Memorable movie scenes of great character.

Last time when I wrote about character actor John Getz and the critical role he played in one of David Cronenberg’s classic gross-out scenes, I approached it from the standpoint that Getz had an everyday kind of face in an industry filled with extraordinary-looking people. My thought at the time was that, while the faces of character actors may be “normal”, the contributions they make to our favorite movie scenes is anything but.

But today I wanted to feature the late Ted Cassidy, whose face truly defies that “everyday” classification. So that kind of blows my premise.

When it comes to character actors, Cassidy was an interesting guy because it’s quite difficult to imagine him not in character. Try to find an image of Cassidy online and you’ll come up with this guy and this thing. Indeed, Cassidy’s towering stature helped typecast him in imposing, frightening roles, and his deep voice lent itself well to voiceover work, which he provided for many different projects throughout his career. A college football and basketball star as well as a news radio reporter, Cassidy began his film career in 1960 doing voiceover work, and in ‘64 landed his signature role of Lurch on The Addams Family. Playing the part of Star Trek’s centuries-old, female voice-impersonating android Ruk came a few years later, and Cassidy would enjoy several more roles in his career though his association with Gene Roddenberry.

But for my money, Cassidy’s most memorable role is found in this scene from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in which he’s the recipient of a rather classically ignominious beatdown:

It’s a wildly entertaining scene and also happens to be packed with exposition. Think about everything we learn here:

• Not only Butch’s status as leader of the gang, but how he applies his cunning and skills in a tough situation (and this scene comes right after the opening in which we see Sundance’s reputation along the same lines)
• The deep connection between Butch and Sundance - not only through their humor (”I would, but who would bet on you?”) but their extraordinary friendship (”When this is over, and I’m dead? Kill him.” “Love to.”)
• The fact that Butch and Sundance’s lifestyles are about to be forever altered - “Things are different now, you’ve got to plan more!”
• The Hole in the Wall gang’s notoriety, and the names of all the key players
• And the setup of the film’s next major plot points in which the gang robs the train twice - which of course is the story’s main event that will propel it so effectively forward!

It’s not revolutionary for a fan of screenwriting to admire the work of William Goldman, but oh well. I’m a screenwriting dork and I love this scene so much it hurts. It’s constructed so well, shot so terrifically that it’s something I never tire of. And although the focus is obviously on Newman, it’s Cassidy who has to sell it. Butch’s triumph here could not possibly be as complete if the threat he’s facing wasn’t real, and Cassidy’s brief work as Logan is simply marvelous. Just watch how he holds himself, how he’s shot, how imposing and darkly threatening he is, despite the scene’s humor. You might suggest that it’s simple for a six-foot-nine guy holding a big knife to look threatening, but Cassidy acts the hell out of this bit in a way rarely witnessed in his work as Lurch and others.

And I’d love to know if Cassidy actually made that noise heard on the soundtrack when Logan gets kicked in the nuts. Roll the scene back and listen to it again - it’s truly something special.

Ted Cassidy died in Los Angeles in 1979 from complications following open heart surgery. You can read more about him, including some humorous Star Trek-related anecdotes, at the Trek wiki Memory Alpha.