C I N E B E A T S :: Lee Marvin on John Ford :: July

FEATURED POSTS

10 Questions with Shane Briant

The talented British' born actor Shane Briant made his screen debut in the Hammer horror film Demons of the Mind. Since then he's gone on to appear in over 60 films and television productions including Straight On Till Morning (1972), The Picture of Dorian Gray (1973), The Mackintosh Man (1973), Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter (1974), Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974), The Naked Civil Servant (1975) and Lady Chatterley's Lover (1981). Currently Briant is focusing his attention on writing fiction and he has recently completed a psychological thriller called Worst Nightmares that will be released May 12th. I've admired his film work for many years so I was thrilled to get the opportunity to ask Shane Briant a few questions about his early movies and current writing projects. READ MORE

THIS MONTH'S FEATURED POSTS

The Girl On a Motorcycle (1968)

The talented director and cinematographer Jack Cardiff has passed away at the age of 94. As the tributes start to roll out from various news sites and film blogs its become clear to me that most people regard Jack Cardiff as a great cinematographer and have little regard or knowledge of his directing contributions, which is a shame. Cardiff was a brilliant photographer and his groundbreaking contributions to cinematography are well worth celebrating. But his impressive work as a director on films like the wonderful D.H. Lawrence adaptation Sons and Lovers (1960), the entertaining spy thriller The Liquidator (1965), the excellent erotic drama The Girl on a Motorcycle (1968) and the effective horror film The Mutations (1974) is also worthy of applause. READ MORE

THIS MONTH'S FEATURED POSTS

Favorite DVD Releases of 2008

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but overall 2008 was somewhat of a lackluster year for new Region 1 DVD releases of '60s and '70s era films when compared to the previous two years (See: 2006 and 2007). Some of my favorite DVD companies such as BCI Eclipse and most recently New Yorker Films have folded. Boutique DVD companies are releasing fewer products and what is being released is often of questionable quality. With the failing economy and the rise in popularity of Blu-ray discs, it seems like the number of new worthwhile DVD releases might continue to drop dramatically in 2009. READ MORE

THIS MONTH'S FEATURED POSTS

Resurrecting Yusaku Matsuda

Toru Murakawa's Resurrection of the Golden Wolf (aka Yomigaeru kinrô; 1979) is a wildly uneven Japanese crime film that left me wishing it had been helmed by another director. The film's script was adapted from a popular novel by Haruhiko Ooyabu and directors like Seijun Suzuki have had great success turning Ooyabu's hard-boiled fiction into films, but Toru Murakawa doesn't have Suzuki's eye for detail or his pop art sensibility. Resurrection of the Golden Wolf runs much too long and the dramatic filler weighs down the action, but even with its flaws the movie still keeps your attention thanks to the star performance of Yusaku Matsuda. READ MORE

THIS MONTH'S FEATURED POSTS

We Are Controlling Transmission

This year analog broadcasting is coming to an end. On June 12th 2009 television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch permanently to digital. Digital broadcasting promises to provide viewers with a sharper picture and more diverse programming options, but this unavoidable change is forcing millions of people to buy new television sets or opt for getting a converter box that will often cost them $40 or more. I feel for these people because I didn't have complete cable TV Access or a digital television myself until 2007. READ MORE

Lee Marvin on John Ford

by Kimberly Lindbergs | July 3, 2007

Categories | Actors, American Cinema, Blogathons, Lee Marvin

Lee Marvin as Liberty Valance (1962)

Vincent has kick-started his ongoing John Ford Blog-a-thon which lasts all week and ends July 9th. His blog is French, but he welcomes readers and blog-a-thon contributors from around the globe.

