Author Topic: Lee Van Cleef Movies  (Read 28877 times)

Offline Frank Dalton

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Lee Van Cleef Movies
« on: July 04, 2005, 09:38:13 AM »
For the long holiday weekend, I bought several western dvd's to watch, including a trio starring Lee Van Cleef.

I had never heard of any of them, but they came as a set called "The Spaghetti Westerns Collection". The three movie titles included are "Death Rides a Horse", "Kid Vengeance" and "God's Gun".

I like Lee as an actor, especially in westerns. He always seemed to be the most believeable character in the movies that he co-starred in with Clint Eastwood, and I wondered if these would be any good.

I've watched "Death Rides a Horse" and recognize many of the Italian actors from the "Dollars" series. The movie reminds me of the short you would see before the real movie, only it has had scenes added to make it longer. The story-line was fine though predictable, most of the acting was good, but as I said earlier the scenes added in to make the film longer only caused it to be a little dis-jointed.

You could tell it was trying to be an arty, Italian film while including western reallism. Lee's character was not unlike some of his other roles, and he played it well. The movie also features John Phillip Law.

I give it 2 ½ out of four bullets, due to the editing, but would still recommend it for Lee Van Cleef fans to see at least once.

Reviews of the other two will follow.
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Offline Whiptail Moses

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Re: Lee Van Cleef Movies
« Reply #1 on: July 04, 2005, 10:54:04 PM »
thanks!

That one has been on my list.  You cant go wrong with van cleef.


... actually you can, and horribly so, but its rarely his fault  ;D
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Offline Trinity

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Re: Lee Van Cleef Movies
« Reply #2 on: July 13, 2005, 09:34:01 PM »
I've always liked this movie, but thought John Phillip Law's acting was just a little over the top.  ::)
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Re: Lee Van Cleef Movies
« Reply #3 on: Today at 07:30:28 AM »

Offline The Elderly Kid

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Re: Lee Van Cleef Movies
« Reply #3 on: February 05, 2006, 04:51:18 PM »
Does anyone know the name of the Van Cleef film where he wore a wolfskin coat? I remember nothing else about it, but that was one fine-looking garment. Some Van Cleef trivia: He was offerred the role that Lloyd Bridges eventually played in "High Noon" but the producer said he'd have to get his nose fixed and he refused. As for the acting being over the top, it had to be a little broad because those movies were filmed without sound. All the sound and dialogue were dubbed in later. This way multinational European casts could speak their own language. Van Cleef said the noise and uproar on an Italian set drove him crazy. He was used to the tomblike silence of a Hollywood set. But he loved the Spanish horses, which were spirited steeds, not the docile nags used in American films.

Offline Russ T Chambers

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Re: Lee Van Cleef Movies
« Reply #4 on: February 06, 2006, 12:01:43 PM »
Does anyone know the name of the Van Cleef film where he wore a wolfskin coat? I remember nothing else about it, but that was one fine-looking garment. Some Van Cleef trivia: He was offerred the role that Lloyd Bridges eventually played in "High Noon" but the producer said he'd have to get his nose fixed and he refused. As for the acting being over the top, it had to be a little broad because those movies were filmed without sound. All the sound and dialogue were dubbed in later. This way multinational European casts could speak their own language. Van Cleef said the noise and uproar on an Italian set drove him crazy. He was used to the tomblike silence of a Hollywood set. But he loved the Spanish horses, which were spirited steeds, not the docile nags used in American films.

I don’t recall the name of the movie with the wolf skin coat, but I think the horses you are referring to are the Andalusian.  It has a way of carrying its head, and a gait that is pure pleasure to watch. :) ;D   However, I would definitely not refer to the horses used in American films as “docile nags”!!!!!  :o
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Offline The Elderly Kid

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Re: Lee Van Cleef Movies
« Reply #5 on: February 06, 2006, 09:35:59 PM »
Guess Van Cleef had high standards for spirited horses. Maybe he didn't actually say "docile nags," it's been many years since I read that interview, but he definitely said that the Spanish steeds were far more challenging than the Hollywood variety, and that was how he liked them.

