Went to see "Spy" with my wife on the weekend, not bad, have some good laughs, one thing that annoyed me is the characters in the movie, when its time to threaten to shoot some one, they all thumb cock the hammers on their semi-auto pistol, how can that be? you mean before before the gun was draw, there is a round in the chamber with the hammer rest on it?

I thought these day there are out fits specialize in supplying prop guns to studios for movie shoots and they will also instruct actors on how to properly handle them, perhaps actors; director...etc just ignore them.

That reminds me a story my friend and shooting buddy John told me some times ago, a number of years back, while visiting UK, he was invited to attend a lecture given by an expert of WW 2 machine gun at a meeting of an arms collector society, lectures of these kind are quite common at arms collectors circles, usually an advance collector or expert on certain aspects of arms and armor would present a lecture in an area him/her specialized at, the topics could be anythings from Rigby double rifles to pin fire revolvers...etc.

This expert in WW 2 machine guns related a rather amusing anecdote about his run in with Lee Marvin in the mid 60s when the movie "Dirty Dozen" was shot on locations and at Pinewood studio in UK. He was working as an armorer for a company in the business of supplying guns for movie productions and was hired to supply various types of firearms and instructing actors how to handle them in the said movie. One day, he was told to see Lee Marvin and show him how to use a M-3 sub machine gun, commonly refer as "grease gun"

From early to mid 60s, Lee Marvin has a strings of box office hits, such as "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" "The Killer" "The Professionals"...and after he won the Academy Award for Best Actor in "Cat Ballou" he became a much sought after mega star resulting in he can pretty much do whatever he wants. During that period, Lee Marvin was also known for heavy drinking, he would start early and continue to drink thru the day of the movie shoot, being a huge movie star, studio bosses; producers; directors...tends turn a blind eye about it, being afraid of offending him.

Mindful about all this, the armorer isn't very sure what kind of shape Lee Marvin will be in let alone how much instruction he can absorb, he knock on his dressing room door and introduce himself saying "Good morning Mr. Marvin, today we'll be shooting scenes with a M-3 sub machine gun and I'm here to show you how to handle it." As usual, Lee Marvin with drinking glass in hand was already a bit tipsy, however without saying a word, he snatch the M-3 from the armorer's hand and proceed to have it field striped, within seconds the gun was taken aparted, barrel, bolt, receiver...neatly laid out on the dressing room table, still not saying anything, he re-assemble the gun, in no time flat he handed a properly assembled and functioning grease gun back to the very astonished armorer, saying "Is there anything else I need to know?"

Lee Marvin serve in the Marine Corp in WW 2, wounded in combat during the Pacific Island campaign, a recipient of Purple Heart, interred at Arlington National Cemetery after his death.

Can anyone in Hollywood today even come close?
Different times, different breed.

Great story about a great guy.

The proper word is Inbreed..........

"The Dirty Dozen" is one of the few movies I never tire of, and I have watched it at least 7 or 8 times. Surprisingly, it is the only war movie my wife ever liked (she actually knew Jim Brown from her college days, maybe that had something to do with it). She usually will not watch them. Marvin's performance in "The Big Red One" is also noteworthy, and I have seen it a few times also. I always felt he should have done William Holden's role in "The Wild Bunch," another of my perennial favorites. Along with "The Godfather (Part1)", "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre", "The Thing from Another World", "Casablanca", and a few others.

Dramatic effect. That's why they cocked guns. Same reason as music. When was the last time a soundtrack was played during a shootout?

Lee Marvin always handled guns well in movies. there's a subtle scene in The Professionals where Claudia Cardinale sits down next to him on a rock on his left while they are all talking. Lee Marvin, while discussing their escape, instinctively slips his Army Special Colt (O.P.?) out of the holster and I think puts it in his wasteband so she can't grab it. It had nothing to do with the scene but was totally realistic.

As for the movie Spy, a lady friend asked me to take her over the weekend. I'm not a big fan of what they call comedy these days, but I actually liked it. Very funny movie and worth the price of a ticket. Although neither of us cared much for the gratuitous use of foul language.

I was in a little gun shop in a small town in upstate NY. Lee came in and waited as I talked to the clerk. When I was done, he leaned over and said, "You're not from around here are you?" I told him I was from WY and working on a dude ranch nearby.

He had a place near Woodstock . Had a nice conversation with him. Probably as nice a one as I had with anyone in the state of NY.

