​As a writer for Filmfax Magazine, Dwayne Epstein published comprehensive articles on everyone from Bobby Darin to film director Sam Fuller. His recent biography, “Lee Marvin: Point Blank,” is a comprehensive biographical work on a very complicated actor and is consistently among the top sellers in non-fiction. The work is accessible, comprehensive, detailed and professionally paced. Quite frankly, it is a seminal piece of work by a great writer. A while back, I devoured this work on one of my favorite actors and was so impressed, I reached out to the author. Dwayne was modest, sincere and appreciative and I am so glad that he took the time to visit with us today. Ladies and gentlemen, my Q & A with Mr. Dwayne Epstein.
 
Lee Marvin was a complicated man. What made you want to tackle the subject?
 
DE: First off, let me thank you for having me as a guest on your blog as it’s very much appreciated. As to your first question, you should know that I get asked that a lot. Lee Marvin has always fascinated me. I’m a baby boomer and I grew up watching The Dirty Dozen on TV, way back when they were showing it in two parts. I can watch it now and distinctly remember when the first part would end and the second part would begin. In all of his films, he was always very distinct to me, even when he was not the leading actor. Even more so after I decided to write a book on him, and the more I found out about him. He was much more than he was on screen, obviously, just like most people are. He was a fascinating man. When I researched the book, I discovered he really was the first of his kind, I mean of the post-war actors; he pretty much created the modern America cinema of violence as we know it.   

 
 It seems my impressionable childhood was affected by these three Marvin films; “Cat Ballou,” “The Professionals,” and “Point Blank.” (I include Dirty Dozen in this as well but feel overall, that these three had more of an impact on me.) What are your top five Lee Marvin films and why? 
 
DE: I read the blog you wrote in preparation for this entry and saw almost all of my favorites on your list, you sneaky devil! Truth be told, for such a lengthy career, I think five films is too limiting, especially since his career evolved in different stages. The first stage was playing smaller roles in some great and mediocre films. Then he went a lengthy period playing major roles or second leads until his middle-aged ascent into stardom. I have favorites in all three stages of his career. 
Off the top of my head, of his early roles, I loved him in a strange little film called "Shack Out on 101" (1955). It's a Cold War thriller that practically defies description but I highly recommend it for its entertainment value alone, which cannot be overestimated. He also was wonderful in a cult western with Randolph Scott called "Seven Men From Now" (1956). The dialogue scene in the covered wagon and the film's finale is some of the best work Marvin's ever done. There's also "The Wild One" (1954), "The Big Heat" (1953), "Bad Day at Black Rock" (1955) and "Raintree County" (1957), superior films in either execution or budget in which Marvin is a true stand out in every scene he's in.
   For the mid-point in his career he was amazing in "The Comancheros" (1961), "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" (1962), "Donavan's Reef" (1963) and "The Killers" (1964). The films themselves may vary in quality but not Marvin's performances. He steals scenes from everyone around him, including the likes of Ronald Reagan, John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart.
 Once he established himself as a major star in the mid-sixties, he made a string of action films that are almost unprecedented in both their production value and his memorable performances in them. "The Professionals" (1966) is a personal favorite in that group as well as "The Dirty Dozen." Several of these films still stand the test of time no matter how old they are but even more amazing is how believable Marvin remained as a middle-aged action star. The silver hair, aged features and deep resonant voice worked for him, not against him even in the overblown musical "Paint Your Wagon "(1969), which is a favorite guilty pleasure. Of course, I must include "The Big Red One" (1980).
  Like many of the post-war actors of his generation he also gave great performances on television. One of my favorites was a dramatic special directed by John Frankenheimer called “The American” in which Marvin played Native American WWII hero Ira Hayes. He was subdued and poignant in the role and it was the only time he ever played a combat Marine, which he was in real life.
​

What is it about Lee Marvin that resonates so much with a young, male audience? 
 
DE: Interesting question as my research has shown that a few years back a poll was taken by MTV viewers who named Marvin’s character in Point Blank the fifth toughest badass of all-time. The obvious answer then to that question is that Marvin is indeed a badass and appreciated on that level. 
    Personally, I think it’s a little deeper than that. He came to stardom older than most other actors and looked it. Don’t get me wrong, he wasn’t ancient. He just looked more experienced thereby making him look more capable of what he did on screen and what he did on screen was pretty impressive. That truly resonates and it’s hardly as dated as watching a John Wayne film from the same time period. 
  I actually discovered how much he resonates with some younger audiences when I encountered a group of Orange County Gen Xer’s who called themselves the Bastard Sons Of Lee (BSOL). I was so impressed after meeting them I became a member myself. They explain their appreciation of all things Marvin pretty well in my book. 
​

In his best work, Marvin had a precision in his acting style. Do you think part of this stems from his time in the Marines and WW II?
 
