person, and meant the best for all of us. : )

[phyzzique]

@iamyy4u1952 How wonderful! I grew up watching 'The Real McCoys'. Only later on, when I grew up, did I appreciate His great body of work in film.

[cajanwitch60]

@iamyy4u1952 Yes he had a good voice. But he could change the range when he wanted to. He was in so many movies & guest starred on so many shows that I just can't remember them all! But his Norma Voice would have given him away Immediately! I think that his voice was the most known voice in Movies & Television! Miss him still. I cried when to passed away.

[JubalCalif]

I love the voice the late great Walter Brennan uses here! Sounds like the old maid hen in those 1950's Warner Bros Foghorn Leghorn cartoons. I always loved the movie & TV performances of Mr Brennan. The only actor to win THREE Best Supporting Actor Oscars. One of the screen's most talented character actors. I didn't know he had started in silent pictures until seeing this episode. THANKS for sharing this delightful episode with us.

[HowardOfOz3565]

@JubalCalif Jack Nicholson is a 3 time winner

[JubalCalif]

Thanks for your comment, Howard. Yes, Jack is a 3 time winner, but the late great Walter Brennan is the only actor to have won three Best SUPPORTING Actor Oscars. Jack Nicholson has won 2 Best Actor Oscars & 1 Supporting one.  Hope you have a wonderful week! :)

[jimwalsh2001]

He looks so distinguished...a far cry from Gran'Pappy McCoy!

[tomkes100]

dannylack let me fill you i on another clue Brennen hadnt yet started the Real McCoys was as he says goodbye to daly he says Im Glad were going to be on the same network a future tense, a month before the show began. i know my facts trust me. TOMKES

[TomBarristerX]

Apparently, you don't know your facts.

This episode aired on November 22, 1959. "The Real McCoy's" began in September of 1957 and was in its third season at the time. Daly's mentioning of him and Brennan being on the same network was in reference to the fact that "McCoys" was on ABC at the time (it moved to CBS in 1962), and Daly worked at ABC News during this period (until late 1960; his closing line on the news was "Good night, and a good tomorrow").

[WBensburg]

@TomBarristerX I believe you're incorrect, here. IMDB (a mostly reliable source) lists this show airing on May 12, 1957, before The Real McCoys aired a few months later.

[tomkes100]

hey there now this WHATS MY LINE historian who knew most of the panal & the host and who has 400 episodes of this greatest of panal shows, 17 yrs can tell you to HELL with politics,you get GARSon the grrat ADOLPH MENJOU & WALTER BRENNEN all Republicans.,I cherish this show. Brennens voice is UNBELIEVABLE.Menjou is supreme such a natural,this show had class glamour urbane wit nothing like today. ITS STILL A MEGAHIT to me. TOMKES just ask away im the answer man here.

[ecraines]

Greer looks just like ARLENE!!!!!!!!!!

[ipmoic]

What a beauty Greer Garson was--even blindfolded!

[xander7ful]

Wow! Adoph Menjou, Greer Garson and Walter Brennan all on the same stage. What a talented group. I think a lot of Hollywood people hid in the entertainment biz who were Nazis or sympathizers. Some say Marlene Dietrich may have been (or her husband). Ronald Reagan used to collect Nazi memorabilia.

[dannylack57]

This episode of WML, done in 1957, was obviously shortly before the beginning of Mr. Brennan's starring role in the wonderful hit tv series The Real McCoys, where he played Grandpappy Amos...because he said he appeared on tv as a guest star..not tv series

[bjnevin]

His question about the Westerns let me to believe you...

[tomkes100]

WHAT MY LINE greatest panal show EVER&look at Walyer Brennen & the great ADOLPH MENJOU bless em. this is 1957. i have 500 episodes on vhs. i knew the panal&Host. Im a tv film historian i hsve my own website on old stars&films I knew 900 performers since 1964. In this case WHATS MY LINE is ETERNAL. We need me class more dignity more stars like Brennen, MENJOU & GARSON . This iv tv history. at it best the golden 50s. This & Ive Got a Secret . Thanks fans. TOMK the man knows great talent.

[rentatrip1]

Adolph Menjou ...and Walter Brennan -

a double barrel powerhouse of talent -

[wmlfan9]

I agree with Dorothy at 5:13. In fact, I would say that of all the mystery guests on WML this is the best in terms of the voice not matching the person - well done Walter!

[dex2345]

great clip!

what fun!

[myhighlanddream]

I'm not going to read the next page comments, but please tell me that someone is not actually stupid enough to think that because he uses a non-American accent that makes him a racist! They use all sorts of non-American accents on this show...that's the point idiot. If you sounded like yourself someone would recognize you. This show is no different than any modern day talk show where a celebrity plugs their project.

[PeterFirthFan]

Actually Brennan was a huge racist who celebrated Dr King's assassination.

[tallpaul521]

You piece of shit.  Brennan was a hero in WW1. His voice was the result of being gassed in the trenches in the war.

Why didn't you mention Mr. Menjou? He was the most outspoken Anti-Communist in the 1950's - he suggested that all Communists should be sent to Texas, where they would be shot!! I suppose your Pro-Communist as well.

[PeterFirthFan]

Actually his voice was put on, he didn't speak like that in real life.

[grabit1]

@PeterFirthFan

Mr. FirthFan, we meet again. I don't know if Brennan's voice was put on--he was apparently gassed in WWI--and he seemed to speak consistently in films as he did, although I can't argue with you that it wasn't real.

And I could never agree with his politics. But I still think him one of the two or three greatest film character actors I have ever seen. And perhaps you agree with that (or not).

