Harry Dean Stanton: An Appreciation

[Watchdog]

Harry Dean Stanton is 89-years-old now.

We should appreciate him while he's still here, instead of waiting until he's passed on to show up with the ubiquitous "R.I.P"s, and other assorted post-life clichés.

We've all seen him in Cool Hand Luke. And Paris, Texas. He had a big role in Alien, a role that never fails to make me smile and cringe at the same time. He was in Red Dawn and played Molly Ringwald's father in Pretty In Pink.

I mean, the man has been in over 200 films. He's acted with the great ones...Brando, Newman, Nicholson, Hoffman, Oates, and on and on.

He, himself, is one of the great ones, although somewhat underappreciated. He's an ol' Kentucky boy who went to Hollywood and carved out a niche for himself...a niche that no one else will ever fill. The films he's been in wouldn't be the same if he hadn't had a part in them.

There's a great little documentary about him titled Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction. It's worth a look, especially if you like real acting by real men.

When asked how he would like to be remembered, he simply says, "It doesn't matter."

So here's to Harry Dean Stanton. Gotta love him.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Yep. One of those guys that made a bad movie good, and a good movie great. His roles are endless to discuss here, but I got a kick out of him in Rancho Deluxe where he had a hilarious scene with an actress my wife went to high school with. He was the best part about The Missouri Breaks, a movie I didn't much like except for him and the minor characters. And he shot up a gumball machine pretty good in Dillinger. Good singer, too.

 

[Jack Flash]

You see him on old TV shows like Gunsmoke once in a while.

He was very good in Dillinger, which had a great cast including Warren Oates and Ben Johnson.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

He also does music videos!
In this Dwight Yoakam Video, he's in more of it than Dwight.
Picks and sings with Dwight.
Picks and sings without Dwight.
Do you recognize the other well known character acter in this video?

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1akWCgL4CNU[/ame]

 

[Rustyt1953]

I have long been a fan.

He was perfect in "Fire Down Below."

I've got "Down Periscope" on DVD and I think I'll slap her in right about now.

Thanks.

 

[Rustyt1953]

PS, Bo Hopkins.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

Had a great role in Kelly's Heroes (1970).

That and Alien are two of my favorite HDS films.

 

[palmetto99]

Great character actor.

 

[mauser9]

Recall he played police officer in Stephen King's "Christine" Love that 58 Plymouth Fury. I think it belonged to King I read.

 

[Targets Guy]

Prolific and a great one, no doubt. Loved him in "Kelly's Heroes".

 

[okiegtrider]

Great character actor.

Agreed. He showed up in a lot of my favorite movies over the years.

 

[shouldazagged]

One of the best.

 

[Marshwheeling]

Yep. One of those guys that made a bad movie good, and a good movie great. His roles are endless to discuss here, but I got a kick out of him in Rancho Deluxe where he had a hilarious scene with an actress my wife went to high school with. He was the best part about The Missouri Breaks, a movie I didn't much like except for him and the minor characters. And he shot up a gumball machine pretty good in Dillinger. Good singer, too.

Charlene Dallas - "She was almost like... Bambi"
And: "Miz Brown says Hoover, I Hoover."

I always thought of him as more than a character actor, a guy who brought star quality to supporting roles.

Repo Man.

 

[Dashriprock]

One of the all-time all timers.

He once hosted Saturday Night Live, January 18, 1986. It was the night my all time favorite band, The Replacements, were the musical guests.

Harry learned the band hjad smuggled some booze in -- strictly prohibited by the production staff. Lubrication soon followed, and pandemonium ensued -- on live television.

Lorne Michaels is reportedly still mad over that episode.

 

[Xfuzz]

"Walkin the mile, walkin the mile"...
Getting right with Jesus.

 

[Dennis]

He is always bringing authenticity to his roles. One of the best.

 

[Cleveland48]

He is one of the greats no doubt!

 

[BearBio]

I hope he sees this!

 

[Watchdog]

I hope he sees this!

Wouldn't that be great?!?

 

[the ringo kid]

Harry Dean Stanton is one of the greats. Glad someone mentioned Kelly's Heroes, Cool Hand Luke, Red Dawn etc. He MADE all those to,SS so much better.

''AVENGE ME BOYS, AVENGE ME.''

Does anyone know the name of that song he sang in Coll Hand Luke? Its the one he's singing as Luke is visiting his ma, who is sick and in the bed of that truck she was brought in.

 

[the ringo kid]

BTW, to possibly get in touch with him, try: WWW.fanbiz.com they publish loads of adresess and most are good.

Links not the correct one but Google his name and some contact site should appear. Fanbiz used to be a good working site. A friend of mine in calif, used it toget many an address aand subsequent autograph. Its how I got signatures from Ernest Borgnine, Clint Walker and Brad Dexter.

 

[Chuck24]

Things aren't working out for me today.

 

[Watchdog]

Does anyone know the name of that song he sang in Cool Hand Luke?

Stanton sang "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" in Cool Hand Luke.

In the song, the author is seeking guidance from Jesus, it's a plea for help in getting through life in order to achieve salvation. Or that's the way I see it. The author is unknown, and the song is in the public domain.

Patsy Cline did a heart-stopping version of it.

"Just a closer walk with Thee
I am weak but Thou art strong
Jesus keep me from all wrong
I'll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee
Just a closer walk with Thee
Grant it Jesus, is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee
Let it be dear Lord, let it be
When my feeble life is over
Time for me will be no more
Guide me gently, safely over
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore
Just a closer walk with Thee
Grant it Jesus, is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee
Let it be dear Lord, let it be"

 

[Watchdog]

Things aren't working out for me today.

A classic understatement by Stanton in Dillinger, undoubtedly one of the most underrated films I've ever seen.

 

[Cleveland48]

Dillinger is one of my favorites.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I put him the same category as Earnest Borgnine. Outstanding co star that's essential to every movie.

 

[wnwitzell]

He IS the star in Repo Man.

 

[Watchdog]

He IS the star in Repo Man.

I figured I was the only guy around here who even remembered Repo Man.

And surely it hasn't really been thirty-four years since the film was released? How is this possible?

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLGrXGEMOSo"][/ame]

 

[Watchdog]

PS, Bo Hopkins.

I almost didn't recognize Bo Hopkins! I saw the face, and I'm like, "That guy looks familiar." You know? He's in my mind from The Wild Bunch and The Getaway. I reckon we all get old, don't we?

Harry Dean Stanton's thoughts on singing lessons: "I don't believe in 'em. You can either sing or you can't."

 

[the ringo kid]

Stanton sang "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" in Cool Hand Luke.

In the song, the author is seeking guidance from Jesus, it's a plea for help in getting through life in order to achieve salvation. Or that's the way I see it. The author is unknown, and the song is in the public domain.

Patsy Cline did a heart-stopping version of it.

"Just a closer walk with Thee
I am weak but Thou art strong
Jesus keep me from all wrong
I'll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee
Just a closer walk with Thee
Grant it Jesus, is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee
Let it be dear Lord, let it be
When my feeble life is over
Time for me will be no more
Guide me gently, safely over
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore
Just a closer walk with Thee
Grant it Jesus, is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee
Let it be dear Lord, let it be"

Much thanks. That is a beautiful song. Its one I always think of when I hear someone pass away. Just saw that George Kennedy passed away. Good song for a tribute to him.