DE: Absolutely! He once famously said he learned how to act by being in the Marines. He explained it offhandedly by stating that that it was a matter of learning how to act like he wasn’t scared when he truly was but obviously there was more to it than that. Being in the USMC after having been a discipline problem in school taught him how to get things done his own way while telling his C.O. what he wanted to hear. Several people who knew him well told me that. Being a Marine he also got his DNA hard wired to always show up on time no matter what transpired the night before and do your job. He was a Marine through and through.
 
There is something tragic about the end of Lee Marvin’s career. Ultimately, was it his drinking, his personal life or his choice in projects that cut short what could have been a much longer and even more brilliant career?
 
DE: My guess is a combination of all three, which is often the case in most instances. A popular sociological question poised by most historians is “Do the times make the man or does the man make the times?” Obviously the answer is probably combination of the two. Would FDR had made a great president if he didn’t have polio? I’m not putting Lee Marvin in FDR’s category of greatness but you get the point.
  As to the end of Marvin’s life, just for fun I like to theorize what he might have done had he lived a little longer, which I did as an appendix in the back of the book. 
 
I find your sections on Lee Marvin’s politics fascinating. He supported John Kennedy for President, was against the Viet Nam war and was a life-long democrat. What motivated Lee Marvin politically?
 
DE: Like most of us, his political point of view was formed early in life and was most likely a result of his upbringing. His parents were life-long Democrats as was his brother, whom I got to know fairly well. Keep in mind though, his mother Courtenay was a working woman but she was also a steel magnolia from Virginia, making her more of what used to be called a Dixiecrat. Now we call that thinking ‘Blue Dog’ Democrats. As he got older, Marvin did get a little more conservative but I doubt if he voted Republican. After Kennedy’s assassination he never spoke publicly about his politics again other than some off-handed remarks on certain issues, such as gay rights or civil rights both of which he supported.
​

How long did it take you to write this book, from idea to draft?
 
DE: Not intentionally but it took me nearly two decades! Interesting story is how I came about to take on the project, initially. Like you, I dabbled in stand-up comedy and other things while working as a waiter and doing the occasional writing gig. I’ve always been a huge Steve McQueen fan and when biographer Marshall Terrill published his book "Steve McQueen: Portrait of A Rebel," I noted some minor discrepancies. On a lark, I attempted to contact him and much to my surprise, he responded and we met for dinner.  
I guess I may have been trying to impress him because I recall that fairly early in the conversation he told me that with my knowledge of film I should write a film biography of a favorite actor myself. My sarcastic response was, "I'd like to but you already wrote it!" It did not take long for the conversation to then turn to the possibility of who I could write about. Being the movie fan that I am there were of course a plethora of choices but what narrowed the field was market considerations. Marshall had been a marketing major in college and following that had also worked in the business world. His input on that level was valuable as we ticked off a list of major stars who really had not had a definitive bio written about them. It was that marketing challenge that brought us to Lee Marvin. There had been one or two previous books on the subject but nothing that could possibly be called definitive. 
   I told him I would think about it but from that moment on, he never gave up trying to talk me into it. Despite any differences we may have had through the years, as well as my own insecurities, he has remained one of the book's biggest champions and for that I am eternally grateful.
 
 
How long did you spend on research alone?
 