In all honesty I haven’t seen a lot of John Ford’s films myself but my favorites are Mogambo (1953), The Searchers (1956), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and Donovan’s Reef (1963). A lot has been written about Ford and his contributions to American cinema and I’m not sure what I could bring to the topic, but I did want to spread the word about the John Ford Blog-a-thon so others could participate if they were so inclined and in the process share a little Lee Marvin goodness with you all. I really love tough guy Lee Marvin and I wish women were allowed to join The Sons of Lee Marvin. Maybe someone needs to start a semi-secret society called The Daughters of Lee Marvin?

Below is a terrific & insightful interview clip of Lee Marvin talking about his work with John Ford:

You can also find the rest of this interesting interview with Lee Marvin at this great YouTube channel.

7 Comments »

Keith says; July 3, 2007 @ 12:52 pm

That’s a great video of Lee Marvin. To be honest, I’ve never seen many of John Ford’s movies either. I know I saw “Mogambo.” I watched the video more for Lee Marvin. He, as well as Charles Bronson, Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood, etc., were tough guy actors I grew up really idolizing as a boy. Whether it was “The Dirty Dozen” to “Death Hunt,” I loved all the movies of his I ever saw.
dan schank says; July 3, 2007 @ 6:30 pm

a friend of mine used to work in a bar that the real son of lee marvin hung out at. apparently whatever beef he had with the “organization” (i followed the wiki link) was settled and he plays drums on a track on tom waits’ mule variations. of course, i’m basing all of this on second hand info from bar chatter, but my friend who told me is an honest person. haha.
cinebeats says; July 4, 2007 @ 9:33 am

Keith - I’m glad you enjoyed the video. I thought his insights on working with Ford were really great.

Dan - Thanks for sharing your Marvin story Dan! Even if it’s second hand, I enjoyed it. I’ve always been intrigued by The Sons of Lee Marvin.
AR says; July 4, 2007 @ 11:59 am

I haven’t seen a lot of Ford yet either. The only Westerns I’ve gotten through are The Searchers and Stagecoach, both of which I enjoyed, though admittedly I don’t much care for John Wayne. I really like Grapes of Wrath, but more I think for Toland’s cinematography. It’s a good movie that stays true to my memories of the book (I haven’t read it in almost 15 years, so certain parts might be hazy). Ford had a wisely visual sensibility, and his films seem like they’re evocative enough to be lasting.

Lee Marvin was a great tough guy. Most recently I saw him in the 60s television version of The Killers, which I think you would have liked (assuming you haven’t seen it already). John Cassavetes is in it, and it’s very 60s mod-cool. Lee Marvin’s great in it, and has the best death scene.
cinebeats says; July 6, 2007 @ 8:12 am

I’m not really a fan of Wayne’s either so that’s probably one reason I’ve just not gotten around to watching a lot of Ford’s films. I tend to prefer Italian westerns over American ones. I have seen bits of The Grapes of Wrath but I always seem to catch the powerful final hour on TV and I need to watch it all.

The Killers is one of my favorite Marvin films! It’s really terrific and he’s great in it. I love the way it’s shot at times and the story is smartly told.

If you enjoyed that I highly recommend checking out the John Boorman film Point Blank (1967). It’s another very mod looking crime film with noir overtones. It’s probably my favorite Marvin film and I think you’d really enjoy it AR.
AR says; July 31, 2007 @ 3:46 pm

Honestly, I found much of The Killers to be a bit of a mixed bag. Stylistically, it was a bit cheesy and very 60’s TV. Too bright and glossy for my tastes, I guess. But the tone is very sardonic, especially for the time, and the whole idea of having the killers themselves investigate is a stroke of genius. It’s certainly interesting, but I prefer Siodmak’s film version.

