Harry Dean Stanton Movies
A perpetually haggard character actor with hound-dog eyes and the rare ability to alternate between menace and earnest at a moment's notice, Harry Dean Stanton has proven one of the most enduring and endearing actors of his generation. From his early days riding the range in Gunsmoke and Rawhide to a poignant turn in David Lynch's uncharacteristically sentimental drama The Straight Story, Stanton can always be counted on to turn in a memorable performance no matter how small the role. A West Irvine, KY, native who served in World War II before returning stateside to attend the University of Kentucky, it was while appearing in a college production of Pygmalion that Stanton first began to realize his love for acting. Dropping out of school three years later to move to California and train at the Pasadena Playhouse, Stanton found himself in good company while training alongside such future greats as Gene Hackman and Robert Duvall. A stateside tour with the American Male Chorus and a stint in New York children's theater found Stanton continuing to hone his skills, and after packing his bags for Hollywood shortly thereafter, numerous television roles were quick to follow.Billed Dean Stanton in his early years and often carrying the weight of the screen baddie, Stanton gunned down the best of them in numerous early Westerns before a soulful turn in Cool Hand Luke showed that he was capable of much more. Though a role in The Godfather Part II offered momentary cinematic redemption, it wasn't long before Stanton was back to his old antics in the 1976 Marlon Brando Western The Missouri Breaks. After once again utilizing his musical talents as a country & western singer in The Rose (1979) and meeting a gruesome demise in the sci-fi classic Alien, roles in such popular early '80s efforts as Private Benjamin, Escape From New York, and Christine began to gain Stanton growing recognition among mainstream film audiences; and then a trio of career-defining roles in the mid-'80s proved the windfall that would propel the rest of Stanton's career. Cast as a veteran repo man opposite Emilio Estevez in director Alex Cox's cult classic Repo Man (1984), Stanton's hilarious, invigorated performance perfectly gelled with the offbeat sensibilities of the truly original tale involving punk-rockers, aliens, and a mysteriously omnipresent plate o' shrimp.
After sending his sons off into the mountains to fight communists in the jingoistic actioner Red Dawn (also 1984) Stanton essayed what was perhaps his most dramatically demanding role to date in director Wim Wenders' Paris, Texas. Cast as a broken man whose brother attempts to help him remember why he walked out on his family years before, Stanton's devastating performance provided the emotional core to what was perhaps one of the essential films of the 1980s. A subsequent role as Molly Ringwald's character's perpetually unemployed father in 1986's Pretty in Pink, while perhaps not quite as emotionally draining, offered a tender characterization that would forever hold him a place in the hearts of those raised on 1980s cinema. In 1988 Stanton essayed the role of Paul the Apostle in director Martin Scorsese's controversial religious epic The Last Temptation of Christ.
By the 1990s Stanton was a widely recognized icon of American cinema, and following memorably quirky roles as an eccentric patriarch in Twister and a desperate private detective in David Lynch's Wild at Heart (both 1990), he settled into memorable roles in such efforts as Against the Wall (1994), Never Talk to Strangers (1995), and the sentimental drama The Mighty (1998). In 1996, Stanton made news when he was pistol whipped by thieves who broke into his home and stole his car (which was eventually returned thanks to a tracking device). Having previously teamed with director Lynch earlier in the decade, fans were delighted at Stanton's poignant performance in 1999's The Straight Story. Still going strong into the new millennium, Stanton could be spotted in such efforts as The Pledge (2001; starring longtime friend and former roommate Jack Nicholson), Sonny (2002), and The Big Bounce (2004). In addition to his acting career, Stanton can often be spotted around Hollywood performing with his band, The Harry Dean Stanton Band. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1969
This week, mobile officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) are summoned to mediate a family fight involving a shiftless husband (Harry Dean Stanton) who wants to get arrested; attempt to recover a stolen fur on behalf of a dithery old lady (Nydia Westman); and break up a loud party held by one of Reed's old school chums (David Westberg). Through it all, Jim is repeatedly frustrated in his efforts to tell a joke to his fellow officers (no one, it seems, can understand the punchline). This is the final episode of Adam-12's first season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Orrin Pike (Jonathan Daly) hopes to prove himself a worthy game warden by nabbing a pair of livestock poachers. Unfortunately the two crooks turn out to be a couple of nasty motorcycle bums--and poor Orrin isn't a fighter, he's a poet. One of the villains is played by a young Harry Dean Stanton, here billed as Dean Stanton so as not to be confused with actor Harry Stanton, who is cast as the sheriff (Clear as mud??) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