DE: Not long after my conversation with Marshall, I began the initial research on the project and that was back in 1994. Believe me, had I known it would take nearly 20 years to get published, I doubt very highly if I would have pursued it. Luckily, it was a subject I did not ever tire of researching. The more I found out, the more enthused I became. It's funny in that even Lee's first wife, Betty said to me at one point, "Aren't you getting sick of Lee? I would be and I was married to the man!" 
   The reason it took so long quite simply is the fact that every major publisher I approached told me the same, thing. With all due respect to Marshall's business acumen, they all said there was no market and no one is interested in a book on Lee Marvin. 
   All that changed permanently when I switched agents for the third time. The previous agents were okay but not nearly as persistent as the late Mike Hamilburg. I should point out that even though I continued researching and cataloging information on Marvin the project was put on the back burner for a few years when I had to help my ailing parents. My father passed away from Alzheimer's in 2005 and my mother passed from heart disease three years later. When the smoke settled, I got back in contact with Mike Hamilburg, revamped my entire work up to that time to create a stronger proposal and in less than a year he had an interested publisher. I cannot say enough about either Hamilburg's belief in the project nor publisher Tim Schaffner's mission within his company Schaffner Press to put out a quality product while the rest of the publishing world thumbed their noses.
   It may have taken nearly 20 years but to my mind, it was worth it. When I'd get the inevitable rejection letters Marshall told me to keep them as reminders for when I do get published. He was right about that. In July of 2014 Lee Marvin Point Blank became the number 4 best-selling non-fiction E-book on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Publisher's Weekly bestseller lists. More importantly, it became an amazing life lesson for me by example: No matter the odds, if you believe in what you're doing, never give up on your dream!
​

Let’s back up a bit and talk about your writing career. How did you get started? 
 
DE: Well, I’ll tell you like this. I did kind of okay in school but I really seemed to excel when an assignment or a test required an essay. Not being the brightest guy when it came to recognizing my own ability, I didn't realize how many times my writing ability saved me from bad grades until I was MUCH older. As the old saying goes, sometimes it's not so much a light bulb that goes off as a whack in the back of the head with a 2x4 that does that trick.
 When I was in college, I wrote for the school paper and also entered and won several Phi Theta Kappa writing contests on campus. That proved to be the whack in the head with the 2x4. I decided to give it a try from there as a professional. I had written some freelance articles for a publisher of five local papers in New Jersey and the editor eventually hired me on staff. I enjoyed working there and learned a lot. I eventually chose to move back to California for personal reasons but there was one aspect of working at Cranbury Publications that has stayed with me to this day. One of the sales people there and I became very close and as I like to say, I was Jimmy Olson to her Lois Lane. Barbara and I have been together ever since.
  Anyway, When I came back to California, I found work on several other local papers and then began working for a gentleman named Mike Miller who ran a company called Miller Education Materials. He sold books to schools throughout the country and as his managing editor, we put together the catalog for three companies in all. I learned a lot there as well, including earning my first book publishing credit when Mr. Miller decided to branch out a little more. Unfortunately, after 9/11 the company suffered financially and I was laid off. Being a lifelong movie fan I was also freelancing for Filmfax and Outré magazines at the same time. That was where my initial research on Lee Marvin first saw the light of day.
 
When did you first get interested in the making of film and the talent it takes to make it all happen?
 
 DE: If my mother was to be believed, it started for me shortly after birth. Seriously. I have two older sisters and as was the common practice of the day, my parents would wrangle us all into the station wagon and got to the drive-in on a hot night so the kids would all eventually fall asleep. According to my mother, both of my sisters — two and six years older than I — would be fast asleep in about twenty minutes while I, no more than a few months old, would continue to stare at the lights coming off the screen through the entire double feature. I found that hard to believe but my mother assured me it was the truth.
 My love of films came largely from her, as she was a big movie fan when she was growing up. She would wake me up in the middle of the night if a good movie were on, even if it were a school night. 
   Some times her efforts would back fire, though. I remember once when I was about nine or ten years old. I was doing something terrible and she decided to use psychology on me instead of punishing me as usual. "Angels with Dirty Faces" was on TV that day and she forced me to watch it from beginning to end. Without ruining the ending, she asked me afterwards, “Did you learn your lesson about being a bad boy?” I turned away from the TV, wiped the tears from my eyes and said to her, “Yeah, I learned a lesson. James Cagney is great!” Been a Cagney fan ever since. Thanks, Ma! 
 
You’ve worked and continue to work for a series of film magazines. What is your attraction to motion pictures and film criticism?
 
