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Bruce Dern Physically Attacked Because of Movie

posted 12 years ago by denise1234
14 replies | jump to latest

I remember seeing an interview with Bruce Dern that he did shortly after this movie came out, and he said that some random guy came up to him on some city street and then punched him because the guy was so upset about what he (his character) had done to John Wayne in the movie.

*Note: Just read another post on this message board and there it said that Bruce Dern on the Carson show said some old lady beat him with a cane.

The interview I saw was on the Merv Griffin show.

So...either someone isn't remembering right, Dern was attacked on multiple occasions, or his story changed with each interview he did.

"I will not go gently onto a shelf, degutted, to become a non-book." ~ Bradbury

[–] powersroc 11 years ago

I read that Bruce also received death threats due to his character killing John Wayne's character.That's rather sad to think there are such ignorant human beings who think the movie is real life.

[–] JohninVegas 11 years ago

That just shows how much John Wayne was loved back then. And to this day.

[–] chukk61-1 11 years ago

To this day I remember seeing this movie as a child. Loved it then, still love it today, but after Long Hair did the unthinkable I had a real problem w/Bruce Dern. I was too young to separate reality from fiction. I hated him most of my life...I was young, impressionable and in those days of ignorance and innocence, John Wayne was the king of all movie stars as far as I was concerned.

[–] jmillerdp 10 years ago

Dern's typical scenery chewing agitated me back then, and it still does. I think that a sociopath like his character would be more cold and calculating than being a raving, screaming lunatic.

I. Drink. Your. Milkshake! [slurp!] I DRINK IT UP! - Daniel Plainview - There Will Be Blood

[–] joekiddlouischama 10 years ago

I think that a sociopath like his character would be more cold and calculating than being a raving, screaming lunatic.

He was cold and calculating; he only became "a raving, screaming lunatic" after Wayne bloodied him, and I thought that that his acting in that scene proved naturalistic, spontaneous, and credible. The whole scene played out in that manner, elevating the film to memorable status as a result.

[–] jmillerdp 10 years ago

Thank you for your insights! I guess the bug-eyed, ranting and raving moments overwhelms some of his performances for me, and that's why I feel the way I do. He does have a lot of good, capable acting in him.

I think that "Black Sunday" worked better where, although he was portraying a psychopath, you felt that emotional tearing better.

I. Drink. Your. Milkshake! [slurp!] I DRINK IT UP! - Daniel Plainview - There Will Be Blood

[–] MystMoonstruck 10 years ago

I do know that Dern reevaluated his roles after this. He said that finding himself holding a knife to a child's throat was far different in a script than in action. He followed up by doing "Silent Running", also released in 1972.

Of course, we know that he returned to psycho territory later, particularly in "Black Sunday" (1977).

As for a film role confusing people: Denver Pyle was attacked several times after his Texas Ranger role in "Bonnie and Clyde". Oddly, Dub Taylor didn't seem to be on the receiving end of that hatred though his character helped them set up the ambush.

Even nowadays, people can't seem to separate the actor's roles and real life.

(W)hat are we without our dreams?
Making sure our fantasies
Do not overpower our realities. ~ RC

[–] joeparkson 10 years ago

Those death threats were the equivalent of an Oscar nomination.

Soy 'un hijo de la playa'

[–] johnmbaran 10 years ago

One of the reasons...if not the ONLY REASON Bruce Dern was snubbed by the Academy for his great role in "Nebraska"....the industry has a long memory...and still has little regard for him for his character shooting John Wayne in the back...

[–] hackraytex 10 years ago

This is the only John Wayne movie that I have seen once and have no desire to see again. I know it is just a movie but I did not like John Wayne's character being shot in the back. To me, John Wayne would have never turned his back on such a nut case knowing what could happen.

The one good thing I remember reading was that Bruce Dern was sickened by having to do that to John Wayne. He had grown up watching John Wayne and always wanted to work with him. he told his agent that he was through doing that character and would quit acting if he could not get some more positive roles. I am glad he got to make his career change and in most cases, he had done pretty good.

[–] rwhruska 10 years ago

Minor point, but I would disagree with you in that, Wayne knew he was going to get shot, and wanted to force Dern's character to do the cowardly thing and back shoot him.

[–] cmashieldscapting 9 years ago

Technically Andersen (Wayne) was never shot in the back. He was shot from behind after refusing to turn around when Longhair ordered him to. First in one arm, then a leg, then the other arm, then (as far as I could tell) in the chest and stomach after not so much turning around as falling facing Longhair...not the back, but, close enough.

I watched the scene again today, carefully--he was shot five times! I swear when I first saw this on TV soon after its release it was heavily edited and he was down with only one shot!

Also watched the scene of how they got rid of the bad guy, which was great. Bruce Dern is a wonderful actor who can be just a little too good.

[–] drxcreatures 8 years ago

I can't believe Dern (the actor) got so much grief from this. He was just playing a part.

http://www.cgonzales.net & http://www.drxcreatures.com

[–] McCartney42 8 years ago

Yes he was only playing a part, but some people have a difficult time separating fact from fiction.