KURT RUSSELL and LANCE HENRIKSEN:
An 80's Retrospective
“Kurt v. Lance? You've got some attitude, mister!" To film cultists there's no argument: Henriksen's, name sets film-geeks mouths a foaming with analytical frenzy: the man starred in, ALIENS, ultra cool, vampire hit, NEAR DARK, underground horror-hit, PUMPKINHEAD,was the original inspiration for, THE TERMINATOR, and JEEPERS CREEPERS characters respectively and starred in more obscure, but by no means less important, cult classics the likes the average cinema-goer now neglects: notably as, Abraham Lincoln, in, THE DAY LINCOLN WAS SHOT and Victor Salva's evocative, albino drama, POWDER.
Although the actor has been absent from the big screen of late, he may be more recognisable for his contribution to video-games: such as the role of, Molov in first-person shooter, “Red Faction 2”, Vice Admiral Steven Hackett in, “Mass Effect 3”, Rook in “Aliens: Colonial Marines” and most famously as, General Shepherd in, “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2”.
It's true of the pair that, Russell, has scaled the heights of fame with much greater rapidity. What with big-budget credits like: TANGO AND CASH, TEQUILA SUNRISE, BACKDRAFT and SKY HIGHits a wonder why anyone doubts this man's credibility. But in all seriousness we're not interested in piddly, generic, Hollywood fodder. What really matters here are his interesting choice of cult classic appearances in a decade that essentially defined the actor's career with such credits as: ELVIS, SILKWOOD, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, THE THING, OVERBOARD, THE BEST OF TIMES, USED CARS and BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA
Of the two, Russell, is the veteran. In fact it may surprise some of you to read that, Russell, belongs to the ranks of, “childhood stars most notably NOT fucked up!”.
His most famous appearance as a child-actor dates all the way back to 1962's, IT HAPPENED AT THE WORLDS FAIR, as the boy who kicked, Mike. Small beginnings but steady television appearances thereafter in the television series,THE FUGITIVE, an episode of, LOST IN SPACE,and numerous exploits on, THE TRAVELS OF JAIMIE McCPHEETERS, secured the bright young star a steady place in the limelight as someone to watch.
Other shots on, DANIEL BOONE and THEN CAME BRONSON, kept the actor in penny-candy and Moonpies until what appeared to be a break – a ten year, Disney, contract to appear as precocious high-schooler, Dexter Reilly in, THE COMPUTER WORE TENNIS SHOES, NOW YOU SEE HIM NOW YOU DON'T and THE STRONGEST MAN IN THE WORLD. Not to mention a clutch of lesser known entities: THE HORSE IN THE GRAY FLANNEL SUITand THE BAREFOOT EXECUTIVE: that found the actor joining the ranks of the likes of, Clint Eastwood, for his performance alongside a chimpanzee.
But as the most successful and profitable actor working with the, Walt Disney Company, the actor was quickly typecast as a one-dimensional dough-eyed, perma-grinned farm boy and his career began to stagnate.
Alternatively to, Russell, Henriksen's, career got off to a rather late start in comparison but felt the weighted pressure of an equally frustrating transition to serious leading man. Hard to imagine considering the great man was a graduate of the same school as other cinema icons, DeNiro, Hoffman and Poitier.
Despite his tenure at the prestigious, Actor's Studio behind him the actor didn't come anywhere near the silver-screen until he was in his early thirties. Making $5.00 a day as an extra and learning to read using movie scripts in-between constructing the sets for films he was involved in. 1975 would be the year, however, when the actor's gruelling schedule of demeaning acting work would finally pay off with a small part as, Agent Murphy in,DOG DAY AFTERNOON. The film was about a man who robs a bank to pay for his lover's sex change operation. Starring fellow, Actor's Studio, alumni, Al Pacino it launched the future, SCARFACEactor's career but did very little for, Henriksen. What would follow would be almost ten years of tribulation with small parts the likes of, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, THE OMEN 2, NETWORK and then rookie, James Cameron's début, PIRHANNA 2: THE SPAWNING. (Cameron vehemently refused to acknowledge, Piranha’s, existence for almost 20 years until finally in 2010 in a segment with, 60 MINUTES).
Despite this, the actor's dogged determination with roles no matter how frivolous was a quality that would lend itself to the roles he portrayed on-screen. Purveying them with gravitas and discipline that would foster reliability within the industry and later come to define his exemplary career.