Nice feller, common as dirt.

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Eccentric old coot

Wasn't he involved in that expensive "Palimony" situation with one of his girlfriends? I remember it, but not the details.

Yeah a gal sued him for half of his assets.. Court ruled against her.

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Eccentric old coot

If you're looking for a good Lee Marvin movie, the original "Monty Walsh" he starred in sometime in the late 60's was quite good. Ted Turner did a remake in the late '80s with Tom Selleck in the role of Monty Walsh. Both are good westerns worth the watch.

Friendly guy, not arrogant. Spent lunch breaks on set playing cards with the crew. Did other roles besides tough guys: played Hickey in a version of "The Iceman Cometh." Marvin appeared in 2 (IIRC) episodes of The Untouchables; in one, he played a mad-dog type of killer. I still remember how the muzzle of his gun always preceded him around a corner.

I always thought Nick Nolte would become the 2nd iteration of Lee Marvin; he never quite succeeded.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

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Back to back World War Champs.

If anyone is truly interested in Lee Marvin, movie prop guns or likes .45's, I believe member "Club Gun Fan" has one of Lee Marvin's prop guns and I am told he might be willing to trade it for cash.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Recently saw a Combat TV episode with Lee as the special guest.
Him & Vic Morrow...doesn't get any better than that!
Both were top shelf.

Both Monte Walsh movies provide an insight into the guys I grew up around. They were gettin' long in the tooth, but they knew nothing but cows and it was sad to watch them fade into the sunset.

Bunkies

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Eccentric old coot

One of the few times a year I go to the city, I had to go to Scottsdale AZ. There was a famous gun shop there named Mandells. I stopped in with a friend, holding the door open for an older gentleman while talking to a friend. Upon entering the clerk asked if I wanted to buy Lee Marvin's Browning 7mm Mag. Asking how he knew it was Lee's, he said he had just bought it from him and I had just held the door open for him. I could not think of any reason to buy it. He passed away not long after. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. That was not as bad as the time I held the door open for a man just leaving a pawn shop in a small town in Colorado. Soon as I entered the clerk ran past me with a phone in his hand with the police on the other end. Seems he was a serial killer out of Florida, on the most wanted list.

I read somewhere that Lee Marvin was wounded at the Battle of Saipan, he was the real deal.

So, what else is on your mind besides 80 proof whisky, 100 proof women, and 14 carat gold?

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV

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Mandells closed down over 15 years ago as I attended the 2 day auction of the remaining inventory. I personally DON"T remember and Lee Marvin artifacts and I'm sure they would have been highlighted. Perhaps I am wrong on this point!
Jim

Has it been that long ago? Seems like yesterday. I guess the next person through the door was smarter than me, and bought the rifle. I remember he was asking a premium of $100 more than the rifle was worth because of the owner.

Some old timers, including some WW2 users, carried 1911s a round chambered and the hammer at half cock. For the oldest of old timers, this was a natural way to it, mirroring how to use a SAA.

With a traditional double action auto one can choose to cock the hammer to allow for a lighter trigger pull and theoretically more precise first shot.

I own the replica 1911A1 Lee Marvin used in the Movie DELTA FORCE. I bought it from a dealer that bought it from Pamela Marvin. She was in Westfield Massachusetts in 2009. She was attending the reunion of the 4th Marine Division. Lee Marvin served with my Father-in -Law in the 4th. The gun presently is in the Springfield History Museum on display. It will be there until April 2016. I'm not sure as to what the name of the display is. I'll find out and post it later. The picture here is of Lee shooting the terrorist that is holding a gun to the pilots head. If you look closely, you'll see the plug in the barrel.

Attached Images

Lee Marvin.jpg (79.7 KB, 53 views)

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Don Mundell

Lee Marvin. Played Chino in The Wild One (1953).

When men like him and Audie Murphy, and others made money in movies, they deserved it. Are there any actors today that deserve the huge sums they earn?

I'd like to see some of the heros of recent wars receive the same treatment.

If our ticket money makes anybody rich, it should be one of our finest.

What, no musical fans?

How bout 1969's "Paint your Wagon" staring Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood.

Even Lee's horse got drunk in this one.

He was paid $1 Million Dollars for the lead, while Clint Eastwood received $750,000.

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NULLI SECUNDUS

Lee's horse got drunk in Cat Ballou.

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I always take precautions