As another Lame Cherry exclusive in matter anti matter.
I like the Twilight Zone, even if it is hokey in most episodes, but there is one episode which was the all star casts of all star casts of the best stars who would dominated cinema and television for the next 20 years.
It is the shooting of Pinto Sykes in The Grave in 1961 AD in the year of our Lord.
The cast is in a saloon and is mesmerizing, and you can see by the list of this phenomenal cast.
Lee Marvin as Conny Miller, James Best, Lee Van Cleef and Strother Martin.
Lee Marvin would be fantastic in The Dirty Dozen to the Comancheros. James Best you will remember as Roscoe P. Coltrane on The Dukes of Hazard. Lee Van Cleef was Mr. Martial Arts in starring in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Strother Martin would define roles from Paul Newman to John Wayne to Raquel Welch.
It amazes me how Stalmaster - Lister cast this cast as all were bit part actors at this stage of their careers. This is what is so interesting in they chose these actors on talent and it was that evident even then. It is so interesting to watch these actors not get "lost", as Lee Marvin is a huge presence, and yet all of these actors were this imposing that they all held their ground.
It is why Lee Van Cleef was so good with Clint Eastwood and Eli Wallach. It is why Strother Martin was never overshadowed by John Wayne. It also is a testament to comedic actor James Best in people never realized just how good of actor he was, but then on Dukes of Hazard he starred with Sorrell Brooke and Denver Pyle, along with Catherine Bach, who people never gave credit for her stage presence either.
Hollywood simply does not present talent like this any more, and it is why Hollywood is failing, as without writing talent, without actors and nothing but perversion, they are no longer telling an American story any longer.
It would be wonderful if casting directors had the same ability and talent pool which the industry once had, but that no longer is the reality. There simply can not be any one in a million casting like this again, as so many of these old programs did not have B cast, but future A list stars like the world no longer has.
agtG