Henriksen, came achingly close to achieving that big-break in, 1984, with, James Cameron's, seminal hit, THE TERMINATOR, for which the title role was written expressly with the actor in mind.
Cameron had envisioned the role of the cybernetic assassin as one who could easily disappear into a crowd without suspicion. The director saw the killer-robot as physically much like a snake; able to spring its lithe form into an attack quickly and effectively. The director even went as far to complete numerous works of concept-art illustrating the robot with, Henriksen's, viasge. But after a meeting with then, Hollywood joke, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Cameron was won-over by the, Austrian Oak's ideas for the eponymous, Terminator (initially, Schwarzenegger, was in talks to lock-down, Michael Biehn's, famous, futuristic freedom-fighter, Kyle Reese) impressing on the director a complete overhaul in terms of the physical portrayal and manner of the insidious cyborg.
As it goes, Arnie, took instead the role that would make him a star and relegated, Henriksen to the tiny supporting role of, Detective Hal Vokovich -- of whom gets shot to death by the muscle-bound mass-murder later in the film.
Just as, Henriksen's, career was being cut-short, Russell's was not only feeling a second lease but a complete turn-around in terms of his on-screen persona.
By, 1984, Russell had already appeared in, John Carpenter's, 1978 tv-movie, ELVIS, (a role he would later reprise twice more in, FORREST GUMPand 3000 MILES TO GRACELAND). The actor was nominated for an, Emmy for his portrayal of the king of rock n' roll and also struck up a close friendship with the horror icon himself. Russell branched out to more adult comedy with 1980's hilarious, USED CARS, about a ham-fisted used car salesman trying desperately to raise enough fast-cash to run for state senate. And the role of, Drew Stephens in the excellent, SILKWOOD -- which landed him a nomination for a Golden Globe and starred him alongside the indomitable, Meryl Streep.
But it was, 1981's, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, that won him most praise amongst genre fans and film-buffs alike -- finally shaking-off the, Disney-curse, that had trailed him so relentlessly.
In the film the future of 1997, has long since eroded through a spiralling crime-rate and the entire populous of its offending criminals housed in a massive district-wide prison containing the whole of, Manhattan. When the, President's, plane crashes within the mazing architecture of the prison it's up to, Russell's, ex-spec. Ops soldier turned baddie, Snake Plisken, to enter, Manhattan and save the, Commander-In-Chief.
Russell beefed up for the part and in stark contrast to his golden-boy looks of the 70's became an instant 80's icon for gritty realism as the darkly gruff, unshaven and ill-tempered, anti-hero. The performance didn't win him any awards but critics were baffled and awed at the change in the actor's countenance.
Likewise, Henriksen's, sticktoitiveness was also finally paying off. When in 1986, Cameron, made amends and reconciled him a role he wrote specifically for his sequel to, Ridley Scott's revisionist inter-stellar horror, ALIEN.
Bishop, the, Weyland-Yutani android accompanying, Ripley and the, Space-Marines to the now terraformed planet of, LV-426 in, ALIENS,was tailor-made for the actor's frank demeanour. He would later reprise the role for so-so sequel,ALIEN 3 and even portrayed one half of the nefarious, Weyland-Yutani group's founders, Charles Bishop Weyland. The roles brought, Henriksen, a welcome amount of exposure to the general movie-going audience and garnered him notice from director, Kathryn Bigelow, who was scouting for 1987's, ulrta-cool, genre bending,NEAR DARK.
Budding director and screenwriter, Bigelow and Eric Red had formed ranks in the '80's to reinvent a modern cinematic genre – specifically the western -- but with the studio reluctant to pony up the dough both film-makers were advised on combining one genre with another already popular one to increase confidence in the pair.
Considering the success of, FRIGHT NIGHT andTHE LOST BOYS, proving so fortuitous: launching the careers of many of its stars and directors and the growing trend and renewed interest, Vampire, films were experiencing, the studio seemed adamant the pair pursue that. With, Bigelow, looking for an older up-and-coming talent for the role of grizzled, charismatic, vampire clan figurehead, Jesse, Cameron suggested using the ready-made cast from, Aliens, which included the versatile, Henriksen, Bill Paxton and Janette Goldstein. (Michael Biehn was also offered a part but declined any involvement).