One man must take on a band of roving outlaws in this Harley-fueled variation on High Noon. Paul Collier (Cameron Mitchell) is an architect who has decided to ask his girlfriend Karen (Diane Ladd), who is with child, for her hand in marriage. However, during a trip to the beach with Karen, Paul is confronted by J.J. (Bruce Dern), an old high school friend who has fallen in with a motorcycle gang, the Rebels. The Rebels take one look at Karen and claim her for themselves, staging drag races to determine who will have the right to her, and J.J. is unable (or unwilling) to stop them. Furious and betrayed, Paul tries to round up the townspeople in hopes of outnumbering the Rebels, but he is soon forced to rescue Karen on his own. Shot in 1967, Rebel Rousers also features Jack Nicholson as a biker named Bunny; the film was shelved until 1969, when Nicholson's star-making turns in Easy Rider and Five Easy Pieces gave his name (and the film) stronger marquee power. Also keep an eye peeled for Harry Dean Stanton as another one of the Rebels. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Diane McBain, who'd been a sort of star at Warner Bros. in the early 1960s, is the leading lady of The Mini-Skirt Mob. She's in charge of a fearsome (and toothsome) gang of biker chicks, even though she herself looks as though she'd go into conniptions over a broken nail. McBain's mob gets its kicks terrorizing a sweet young married couple. The film is a veritable roll-call of fading TV icons, including Jeremy Slate and Sherry Jackson; only cycle-flick veterans Ross Hagen and Harry Dean Stanton seem truly comfortable in these low-octane surroundings. The Mini-Skirt Mob is the sort of picture that used to be described as "ideal drive-in fare" back in Days of Old when there were drive-ins. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeremy Slate, Diane McBain, (more)
- 1968
Warfield (Glenn Ford) is the dispassionate ex-gunslinger who joins forces with peaceful neighbor Forbes (Arthur Kennedy) to help him track down the Apache Indians who have kidnapped Warfield's wife and children two months prior. In searching for the abductees, the hardened gunslinger eventually keeps a level head while the even-tempered Forbes turns into a cold-blooded killing machine. Warfield and Forbes eventually complete their personality changes that lead to the inevitable western showdown. Initially a television movie made for ABC, the company decided to release the film only in theaters. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Glenn Ford, Arthur Kennedy, (more)
- 1967
The Long Ride Home is the British title for the Columbia Civil War western A Time for Killing. The stars are Glenn Ford, a regular of sagebrushers, and Inger Stevens, a relative newcomer to the genre who between 1967-1970 made up for lost time with such films as Hang 'Em High and Firecreek. Ford is Union POW camp commander Major Walcott who rides out to capture escaped Confederate prisoner Captain Bentley (George Hamilton). Bentley and his men have kidnapped Walcott's fiancee Emily Biddle (Stevens) to assure themselves safe passage, but several of the escaped Rebs hope to divest themselves of Bentley and have their way with their beautiful captive. Among the troops is a very young Harrison Ford, collecting his meager Columbia contract paycheck and hoping for better days. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Glenn Ford, George C. Scott, (more)
Paul Newman was nominated for an Oscar and George Kennedy received one for his work in this allegorical prison drama. Luke Jackson (Paul Newman) is sentenced to a stretch on a southern chain gang after he's arrested for drunkenly decapitating parking meters. While the avowed ambition of the captain (Strother Martin) is for each prisoner to "get their mind right," it soon becomes obvious that Luke is not about to kowtow to anybody. When challenged to a fistfight by fellow inmate Dragline (George Kennedy), Luke simply refuses to give up, even though he's brutally beaten. Luke knows how to win at poker, even with bad cards, by using his smarts and playing it cool. Luke also figures out a way for the men to get their work done in half the usual time, giving them the afternoon off. Finally, when Luke finds out his mother has died, he plots his escape; when he's caught, he simply escapes again. Soon, Luke becomes a symbol of hope and resilience to the other men in the prison camp -- and a symbol of rebelliousness that must be stamped out to the guards and the captain. Along with stellar performances by Newman, Kennedy, and Martin, Cool Hand Luke features a superb supporting cast, including Ralph Waite, Harry Dean Stanton, Dennis Hopper, Wayne Rogers, and Joe Don Baker as members of the chain gang. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Newman, George Kennedy, (more)
- 1967
