Daniel Day-Lewis in ’Stars and Bars’, 1988

Here’s a clip from what has thus far been Daniel Day-Lewis’s only real comedy, the 1988 Pat O’Connor film Stars and Bars. In it Daniel plays Henderson Dores, an uptight English art dealer who’s transplanted himself to NYC and is doing his level best to embrace the American way of life. When his boss sends him to the American south to acquire a rare painting from Loomis Gage (Harry Dean Stanton), he must contend not only with the eccentric Gage but his entire wacko family. In this scene, Gage’s daughter Cora (Glenne Headly) gives Henderson a piece of her mind - and he learns that looks are deceiving. Stars and Bars was NOT warmly received upon its release, and it’s a shame, since it appears to have scared Daniel off from trying his hand at comedy again. The film is by no means great, but Daniel’s performance has a number of genuinely funny moments. Somebody release it on DVD already!