DE: It was just a natural progression from my original fascination. What aided me immensely was growing up in the 1970s, a time of intense interest in filmmaking in general. For example, I have a vivid memory of watching Richard Schickel's PBS series, "The Men Who Made the Movies," back in the 70s when I was VERY young. Up until then, I never even gave much consideration to the importance of the director to a film and the concept changed my thinking, dramatically. In fact, some of the subjects in Schickel's series, such as Raoul Walsh and Bill Wellman, proved even more fascinating than the films they made!
An even greater example of early influences is a series of books put out by Citadel Press entitled "The Films of..."The entire series (each title of interest of varying quality) was a revelation to this young starstruck movie fan. Imagine for a moment you're looking for any well-illustrated information on the stars, genres, and periods of filmmaking that you love, long before the days of the internet, and you stumble up such a rack at the local mall's bookstore.
  I was so bold at such a young age, I even went so far as to write the publisher and ask if I could write a book called "The Films of Steve McQueen." I was politely told that one was in the works but thanks for the offer. They were right, of course. One did come out...about ten years later.
   The existing titles varied in quality, as I said, but I noticed the same very prolific writer authored several of the best. His name was Tony Thomas and for reasons I can no longer recall, I was fortunate to meet up with him in his home in southern California.
  I was extremely impressed with his kind demeanor, countless soundtracks shelved on the wall (many produced by him!) and his amazing patience with me. In fact, He simply handed me several soundtracks as we spoke and signed them all! I still have them. He signed the soundtrack to Robin Hood, “To Dwayne, a kindred Spirit.” What he wrote remains a treasured possession. I wonder if anybody does that kind of thing any more.
 
 
12. What is your education?
 
DE: Public schools in both New York and California as I was growing up. Following that, I was a Liberal Arts major and was also Phi Theta Kappa when I attended Mercer County Community College in New Jersey. Even though it was a community college there were some wonderful teachers there I remember with great fondness. I had planned to go on to Rutgers but as John Lennon said, life is what happens while your busy making other plans, such as having to pay bills and the like. 
   I guess what I’m trying to say is that my formal higher education is rather abbreviated but the experience I’ve garnered outside of school is quite plentiful. A friend of mine, Bill Krohn, is a wonderful cinema historian, having written book on everyone from Luis Bunuel to Alfred Hitchcock and he paid me a wonderful compliment. He said, “You may not have gone to Harvard, like I did, but you are a serious self-taught film historian.”
​

What’s next for you? 

DE: To tell you the truth, ever since my agent passed away in 2016 my writing career has being lying kind of fallow. I still get the occasional freelance gig via the likes of Emmy.com, which I love. I also maintain a blog on Lee Marvin to continue to boost sales, as it’s pretty amazing how much Lee Marvin remains in the media. However, the bigger projects I’d like to do haven’t quite come together yet but they are definitely in the pipeline and there may be news on that front very soon. Keep your fingers crossed!

Thank you, Dwayne!

What a fantastic visit and what a terrific book. Folks, I urge you to go out and purchase a copy of this book. It is available at all of your favorite bookstores and, of course, on Amazon. There's a link here...www.amazon.com/dp/B00B0SAF3S/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_Z6tyDbVKS2FEF

I am very pleased to announce that Dwayne Epstein, author of “Lee Marvin: Point Blank,” will be joining me next Sunday, August 25 on jplinde.com for a very special interview. You won’t want to miss this one!
 
Dwayne has written for Filmfax Magazine, with comprehensive articles on everyone from Bobby Darin to film director Sam Fuller. His biography “Lee Marvin: Point Blank,” is one of the most comprehensive biographical works of one of the most under-appreciated actors of his generation. His bestselling biography is consistently among the top ten lists in non-fiction. This work is accessible, comprehensive, detailed and professionally paced. Quite frankly, it is a seminal piece of work by a great writer. I devoured this work on one of my favorite actors and was so impressed, I reached out.  

Praise for “Lee Marvin; Point Blank.”
LEONARD MALTIN
 
"Dwayne Epstein has courageously updated the Marvin file with an archive of interviews and research that encompasses a life lived large on the world stage, surging like a Hollywood epic across continents and filled with a cast of the famous and infamous."

See you all next week!

​Just wanted to give a shout out for the great comments on my little salute to Dean Martin as Matt Helm. There were a lot of comments, most of them anti Dino as Matt Helm, but still a heck of a lot of fun. Good or bad comments, it is great to hear from you.
 
Confession: Having just watched and thoroughly enjoyed Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” I decided to sit down and attempt watch Matt Helm’s last film adventure, “The Wrecking Crew.” I only made it an hour in before I couldn’t subject myself to it any further. Any of the fun, in any of the other films, is gone and the 55-year old Dino smirk seems more creepy than sexy. No wonder they decided not to make the next one.
 