Six year-old Davey Cleaves (Danny Martins) is trapped in a moving van with two killers after witnessing a murder in this low-budget crime drama. Bull (Don O'Kelly) is the brains of the outfit, with the spineless Eddie (Harry Dean Stanton) as his vacillating accomplice. The boy is hiding in the van that contains his family's possessions. When the killers stop to bury the dead man, they discover the boy and try to silence the only witness to the crime. Davey runs to the safety of a nearby farmhouse, but Bull convinces the rural rubes that Davey is his runaway son. The police have been notified by Davey's panicked parents and they begin a race against time to find the wayward kid before the killers can silence him. Eddie considers turning himself over to the law just to end the ordeal. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Don O'Kelly, John Carradine, (more)
- 1967
Fed up with his humdrum existence, Howard Sprague decides to kick over the traces and leave Mayberry for good. He heads to the Caribbean, where he has elected to become a carefree beachcomber. Before long, however, Howard realizes that a life without responsibilities can have its disadvantages-and besides, he misses his old friends. Featured in the supporting cast are Harry Dean Stanton and Calypso singer Sir Lancelot. Originally networkcast on December 18, 1967, "Howard's New Life" was written by Dick Bensfield and Perry Grant. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Director Monte Hellman and writer-star Jack Nicholson filmed this western simultaneously with The Shooting (1967). Nicholson stars as Wes, cowpuncher pal to Vern (Cameron Mitchell) and Otis (Tom Filer), who have all been hired as hands for a cattle roundup. En route to their new jobs, the men come across the handiwork of a lynch mob. Later, they find hospitality at the home of Blind Dick (Harry Dean Stanton), who graciously provides them with food and shelter. The cowboys are unaware that Blind Dick and his men recently robbed a stagecoach and murdered the driver. A sheriff (Bradon Carroll) and his posse surround the cabin and hang the thieves. Though innocent, the terrified cowboys flee. Otis is killed, but Wes and Vern escape -- with the posse in pursuit. When they stop to rest at the ranch of Evan (George Mitchell), Wes considers taking Evan's daughter hostage. Trying to steal Evan's horse, Vern is killed by the rancher, who in turn is shot by Wes. Once a law-abiding citizen, Wes has been transformed by unjust vigilantism into a killer. Fascinated by frontier era journals that he discovered in an L.A. library, Nicholson used the documents as inspiration in writing the script. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cameron Mitchell, Jack Nicholson, (more)
- 1964
Now calling himself "Bill Martin", Kimble (David Janssen) arrives in a town where several women have fallen victim to a serial killer. A local vigilante committee, by nature suspicious of all outsiders, immediately assumes that Kimble is responsible for the killing spree. Joanne Mercer (June Harding), a mentally challenged girl shunned by the community, takes pity and Kimble and allows him to hide in her cellar--little imagining that the real murderer is likewise hiding only a few feet away. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
Adam Cartwright falls in love with Rebecca (Aneta Corsaut), the daughter of Orthodox Jewish peddler Aaron Kaufman (Ludwig Donath). But when Adam asks for Rebecca's hand in marriage, the tradition-bound Aaron refuses to give his consent. Things go way beyond cultural differences when Kaufman's wagon is attacked by bandits during the Sabbath. Also appearing are Harry Dean Stanton as Stiles, Jason Wingreen as Hank, and Sarah Selby as Mrs. Cardiff. Originally telecast March 10, 1963, "The Way of Aaron" was written by Raphael D. Blau. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1963
Heavy on slapstick and light on the more subtle forms of humor, this standard comedy by Frank Tashlin is still an amusing junket with Danny Kaye at the forefront as Ernie Klenk, a bumbling employee of the Diner's Club credit card company. Ernie has his hands full trying to manage the new computers (maybe they were all new at this point in time) and a bullying boss. His job is to okay the credit line of new customers and after he does just that with Foots Pulardos (Telly Savalas) he may have made his last serious mistake. Foots is facing trial for tax evasion and when he discovers that he and Ernie have an odd physical trait in common, he hits upon a scheme to fake his own death by immolating most of the hapless employees and then escaping the country disguised as Ernie. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danny Kaye, Cara Williams, (more)
- 1962
In flashback, Sgt. Saunders (Vic Morrow), Lt. Hanley (Rick Jason) and the men of King Company recall the events surrounding their landing at Omaha Beach on D-Day. Pre-invasion highlights include a battle between Saunders and Hanley over the affections of a pert English lass (Pat Dahl), and the efforts by wheeler-dealer Braddock (Shecky Greene) to win a cash pool by picking the correct date for the landing (he wins, but doesn't feel so lucky after all--and for good reason!) Once the men have established a beachhead, they are ordered to capture a farmhouse where several American paratroopers are being held prisoner. Most of this program is comprised of re-edited footage from Combat's hitherto unseen pilot episode, which explains the occasional discrepancies (for example, Hanley is still a sergeant, and supporting character Caje [Pierre Jalbert] is referred to as "Caddy"). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
