Bruce Dern: The Ultimate Villian

I sat down today and watched The Cowboys from start to finish, and without a doubt this is John's best film. But if there was ever a performance for a villain that crawled into viewers heads, it would be Bruce playing Long Hair. I'm wondering how much of the sociopath character interpretation Bruce brought into the creation of this character. The lecture Long Hair gives the boy with the glasses that he pulls off the horse is insidious.

I was reading over some of the board comments from people that were discussing the death threats and physical attacks Bruce received (or alleged to receive). I watched this film in the theater when I was 12, and if Bruce would've walked into the theater two thirds into the film, the audience would have hanged him. Meanness on film was taken to a whole different level. It's what Bruce will be remembered for.

And shooting John Wayne in the back was beyond words for the audience as well.