I’ve heard of Point Blank before. I’ll have to check it out.
Kasumii says; February 25, 2009 @ 10:13 am

I am researching Lee Marvin’s TV career. If anyone can help me find the following episodes please let me know. Contact me at:

kasumii_kenshirou@yahoo.com

TV:

Chicago Beat (1958) (TV Pilot)

Escape - Whappernocker Song (02/09/1950)
Fireside Theatre - Sound in the Night (01/29/1952)
Fireside Theatre - Sound in the Night (02/16/1952)
Rebound - The Mine (02/29/1952)
Dragnet - The Big Whiff (01/15/1953)
The Doctor AKA The Visitor - The Runaways (06/21/1953)
The Revlon Mirror Theater - Lullaby (10/03/1953)
The Motorola Television Hour - Outlaw’s Reckoning (11/03/1953)
Suspense - Needle in a Haystack (11/10/1953)
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars - Give the Guy a Break (01/29/1954)
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse AKA Action Tonight - The Psychophonic Nurse (02/05/1954)
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse AKA Action Tonight - Open Season (03/19/1954)
Center Stage - The Day Before Atlanta (11/07/1954)
General Electric Theater - The Rider on the Pale Horse (11/28/1954)
General Electric Theater - Mr. Death and the Red Headed Woman (11/28/1954)
TV Reader’s Digest - How Charlie Faust Won a Pennant for the Giants (04/11/1955)
Studio One - Shakedown Cruise (11/07/1955)
Climax! - Bailout at 43,000 Feet (12/29/1955)
Kraft Television Theatre - The Fool Killer (03/07/1956)
Front Row Center - Dinner Date (03/18/1956)
Studio 57 - You Take Ballistics (02/10/1957)
Climax! - Stain of Honor (02/14/1957)
The United States Steel Hour - Shadow of Evil (02/27/1957)
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars - Easy Going Man (08/02/1957)
General Electric Theater - All I Survey (02/02/1958)
Climax! - Time of the Hanging (05/22/1958)
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars - A Fistful of Love (01/02/1959)
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse - Man in Orbit (05/11/1959)
Western Theater - Easy Going Man (07/31/1959)
Sunday Showcase - The American (03/27/1960)
General Electric Theater - Don’t You Remember? (05/08/1960)
The Americans - Reconnaissance (03/06/1961)
Wagon Train - The Christopher Hale Story (03/15/1961)
March of Dimes: What About Linda? (01/14/1961)
General Electric Theater - The Joke’s on Me (04/16/1961)
The DuPont Show of the Week - The Richest Man in Bogota (06/17/1962)
Pantomime Quiz - Lee Marvin vs. Gypsy Rose Lee (10/01/1962)
Ed Sullivan Show (10/12/1969)
The Changing Scene (1970) TV Special Barbara Eden Gene Kelly
Superstunt (11/17/1977) Host in a TV Special
Tomorrow Show Coast to Coast (05/08/1981)
Late Night with David Letterman (02/12/1986) Final Interview

Tonight Show with Johnny Carson

10/05/1970
02/03/1972
06/20/1972
04/24/1973
06/22/1976
11/04/1976

Lee Marvin’s Lawbreakers:

003 The Seattle Story
004 The Atlanta Story
005 The Philadelphia Story
006 The Dallas Story
007 The New Orleans Story
008 The Pittsburgh Story
009 The Indianapolis Story
010 The Cincinnati Story
011 The Detroit Story
012 The Hartford, Connecticut Story
013 The Westchester Story
014 The Boston Story
016 The Greenburgh, New York Story
017 The Providence Story
018 The Chicago “A” Story: Part II
019 The Baltimore Story
020 The Minneapolis Story: Part I
021 The Minneapolis Story: Part II
022 The Rochester Story
023 The Philadelphia Story: Part II
024 The Buffalo Story
025 The Culver City Story
026 The Burbank Story
028 The Long Beach Story
029 The Denver Story
030 The Milwaukee Story
031 The Miami Story
032 The Oakland Story
033 The St. Louis Story

— The Highway Murder Story (official title unknown)
— The Tony Gonzales Story (official title unknown)
— The Michael Olds Story (official title unknown)
— The Joseph Gaito The Edward Kern Story (official title unknown)
— The Teenage Bomber Story (official title unknown)

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