All previous lawmen hired to escort the outlaw Wilder brothers (James Griffith, Harry Dean Stanton) to their hanging in Dakota territory have been murdered by the brothers' friends. Now Paladin (Richard Boone) has been engaged to take on the daunting task of seeing that the Wilders are brought to justice. En route to the Dakotas, Paladin and his prisoners cross the paths of several strangers--but which one has been chosen as Paladin's assassin? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Hero's Island is not as esoteric as director Leslie Steven's Incubus (which was filmed in Esperanto!), but there's still enough bizarre camera angles and outre performances to please Stevens' hard-core devotees. The film is set on the Carolina coast in the 18th century. British expatriate Brendan Dillon, his wife Kate Manx (who at the time of filming was Mrs. Leslie Stevens) and their three children set up a homestead on remote Bull Island. They are joined in this endeavor by family friend Warren Oates, who becomes the surrogate husband and father when Dillon is killed by murderous local fishermen (including such reliable screen heavies as Rip Torn, Neville Brand and Harry Dean Stanton). Mysterious stranger James Mason (who co-produced the film) shows up on the island and offers to seek retribution for Dillon's murder, but Manx's religious convictions won't allow her to consider killing her enemies. During a final battle with the fishermen, Mason reveals that he is actually the notorious Blackbeard the Pirate. He fends off the attackers and is himself rescued from certain death by Manx, who has come to love him. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Mason, Kate Manx, (more)
Filmed in panoramic Cinerama, this star-studded, epic Western adventure is a true cinematic classic. Three legendary directors (Henry Hathaway, John Ford, and George Marshall) combine their skills to tell the story of three families and their travels from the Erie Canal to California between 1839 and 1889. Spencer Tracy narrates the film, which cost an estimated 15 million dollars to complete. In the first segment, "The Rivers," pioneer Zebulon Prescott (Karl Malden) sets out to settle in the West with his wife (Agnes Moorehead) and their four children. Along with other settlers and river pirates, they run into mountain man Linus Rawlings (James Stewart), who sells animal hides. The Prescotts try to raft down the Ohio River in a raft, but only daughters Lilith (Debbie Reynolds) and Eve (Carroll Baker) survive. Eve and Linus get married, while Lilith continues on. In the second segment, "The Plains," Lilith ends up singing in a saloon in St. Louis, but she really wants to head west in a wagon train led by Roger Morgan (Robert Preston). Along the way, she's accompanied by the roguish gambler Cleve Van Valen (Gregory Peck), who claims he can protect her. After he saves her life during an Indian attack, they get married and move to San Francisco. In the third segment, "The Civil War," Eve and Linus' son, Zeb (George Peppard), fights for the Union. After he's forced to kill his Confederate friend, he returns home and gives the family farm to his brother. In the fourth segment, "The Railroads," Zeb fights with his railroad boss (Richard Widmark), who wants to cut straight through Indian territory. Zeb's co-worker Jethro (Henry Fonda) refuses to cut through the land, so he quits and moves to the mountains. After the railway camp is destroyed, Zeb heads for the mountains to visit him. In the fifth segment, "The Outlaws," Lilith is an old widow traveling from California to Arizona to stay with her nephew Zeb on his ranch. However, he has to fight a gang of desperadoes first. How the West Was Won garnered three Oscars, for screenplay, film editing, and sound production. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Stewart, Henry Fonda, (more)
- 1961
Having been on the side of the law as one of the original "Untouchables" in the series' two-part pilot film, Keenan Wynn returns in the despicably villainous role of Augie "The Banker" Ciamino. Terrorizing his fellow Italian immigrants into submission, Ciamino forces them to set up small stills in their homes, enabling him to ship thousands of gallons of bootleg booze right under the Feds' noses. In order to break Ciamino's back, Elliot Ness (Robert Stack) must win the trust of the hapless immigrants. To this end, he enlists the aid of night-school English teacher Mr. Lee (Bernard Kates), who passes along coded messages via blackboard. Unfortunately, one of Mr. Lee's students, baker Renzo Raineri (Will Kuluva), has a son named Paul (Lee Phillips) who works as Ciamino's bookkeeper--and Paul isn't the sort of guy who can keep a secret. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Mob boss Nate Kestor (Steve Cochran) adds to the profits accrued by his popular burlesque house with sales of "imported" French brandy--which he manufactures himself in Chicago. Nate pulls off this deception with the help of the Marquise De Bouverais (Joanna Barnes), the wife of a famous and highly respected French cognac manufacturer (Steven Geray). If the Marquise refuses to play along, Nate will reveal to the world that she is really a former hootchy-kootchy dancer named Marcie McKuen--and if that isn't persuasive enough, Nate promises to kill both Marcie and De Bouverais if they try to escape his clutches. How will Elliot Ness (Robert Stack) manage to topple Kestor without putting Marcie's life in danger? This is the final episode of The Untouchables' second season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