What have you been reading, writing and watching? There are a lot of choices out there so stay safe. For my part, I’ve been busy in my never-ending attempt to fill my head with creative content from other writers/producers and directors.
 
Thanks to our little visit with Mark Verheiden, I am re-watching the entire seasons of “Battlestar Galactica.” I have just concluded the mini-series and episode one. All of these first episodes, written of course, by Ronald D. Moore. For those of you asleep for the last few decades, Moore cut his teeth on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” moved onto “Deep Space 9” and “Voyager,” before taking on Battlestar. His sense of story is nothing short of mesmerizing and he deserves all the praise he gets. I am very much looking forward to moving onto “Outlander.” Very soon, I will get to the Mark V material. I can’t wait. Mark is worth the wait.

​I also just finished re-watching “2010: The Year We Make Contact,” written, produced, directed and photographed by Peter Hyams. Stepping into Stanley Kubrick’s legendary shoes was no easy task, and Hyams does a respectful job in taking an original story that left plenty of questions (intentionally, I might add), and crafting a sequel that is dramatic, exciting and takes the time and trouble to answer a few lingering questions along the way. If you have not read the director’s book on his correspondence with famed author Arthur C Clark, “The Odyssey File” do so. It’s highly recommended. Long out of print, but worth searching out.

​Another gem, recently rediscovered, thanks to TCM, is a very small but entertaining film titled, “The Rounders,” with Glenn Ford, Henry Fonda and Chill Willis, directed by Burt Kennedy (“Support your local Sheriff”). While not much on plot, the two performances by two outstanding actors in rare comedic roles, is well worth the ninety minute running time.

​And last, but never least, “The Killers” starring Edmond O’ Brian and introducing to the big screen, Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner. Directed by Robert Siodmak, the film is based on the 1927 short story by none other than Ernest Hemmingway.  An uncredited John Huston and Richard Brooks co-wrote the screenplay, which was credited to Anthony Veiler. Later remade into a theatrical release with Lee Marvin, John Cassavettes, Angie Dickinson and, of all people Ronald Reagan. Watch the Swede get mixed up with Kitty Collins and a very bad crowd. Witness a bad-ass William Conrad terrorize a small-town diner looking for the Swede. This movie has it all and is worth seeking out. I’ve seen it at least ten times and it never gets old. 
 
In the words of the immortal Paul Harvey, “Until next time, America. This is J.P. Linde. Good day!”

A big thank you to all the new visitors to jplinde.com. It’s a amazing what a little Lee Marvin will do for viewership.  Stay tuned. Our special guest is just around the corner. I’ll be announcing the identity very soon so stay right where you are and don’t do anything. I have also enjoyed all the comments regarding my Showtime appearances of 1988. So far, the winner and champion appears to be “You look just like David Coulier (Joey) from “Full House.” Ah, the eighties, right? The runner up was just as good, “You don’t sound like that.” No, that is actually the voice from David Coulier.  I fooled all of you. Keep those e-cards and emails coming.
 
In honor of Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon A Time in Hollywood” a quick look back at what some consider the best, worst spy film series of all time! High praise indeed. So, hang onto your slicked back, black oily hair. Here are the top five Dean Martin Matt Helms movies.  BTW, they are the only Matt Helm movies and, as for top five...  there are only four.

“The Silencers.” 1966. Directed by Phil Karlson. A top film of 1966 with 50 year old Dino clearing more money than Sean Connery did for “Thunderball.”
​
“Talk about a booby trap. That's a crazy holster.”

​“Murderers Row.” 1966. Henry Levin. Made the same year as Silencers, this follow-up co-stars Karl Malden as the super villain (ho hum), Ann Margaret as the scientist’s swinging daughter and Dino, Desi and Billy as themselves. (Guess which scene I borrowed for "Son of  Ravage").
 
“What a way to finish. For a guy that drank booze all his life to end up like a milkshake.”

​The Ambushers.” 1967. Henry Levin. The last appearance of James Gregory as McDonald. Thank goodness he moved onto television and “Barney Miller.” This movie has everything, including a flying saucer and a magnetic gun that is perfect for unzipping.  Filmed in location in Mexico.
 
“I believe the expression is, eh, 'Silence, Yankee dog', eh?”