Offline Frank Dalton

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Re: Lee Van Cleef Movies
« Reply #6 on: April 08, 2006, 08:06:19 PM »
Well I did watch the other movies and they were not up to the standard of "Death Rides a Horse". Still, all in all, if you're craving some spaghetti, try them out.
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Offline Coop Trawlaine

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Re: Lee Van Cleef Movies
« Reply #7 on: April 09, 2006, 08:45:51 PM »
Personally I always preferred him playing the heavy in all the old "B" Westerns,,,and he was in a whole bunch of them.
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Offline Free Hand

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Re: Lee Van Cleef Movies
« Reply #8 on: November 24, 2006, 12:09:37 PM »
My favorite Van Cleef role was Col. Mortimer in For a Few Dollars More ; didn't noticed until The Good, Tne Bad, and The Ugly that h'es missing a part of one finger, or was that a stand in? Seem to me he also did a short lived TV ninja series, Called "The Master", as I recall. It was pretty good, except for the infernal surfer style background music. Anyone recall it?
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Offline Yankee John

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Re: Lee Van Cleef Movies
« Reply #9 on: November 24, 2006, 08:16:55 PM »
Lee was also in "Escape from New York" with Kurt Russell, Donald Pleasance, Isaac Hayes, and Adrianne Barbeau (Oh yeah!). 

Even though it wasn't a Western- It was classic Lee Van Cleef!

John

Offline Trinity

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Re: Lee Van Cleef Movies
« Reply #10 on: December 03, 2006, 12:35:04 PM »
My favorite Van Cleef role was Col. Mortimer in For a Few Dollars More ; didn't noticed until The Good, Tne Bad, and The Ugly that h'es missing a part of one finger, or was that a stand in? Seem to me he also did a short lived TV ninja series, Called "The Master", as I recall. It was pretty good, except for the infernal surfer style background music. Anyone recall it?


Tom

Lee Van Cleef was an accoutant after the war.  I'd hate to have to tangle with him after running costs up!  He lost the bit of finger in a woodworking accident.
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Offline Free Hand

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Re: Lee Van Cleef Movies
« Reply #11 on: December 04, 2006, 09:13:01 AM »
Thanks Trinity, don't know why, but every time I watched GBU it got me to wondering if that was really his hand or not since I hadn't noticed it before. Much obliged.
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Offline Riot Earp

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Re: Lee Van Cleef Movies
« Reply #12 on: March 31, 2007, 01:23:37 PM »
Yes, he was building a playhouse (or something similar) for his daughter and uh ... missed.

Offline Cyrille

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Re: Lee Van Cleef Movies
« Reply #13 on: March 31, 2007, 02:18:37 PM »
He also played one of Lee Marvin's 'sidekicks' in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance! one of the best JW and JS westerns IMHO.
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Offline Judge Roy Bean

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Re: Lee Van Cleef Movies
« Reply #14 on: April 01, 2007, 04:16:37 PM »
Did he not have something wrong with one of his legs, an old war wound?
You notice more in the graveyard  shoot out iGBA.
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Offline Trinity

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Re: Lee Van Cleef Movies
« Reply #15 on: April 09, 2007, 09:05:41 PM »
Did he not have something wrong with one of his legs, an old war wound?
You notice more in the graveyard  shoot out iGBA.

I pulled that disc out to watch it a few months back and misplaced it. ::)  Now I must find it to see what you're talkin' about. 
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Offline The Elderly Kid

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Re: Lee Van Cleef Movies
« Reply #16 on: April 10, 2007, 11:37:40 AM »
Does anyone else remember Lee playing a Mongol in "The Conqueror" with John Wayne as Genghis Khan? At least he could look the part. It was one of the most hilariously awful films ever to come out of Hollywood. Even the Duke could strike out. It may have also contributed to the deaths of many cast and crew members. It was filmed directly downwind from a nuclear test site in Nevada and everyone involved remembered how dusty the location was. Many, including Wayne, eventually suffered and/or died from cancer.

Offline Cyrille

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Re: Lee Van Cleef Movies
« Reply #17 on: April 10, 2007, 11:46:01 AM »
That seems to be the accepted theory. However I've also heard that the very sand in the area of where the filming was taking place was impregnated with nucular matter. Score another one for "Big Brother!"
CYRILLE...  R.A.T. #242
"Never apologize Mr.; it's a sign of weakness."
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Offline Texas Lawdog

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Re: Lee Van Cleef Movies
« Reply #18 on: January 22, 2009, 07:11:57 PM »
The Movie where Lee Van Cleef was wearing that jacket was "Captain Apache" made in 1971.
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Offline Trinity

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Re: Lee Van Cleef Movies
« Reply #19 on: January 22, 2009, 07:58:33 PM »
What jacket? 

Never mind.  I looked back and read the question from 2006.  Better late than never, I guess. :D

Just the mention of that movie should be saved for the "worst movie" thread.  Heck, maybe we should make a "Worst Theme Music" thread.  LVC sung that theme song. :P :P :P :D
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