James Coburn guest-stars as Ross Marquett, an old friend of Adam Cartwright. But Ross' friendship abruptly and unexpectedly turns sour when he accuses Adam of fooling around with his wife (CeCe Whitney). The otherwise easygoing Marquett's behavior becomes increasingly erratic over the next few days, culminating in tragedy. Also appearing are Harry Dean Stnaton as Billy Todd and Med Florey as Monk. Written by Ward Hawkins, "The Dark Gate" was first seen on March 4, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1960
In this children's drama, an angry little boy is adopted by a ranching couple. The mean little tyke takes an immediate dislike to his new parents, but his life changes for the better when he finds a wounded German Shepherd that was especially trained by the Marines. The troubled youth begins spending all his time nursing the hurt animal. One day he discovers a gun that the dog had brought with him when he ran away from his master's house after his owner was murdered. The boy's life is jeopardized when he accidentally stumbles across the killer. Fortunately, the brave dog saves him by attacking the killer and making him drop the gun. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bill Williams, Marcia Henderson, (more)
- 1960
Burt Reynolds appears in this episode as truck driver Bill Davis, who with his brother Andy is piloting a huge tanker through the desert. When the road is blocked by a stalled car, Bill and Andy climb out of their truck to offer assistance. The disabled auto turns out to be owned by a pair of kidnappers (Murray Hamilton, Robert Karnes) who are escaping with their female victim (Venetia Stevenson). Getting the drop on the Davis brothers, the kidnappers steal their tanker, leaving Bill, Andy and the girl to roast under the desert sun. Fortunately, good is rewarded and evil punished by episode's end -- with the fate of the villains proving most ironic in light of the "cargo" being hauled by the Davis boys. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
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MGM's all-star 1960 filmization of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn surgically removes the sociological subtext of Mark Twain's novel in the interests of "entertainment for the whole family." The emphasis is on the adventuresome escapades of Huck (Eddie Hodges) and fugitive slave Jim (played by boxing champ Archie Moore), and on the comic elements inherent in the characters of the King (Tony Randall) and the Duke (Mickey Shaughnessy). In the manner of Around the World in 80 Days, every role is filled by a "name" actor: featured in the cast are Judy Canova, Andy Devine, Buster Keaton, Sterling Holloway, Finlay Currie, Josephine Hutchinson and John Carradine. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Randall, Eddie Hodges, (more)
Pork Chop Hill was based on the eyewitness essays of ex-soldier S. L. A. Marshall. The film is set during the Korean "police action." While diplomats argue pointlessly over the shape of the negotiation tables at Panmunjon, United Nations troops bleed and die. Lieutenant Gregory Peck leads a 135-man unit on the attack of the Chinese-held Pork Chop Hill. When reinforcements finally arrive, only 25 of Peck's men survive (and they aren't the usual survivors we've come to expect from earlier, cliché-ridden war films). Among the American troops are such dependable performers as Harry Guardino, Woody Strode, Rip Torn, Barry Atwater, George Peppard, Robert Blake and Martin Landau. Former cowboy-star Bob Steele also shows up briefly as an American general. According to director Lewis Milestone, Pork Chop Hill was cut by nearly twenty minutes because the wife of star Gregory Peck felt that her husband made his first entrance too late into the picture. True or not, the film does show signs of post-production tampering, with flashes of several excised scenes showing up under the main title credits. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gregory Peck, Harry Guardino, (more)
- 1959
Entering a poker game, Paladin (Richard Boone wins a portion of an old treasure map. He soon discovers that the remaining pieces of the map are in possession of four other men, who are anxious to claim a huge cache of cash, and aren't particular as to how they achieve this goal. Only Paladin has reservations about claiming the loot, especially when he learns that it was stolen from the US Army. Featured in the cast are Bruce Gordon, better known as "Frank Nitti" on The Untouchables, and Harry Dean Stanton, whose lengthy list of acting assignments include the polygamous patriarch on the cable-TV series Big Love. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