​ 
The Wrecking Crew.” Notable for being the last film of Sharon Tate and fight scenes choreographed by Bruce Lee. One final Matt Helm film, “The Ravagers” was announced at the end credits. However, Dino declined in favor of 18 holes of golf. Coincidentally, the making of one of these films takes roughly the same amount of time.
 
“I know what you're after, and... I like the way you're going about it.”

"Skoal!
Of course, it's skoal. There's ice in it."

Cheers!

​Another week, another blog post. For all of those interested in blackmailing me, videos of my 1988 performance on “Comedy Club Network” have just become available on Amazon Prime. Originally part of Showtime, each show features comedians such as Adam Sandler, Rosie O’ Donnell, Tim Allen, and, of course, me. Most performers went on to greater things. Some of us remained behind to sweep up. I appeared in Season 2, Episode 7 and 8. I believe there is one more episode, but I have not found it yet. The episodes are free if you have Amazon Prime or .99 cents per. You can also purchase a whole season for a song. Spoiler: There is a chicken McNuggets joke. What can I say, the classics never grow old.
 
We still have some “Son of Ravage” Tanktop tees available for sale. Supplies are limited so leave a note if you are interested. The cost is $20.00.
 
Moving on:

I have decided it was high time to rank my five favorite Lee Marvin films of all time. Sounds random, right? Not really. We have a very special guest coming very soon to jplinde.com and I want to be ready. Besides, I think it is high-time we give this under-appreciated actor his due.

For a little history, Marvin was one of the top action stars of the sixties, cutting his teeth in early television and films as either a sadistic killer or hard-boiled cop. Among his early television roles are Dragnet with Jack Webb, Wagon Train and his own show, “M Squad.” Moving to film, he made quite an impression in “The Big Heat,” “The Comancheros” and John Ford’s “The Man Who Shot Liberty Vallance.” Marvin was a decorated marine serving with distinction in the Pacific Theatre in World War II and one of my favorite action stars of all time. 

Cat Ballou. 1965. Directed by Elliot Silverstein. 

My first Lee Marvin film at ten years old. The gusto of his comedic performance of Kid Shelleen is something to behold. Marvin won an Academy Award for this performance and it is well deserved. I can’t think of a better way to be introduced to an actor with such a broad range of talent.
 
Kid Sheleen:
Yeah, it's all over in Dodge, Tombstone, too, Cheyenne, Deadwood, all gone, all dead and gone. Why, the last time I came through Tombstone, the big excitement there was about the new rollerskate rink that they had laid out over the O.K. Corral. I'll tell you something else, I used to work for the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show and a Congress of Rough Riders. And I rescued many stagecoach passengers from road agents and drunkard injuns... in the nick of time! Twice a day, three times on Saturday.

The Dirty Dozen 1967 Robert Aldrich

​This film is unlucky as it is placed near the bottom because the other films in the list are so damn good. A great war film, if not a bit overlong. The great softcore king Russ Meyer always insisted in interviews that the idea for the film did not come from the author of the book of the same name. But that it came from him and a story he heard while serving in WW II.
 

The Professionals 1966 Richard Brooks. 
 
This is one of my top action films of all time. Who needs a dozen soldiers when you can get it all done with four. A brilliant film and one of the top box office pictures of the year. All of the actors in this film give top-notch performances and it never gets old.

​J.W. Grant:
You bastard.

Rico:
Yes sir. In my case an accident of birth. But you, you're a self-made man.

 
Point Blank 1967 John Boorman
 
This could have been the winner if not for the film below. Point Blank is eerie, moody, violent, dream-like and the performance of Marvin is stellar as a criminal hell-bent for revenge. This is one of Boorman’s finest films and I return to it regularly for the other worldly atmosphere. An incredible support cast featuring Angie Dickenson, John Vernon and Carroll  O’ Conner.
 

Monte Walsh 1969 William A, Fraker
 
Yep, Number One is a film most people do not even know about. Funny, subtle, and bittersweet are not attributes one commonly associates to a Lee Marvin film. This western concerns the end of the cowboy life and Marvin is extraordinary in the title role of Monte Walsh. Jack Palance, Marvin’s co-star in “The Professionals” is outstanding as Walsh's long- time friend.  This film is a must-see for Marvin fans.

Monte Walsh : Cowboys don't get married, unless they stop being cowboys.

That was fun and be sure and stay tuned for more concerning Lee Marvin!