["The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance"]
~ by TPO ~
I read an interview of Lee Marvin* close to his death. He was asked about many of his films, and then about co-stars.
The story about filming Liberty Valance was interesting. The year 1962, rumbles about getting fully involved in Vietnam in the news. Now three years before Stewart became a Brigadier General, John Ford was still a Commander in the USNR, and Lee still saw VA doctors about the nerve damage from his war wounds. On set the Duke mouths off with a rant to some crew and others about bombing and sending in the Marines ‘to teach them all a lesson’.
Overhearing this rant are Marvin, Jimmy Stewart & John Ford. Stewart was sitting in his chair reading the newspaper, Ford was talking to a camera operator, and Marvin was getting his costume adjusted. Wayne finishes his rant and sits in his chair next to Stewart. Marvin comes over and takes his chair the other side of Wayne. They both also start reading parts of the newspaper, Ford finishes with the crew member and still looking over paperwork walks over by his stars.
Mischievously, Marvin asks, ‘How are you doing today General Stewart?’ Stewart with a slight smile says ‘Just fine Private Marvin, just fine.’ Ford by this point is also starting to smile, and then laughs when Stewart asks ‘How are you feeling today, Commander Ford?’
By this point the Duke has the newspaper all the way up covering his face, hiding. Then Ford tells everyone on set to take their places. Last to walk on set is the Duke and the makeup lady runs forward because she is worried about his makeup being wrong because he has turned a nice shade of pink under his makeup. He waves her away and they shoot the rest of the day. After that the Duke NEVER brought up politics or war or violence around any one of those three. This was all the more interesting considering the plot of Liberty Valance.
The story about filming Liberty Valance was interesting. The year 1962, rumbles about getting fully involved in Vietnam in the news. Now three years before Stewart became a Brigadier General, John Ford was still a Commander in the USNR, and Lee still saw VA doctors about the nerve damage from his war wounds. On set the Duke mouths off with a rant to some crew and others about bombing and sending in the Marines ‘to teach them all a lesson’.
Overhearing this rant are Marvin, Jimmy Stewart & John Ford. Stewart was sitting in his chair reading the newspaper, Ford was talking to a camera operator, and Marvin was getting his costume adjusted. Wayne finishes his rant and sits in his chair next to Stewart. Marvin comes over and takes his chair the other side of Wayne. They both also start reading parts of the newspaper, Ford finishes with the crew member and still looking over paperwork walks over by his stars.
Mischievously, Marvin asks, ‘How are you doing today General Stewart?’ Stewart with a slight smile says ‘Just fine Private Marvin, just fine.’ Ford by this point is also starting to smile, and then laughs when Stewart asks ‘How are you feeling today, Commander Ford?’
By this point the Duke has the newspaper all the way up covering his face, hiding. Then Ford tells everyone on set to take their places. Last to walk on set is the Duke and the makeup lady runs forward because she is worried about his makeup being wrong because he has turned a nice shade of pink under his makeup. He waves her away and they shoot the rest of the day. After that the Duke NEVER brought up politics or war or violence around any one of those three. This was all the more interesting considering the plot of Liberty Valance.
After Marvin died, Stewart was on the Tonight Show and Carson asked about this. Stewart was even more tongue-tied than normal and finally just waved his hand to dismiss talking about it.
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* Lee Marvin served as a Marine in WW-II, was wounded in action, and won a Purple Heart for his heroism. In real life, he was (like Richard Widmark) against violence ... he was also a liberal democrat to the core.
* Lee Marvin served as a Marine in WW-II, was wounded in action, and won a Purple Heart for his heroism. In real life, he was (like Richard Widmark) against violence ... he was also a liberal democrat to the core.
