Fortunately for the movie, Bronson already had committed to “The Dirty Dozen,” a movie that’s impossible to imagine without Bronson. It’s impossible to imagine the movie without Van Cleef, but Leone originally wanted to cast Charles Bronson in the role. Directed by Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone and shot partially in Rome (hence the “spaghetti” genre), the film revitalized the cowboy picture at a time when most of Hollywood thought its time had passed.Īngel Eyes is a brutal assassin who faces down Tuco (Wallach) and Eastwood (the “Man With No Name”) in the movie’s final showdown. Van Cleef stars as “the Bad” alongside Clint Eastwood (“the Good”) and Eli Wallach (“the Ugly”) in the masterpiece of the spaghetti western genre. Lee Van Cleef as Angel Eyes in 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.' (United Artists) Lee Van Cleef as Angel Eyes in ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’ (1966) Hayden was promoted to captain and awarded the Silver Star before war’s end.

Recruited by William “Wild Bill” Donovan for the unit that became the Office of Strategic Services, Hamilton/Hayden parachuted behind enemy lines in Europe.

Hayden enlisted in the Marine Corps under a false name, John Hamilton, and was recommended for Officer Candidate School. After breaking his ankle during training, he was discharged. He made two films before Pearl Harbor and then enlisted in the Army. Paramount saw a photo of the handsome captain and offered him a screen test. He dropped out of high school at age 16 and went to sea, working his way up to captain by age 22. Hayden’s military career is perhaps even more colorful than his movie credits. He offers some critical advice, saying, “Now, I don't avoid women, Mandrake, but I do deny them my essence!’’ He warned us of the dangers of fluoride and the importance of not spilling our precious bodily fluids. Ripper was paranoid about the Communists and all the subversive ways they were going to destroy America. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb,” Sterling Hayden had aged out of his matinee-idol good looks into a craggy, slightly menacing character actor.īrig.

Strangelove.' (Columbia Pictures)īy the time he starred in director Stanley Kubrick’s black comedy “Dr.

World war ii navy movies