Anyway, Lilly Langtry is cold in my bed, and waiting. Signed, Judge Roy Bean

[maxjake6]

While in school, Brennan became interested in acting, and began to perform in vaudeville. While working as a bank clerk, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a private with the 101st Field Artillery Regiment in France during World War I.[3][4] Following the war, he moved to Guatemala and raised pineapples, before settling in Los Angeles.

[maxjake6]

Born in Lynn, Massachusetts less than two miles from his family's home in Swampscott,[1] to Irish and English[2] emigrants, he was christened Walter Andrew Brennan. His father was an engineer and inventor. Walter Brennan studied engineering at Rindge Technical High School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

[maxjake6]

The leftist whiners are hilarious. Just call something racist and you become the politically correct moron that you always wanted to be.

Hilarious

[hiyadroogs]

Excellent comment. & so true!

[PeterFirthFan]

Walter Brennan was a racist.

[guerilla1977]

Because he voiced a Japanese accent? Not really sure why that makes him a racist. Using the same logic, because he used a female voice here, that means he hates women? If he had used a British accent, that would indicate a hatred of the British?

[PeterFirthFan]

Read his imdb profile.

[supermandisco]

@guerilla1977 Its not necessarily a racist to imitate real life, but it is if you downgrade them.

[ledzeptwo]

There you go again Pepino!!!

[mickalene]

Menjou's eye covering is askew...

[grabit1]

If anything Menjou did was askew, you knew he was reaching the end of the line.

[e148]

At about 1:13 of this clip Walter is asked, "Are you a Comedian?" to which he replies NO. John does not update the card (still shows$5) so he is one behind the rest of the show. Walter actually wins the game at about 5:05., just before he is guessed.

Also, while his voice is very well disguised he does do a Japanese voice in another game and I think he wins that one.

[oysterjoe]

Many brilliant films with this guy but easily my favorite is " My Darling Clementine " directed by John Ford. His portrayal of Ike Clanton is stunning. One of the greatest films, not just Westerns, ever made.

[jaydee624]

Was'nt walter brennan the narrator for 'the Untouchables:?

[soulierinvestments]

Walter Brennan starred in "Real McCoys" and "Guns of Will Sonnett." News reporter Walter Winchell narrated "The Untouchables."

[digga2552]

Walter Winchell was the narrator on "The Untouchables" !!! :o)

[ZoneIII]

As someone else correctly said, Walter Winchell narrated The Untouchables. He was a reporter/commentator in real life.

[Muffy2314]

Greer is beautiful and classy

[singingredhead2010]

Oh, yes she is! I she was a cute guest panelist, but I adore her as a mystery guest :)

[duncanstein2]

During the entire period of questions and answers, panelist Adolphe Menjou, was clueless as to the identity of the mystery guest, Walter Brennan, then all of a sudden, on the final question, he "brilliantly" guesses correctly. Am I the only one out there that thinks this appears a little suspicious?

[soulierinvestments]

I have maintained for years that Menjou's whole appearance in this episode seems a little suspicious. Here he suddenly gets Brennan at the last possible minute to huge effect. In the first game, he identified in his first questioning out of the blue an entire chorus line of Ziegfeld Follies showgirls.

[mikewmtclp]

If you look at the clip at 2:04 to 2:08 you will see that his blind fold is to the side a little and he can clearly see out from under it! I dont think anyone told him who was there looks like he just cheated

[4MaryAnna]

The Real MCcoys!Oh I just adore this man!All the wonderful movies he's been in and quite a few with Gary Cooper.

[lonewulf44]

I second that ... just doesn't get much better than Coop! And Walter is in some many great films .. he and Ward Bond are the two greatest supporting actors ever!

[mca1218]

Wow. A character-acting legend!! Wonderful clip.

[karlakor]

This is the greatest vocal disguise I have ever heard on What's My Line. There was NOTHING in his voice that might have betrayed his identity! Dorothy Kilgallen was right about it being one of the greatest vocal disguises they have had in a long time.

[PatinPDXOR]

How on earth did Adolphe Menjou get him? That was one of the best vocal disguises I've heard in quite a while. Wonderful clip, thank you.

[Fenhalls]

I do like Bennett Cerf's little pun: "All the world's a stooge."

[soulierinvestments]

I have speculated in other places about guest panelist Adolphe Menjou's performance in this episode. Notice he identifies Brennan out of the blue at the end at the last possible minute. In the first game sequence, he identified Ziegfeld Follies showgirls out of the blue as well in his FIRST round of questioning. It all seems highly suspicious in some basic way.

I remember a January 1961 episode in which guest Rita Gam made two identifications, but that somehow did not seem suspect.

[soulierinvestments]

All hail Walter Brennan! Hard to think of many other actors who got more popular and who got better with age -- Brennan achieved both. Brennan's vocal disguise is one for the ages. Amusing spot. Gil Fates used a clip of this for What's My Line at 25, and it was not the best part.

[VonCringe]

Great fake voice by Brennan, he was a great actor. Dorothy was as confused here as she was on the Sophie Tucker episode, thinking there was a "stooge" answering for the guest.

John Daly's pained look at the very end - I assume this was him looking up at the clock or control room or whatever is up there, trying to figure if they had time for another guest. You see him looking up there on many of these videos, I guess he had to keep things moving along, as the show could not be scripted.

[soulierinvestments]

I suspect it is a clock. This program must have been a nightmare to direct and time. Live TV to begin with. No script. No way to figure out how much time the panel would take to identify someone. One minute?, 7 minutes? Will the mystery guest arrive on time? Any time for an interview.

[44032]

People complain about Daly not wanting demonstrations. I think a major consideration was wanting to get all of the guests on the show. The celebrities had plugs to make and the non-celebrities had told everyone they knew that they were going to be on TV. He wanted to get everyone in if possible. I've got a Secret must had to send a lot of people home because of all the stuff they got into.