Was there a more evil western villain that Jack Palance?
I can't think of one
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Jack Palance was a great villain.His presence in a film was always a treat since his comeuppance would always be commiserate with his evil endeavors. In this film the killing of Elisha Cooke Jr.is unforgettable as he's blown away in explosion of fire only to rest in a splatter of mud. His demeanor is so callous and dismissive that Shane's retribution is eagerly awaited and well deserved.
Another classic Palance villainy was in the biblical epic "Barabas" starring Anthony Quinn, in which he encounters Quinn in the gladiatorial arena while driving a high speed chariot with a casting net v Quinn on foot with a mere spear. The outcome of course has Quinn victorious as he manages to entangle Palance with his own net causing him to be handcuffed to the chariot as it drags and slams his body about the arena walls. A truly great and memorable scene as the proud and arrogant gladiator is humbled into a blooded pathetic figure pleading for his death as the crowd demands it.
As Jack Wilson, he was arguably the best Western heavy of all time.
shareJack Palance was evil personified bad ass, but this movie I found him wasted. The movie was drab and dull.I have seen over 300 westerns so far. I've seen a JP movie where he is terrifying. Carries a falcon on his arms throught the movie. One man more terrifying than JP was Lee Van Cleef in The Good The Bad and The Ugly. He was absolutely menacing in that movie. Eli Wallach even looks into those beady eyes and calls him Angel Eyes. LOL
shareJack Palance was evil personified bad ass, but this movie I found him wasted. The movie was drab and dull.
Well, you're in an elite club of people who feel that way; but if most others felt the same way, SHANE wouldn't have been the celebrated Western that it is, both critically and popularly.
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Lee Marvin as Liberty Valance, although Palance's performance in this movie is superb.
shareA great villain.
shareWhy was he evil...he only killed one person?!
shareWhy was he evil...he only killed one person?!
We only SEE him killing one person (which is evil enough) but Slade was a hired gunman who had earned the reputation of being a ruthless and cold blooded killer. Even Shane, who hadn't yet met Slade, had heard of him and had known of Slade's past.
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"Why was he evil...he only killed one person?!"
This non-sequitur question requires two answers:
1. Why was he evil? The reason for his vile character is not discussed in the movie. Perhaps he was abused by his parents, or maybe he was just a psychopath.
2. Murdering an innocent person in cold blood certainly qualifies one as evil, even if it only happens once.
Henry Fonda, as the psycopathic gunman in ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST, murders entire families, including young children, for the pure fun and joy of it; I'm not so sure that even Jack Wilson or Liberty Valance would go THAT far!
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The Frank MIller character in HIGH NOON was very menacing and his crew were pretty nasty types except for Frank's brother played by Sheb Wooley. Jack Palance was the better actor in my opinion and he was given a memorable bad guy role which he probably relished doing. One thing that bothered me about the film was that Palance seems to have had no knowledge of Shane's reputation yet Shane knew of Wilson's "accomplishments".. I assumed most hired guns knew the competition even in the wide open territories.
shareI always got the sense that Slade did know who Shane was, but was just playing his cards close to the vest. In the scene where the cattleman comes to dicker with Starrett, note how Slade & Shane quietly size each other up while the others argue, taking each other's measure & both already knowing that they'll be deciding the fate of the valley, not anyone else.
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