MovieChat Forums > The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) Discussion > Liberty's sidekicks

Liberty's sidekicks

posted 12 years ago by JackBluegrass
22 replies | jump to latest

Strother Martin and Lee Van Cleef make a fine pair of amigos for Valance. Van Cleef plays his usual serious and deadly character.

Strother is at the peak of his bizarre and out-of-control antics. Floyd's tongue darting out of his mouth, bulging eyes, and maniacal giggling when he's knee-deep in violence is a sight to see! When Floyd lunges at the fallen Jimmy Stewart in the restaurant, Duke kicks Floyd backwards, butt over head, without raising a sweat.

Like many famous directors, Ford populates his films with character actors who are at the top of their game.

Stupid!?! I never called you stupid! To call you stupid would be an insult to stupid people!

[–] cwente2 12 years ago

Jack,

I couldn't agree more. The supporting characters were marvelous in this picture. Thomas Mitchell, Carradine, and the very respectable and generous proprietors of the picket-wire hash house, too.

[–] pearlsnap_83 11 years ago

What character did thomas mitchell play?

"Being sober really makes you see things the way they really are." - Adam Demamp

[–] cwente2 11 years ago

Ouch! Ya got me. I meant Edmond O'Brien. I do that all the time.

[–] Hancock_the_Superb 12 years ago

Agreed. This movie has an absolute perfect cast - lots of great character actors, even the minor roles stand out. As good as Wayne, Stewart, Miles and Marvin are, even bit players like Denver Pyle and Shug Fisher get great moments.

Martin and Van Cleef make excellent foils for Marvin. They actually don't do that much onscreen (two beatings and some maniacal cackling) - they just SEEM so evil any sane person would run screaming the other way. Especially with the baggage from later roles; Angel Eyes and Coffer from The Wild Bunch, getting an apprenticeship in evil!

"Do you know what lies at the bottom of the mainstream? Mediocrity!"

[–] JackBluegrass 12 years ago

cwente's comment rang a bell....and the very respectable and generous proprietors of the picket-wire hash house, too....

There hasn't been much notice of recent immigrants from Europe who had played minor - but very important - roles in many "Western" movies. Those new immigrants from England, Ireland, Scotland, the Scandinavian nations, Germany, France, and others actually populated the West.

They were the doctors, lawyers, newspaper publishers, shopkeeps, brewers, distillers, general store proprietors, scientists, barkeeps, judges, surveyors, lawyers, bankers, and farriers who brought their talents from Europe to settle our growing "West" and southwest. Pretty much anyone who knew how to do some specialized thing that Americans couldn't, got the job.

Ford tipped his hat here to the compassion and entrepreneurship of the Ericsons.

[–] baran_erik 10 years ago

Yes, because there weren't any Americans who were doctors, lawyers, newspaper publishers, shopkeeps, brewers, distillers, general store proprietors, scientists, barkeeps, judges, surveyors, lawyers, bankers, and farriers. Or maybe they WERE Americans, but still had their accent??? But let's give them a pass, they're Northern Europeans, after all.

[–] JackBluegrass 10 years ago

True, baran...

The northern Europeans (and southern ones, as well) had their accents, but also learned to speak English - if they didn't already - and applied it daily in their new lives. They did not insist on speaking German, French, Italian, or whatever their native tongue was, as they prospered.

They also did not expect - and never received - their native tongue accepted as a required "alternative language" to English in their new land.

Those are some of the reasons why those immigrants were so successful in their new lives.

E pluribus unum

[–] powersroc 11 years ago

Both Martin & Van Cleef were terrific actors in everything they did.Floyd wasn't lunging at Ranse in that scene.Floyd told Liberty that he would pick up the fallen dishes & food that were on the floor.When he went to do so,Tom kicked in the face & told Liberty to pick it up.

[–] nickm2 11 years ago

Duke kicks Floyd backwards, butt over head, without raising a sweat.

So then...the sidekick got a face kick-ironic.

[–] rtw416 11 years ago

Don't forget John Qualen as Ericson-The Scandanavian hash house proprietor.
I've followed his work since Casablanca.
Another Western to watch him iin is-A Big Hand for The Little Lady

[–] Moon_and_New_York_City 11 years ago

I was wondering too, for all these supporting players - how many were "famous" when this was filmed.....and how many became "famous" afterward.

"the best that you can do is fall in love"

[–] rtw416 11 years ago

Just scroll through the cast list. Ford was famous for his stable of character actors who served the industry well,so there are too many to mention.
Edmund O'brien and John Carradine are probably the 2 most successful supporting cast members in the film.

[–] bradford-1 11 years ago

Can't forget Jack Pennick, the bartender who refuses to serve Woody Strode. Pennick, who had a face only a mother could love, turns up in virtually every Ford film you can name. He was Ford's authority on military uniforms and decorum. Pennick also appears to good advantage with Wayne in the non-Ford films, THE ALAMO and THE FIGHTING KENTUCKIAN.

"May I bone your kipper, Mademoiselle?"

[–] pturman-929-979676 10 years ago

Have you ever seen John Qualen in GRAPES OF WRATH? I always thought he shoulda won an Oscar for that for Best Supporting Actor.

[–] WesternLaw 10 years ago

Anyone else notice Marvin, Van Cleef and Martin appeared together in a Twilight Zone episode ("The Grave" -- a Western) probably shot around the time the movie was being filmed? Has to be a story there.

[–] Jacob_Dunstan_Autumn 10 years ago

Yes, both Marvin (in particularly good form here) and Lee Van Cleef are terrific counterparts to the righteous Stewart character and Wayne. Superbly cast film this is.

"I never feel so much myself as when I'm in a hot bath"
- Sylvia Plath

[–] robertgraves14592 10 years ago

Why would Liberty chose Floyd to be in his gang? His brother or a cousin or like minded crazy SOBs?
And why only 3 in the gang?
Why does Liberty wear his gun backwards? Why would anybody for that matter?

What's

This

For? 🇺🇸

[–] knight_hawk2002 10 years ago

Robert Grave,

Libery had a number of men in his gang although Stother and Van Cleef were the most prominent. Remember earlier in the movie John Wayne's character indicates that he killed one of Marvin's men, "one of them tried to cross me, unfortunately for him".

[–] robertgraves14592 10 years ago

My name has an 's' on the end of Grave, it is Graves.

And I do remember now that you mention it. Wasn't there at least one different gang member at the start during the stagecoach hold-up? I'd have to watch it again.

The Oracle (ominously): "Everything that has a beginning, has an end." Even time 🇺🇸

[–] baran_erik 10 years ago

Wow, Rober, you sure are.......particular.

[–] KutWrite (1334) a year ago

Anyone who liked Strother Martin in this will love him in "Harper" the Paul Newman detective vehicle. Definitely worth watching. Lauren Bacall is also notable in it, as well as Robert Wagner in a comeback role. Shelley Winters, too.

[–] dt123 (704) 8 months ago

Also w Newman in Cool Hand Luke. “What we have here is a failure to communicate.”