When Balsam accepted his Best Supporting Actor Oscar for 1965's "A Thousand Clowns," he was wearing his "Mendez moustache" as he was making Hombre in 1966...for 1967 release.
It was a good few years for Balsam. He'd been good in some late fifties movies like "12 Angry Men." The blockbuster "Psycho" put him on the movie map for the entire sixties, and he did quite well in the first half(Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Carpetbaggers, Seven Days in May.)
Thanks to the Oscar for "A Thousand Clowns," Balsam was important enough to get this billing in "Hombre":
"...and Martin Balsam as Mendez."
Given that Newman, March, Boone and Cilento had above the title billing, Balsam got his "special slot,' too.
This is also a throwback to a time when non-Hispanic actors were allowed to play Hispanic roles. Same goes for Eli Wallach as the flamboyant bandit leader in The Magnificent Seven. Oh, well...acting used to be ...acting.
Mendez is sort of the conscience to Newman's stoic, stone-faced deadpan John Russell...trying to move him back into white society while at the same time acknowledging that his own role is limited there. I like how he TRIES to help Newman in the gun showdown with the Mexican bandito...but really lacks the guts and temperament. He allows Boone to bully him even before Boone is revealed as a hold up man. He knows his limitations.
Mainly, Martin Balsam as Mendez is the kind of amiable, relateable character that our best character guys and gals play. Newman's got the lead, but Balsam is OUR connection to the story.
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BeaSouth (3311)
5 years ago
I didn’t see where Mendez allowed Boone to bully him. Seemed to me that during their lone interaction about taking the different road, Mendez walked up to him and looked him in the eye man-to-man. Mendez was clearly not great with the shotgun but he never showed any fear in the movie. He was a reasonable, practical male character
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ecarle (14979)
5 years ago
I didn’t see where Mendez allowed Boone to bully him. Seemed to me that during their lone interaction about taking the different road, Mendez walked up to him and looked him in the eye man-to-man. Mendez was clearly not great with the shotgun but he never showed any fear in the movie. He was a reasonable, practical male character.
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I will take that point, on further reflection. I am easily persuaded, and suddenly i am remembering how, when Boone and his men HAVE pulled their guns and are holding up the stagecoach, Balsam walks right up to him to tell him he will never get away with it. A gutsy move.
I suppose my comments on the shotgun scene reflect Balsam's simply not having the skill or experience with killing people that Newman has.
And the "bullying" by Boone of Balsam in that early scene is perhaps more on Boone's part, when he says something like "I'm not talking to (March.) I'm talking to YOU" about the route choice. Asserting himself AS a bully. Balsam indeed stands up to it, as best he can.
I do very much like Balsam's performance and his character in Hombre.
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BeaSouth (3311)
5 years ago
Balsam was great and I liked the character the moment he spoke his first lines. I love a character who knows he has limits but still has to find the courage to do something as best he can. You just knew he wasn’t going to be effective in the gun fight because he really didn’t want to be effective. Anyway, I should have paid you a compliment for your summary of the character and the historical anecdote from 1965. That was great stuff
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