Because much of the film would take place in wide expanses of desert, to relieve long bouts of boredom and heat between takes, Henriksen would often take short drives through the rolling dunes -- this while still in full costume and remaining very much in the intimidating character of, Jesse. In fact the actor proved so convincing in his role as the vamp-hick that once, while out on one of those sojourns, the actor was pulled over by local law enforcement and proceeded to unnerve the interrogating policeman to such an extent the officer felt compelled to almost draw his fire-arm on the actor. Reluctantly allowing, Henriksen, to finally move along, the squad car, however, remained a suspicious presence in the actor's rear-view mirror.
Critical reception for the film was outstanding with critics hailing it as one of the best genre films of the decade; and the blend of genre's were praised for breathing new life into a brand so used to formulaic and trite plot-lines.
Things were still going exceedingly well for, Russell too. The adaptation of, THE THING, by John Carpenter had since gone on wide release and although not an out-and-out hit (in fact the film was considered a box-office bomb receiving scathing reviews) it has now since become one of the most iconic of, Russell's and Carpenter's careers.
Adapted from the novella by John W. Campbell Jr., “Who Goes There” and the film version scripted by, Bill Lancaster (Son of Burt) the story concerns a mysterious spacecraft crashing into the ice of the Antarctic millions of years in the, Earth's, past until it is thawed out in present day by a team of, Norwegian researchers at their outpost in the frozen wasteland. The film itself opens as the shape-shifting, E.T., has since assimilated their entire camp and finds its way to the, American's, in the form of a dog traversing the miles of snow. In so doing aiming to devour every single one of them.
Russell played with gusto the rough-and-ready helicopter pilot, MacReady, of whom puts up the most resilience against the alien menace. The character was another of, Russell's new characteristically serious roles he adopted in the 80's. Like, Plisken, before him, Mac, doesn't crack wise or even let loose a cheeky smirk, attributes that had become the actor's trademark.
Carpenter and Russell's next collaboration was to prove to be one of the main contributing reasons for the director's disillusionment with, Hollywood...but instil the actor with a lot more confidence in his craft.
BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, saw blow hard trucker, Jack Burton (Kurt Russell), tackle the forces of ancient, Chinese black magic to save the beautiful, Gracie Law (Kim Cattrall), from the evil demon sorcerer, Lo Pan, and stop him from enacting a ritual to bring about his omnipotent rule.
Originally the film was to be set in the 1800's with, Jack Burton, as a cowboy who rides into town. The themes of, Oriental mysticism were planned (like, Near Dark) to run side-by-side with the western genre. However, first time writers for screen, Gary Goldman and David Weinstein's effort was ultimately overhauled by veteran script-doctor, W.D Richter. Richter, scrapped the western elements in favour of modernisation and dumped everything bar the, Lo Pan, storyline. This would cause intense friction between the trio – not to mention with, Fox Studios -- who wanted to eliminate, Goldman's and Weinstein's contributions to the picture completely in place of, Richter's. The Writer's Guild Of America, eventually saw to it that, Richter was not the rightful author and banished any involvement he had with the production. The original scriptwriter's rightfully taking full credit.
The production met constant time constraints during principal photography mainly concerning a rival production starring, Eddie Murphy, called, THE GOLDEN CHILD, that was due to come out at almost the very same time as, Big Trouble.Carpenter was more than peeved at the, Murphy, vehicle's similar plot lines and motifs including, Chinese mythology and martial arts – and believed this was a way of, Paramount Pictures enacting retribution on the director for turning down their project – believing the studio had sent in spies to subvert his efforts on, Big Trouble.
Due to the unfortunate cloud of problems fogging photography and post-production the film opened to less than encouraging reviews. To an extent so dismal were critics' reactions, Carpenter, had all but lost faith in film-making and decided to return to smaller, independent endeavours.
However, Russell was to feel unabashed plaudits for his role as bumbling trucker, Jack Burton.
Ron Base, of the, Toronto Star said in his article about the Russell, “He does a great, John Wayne imitation. But he's not just mimicking these heroes, he is using them to give his own character a broad, satiric edge". Speculative fiction writer, essayist and critic, Harlan Ellison, also commented on, Russell's performance, "some of the funniest lines spoken by any actor this year to produce a cheerfully blathering live-action cartoon that will give you release from the real pressures of your basically dreary lives".
In retrospect, both, Russell and Carpenter, have speculated that the reason for the film's failure was not just due to the multitude of problems but that it was released amidst the hype of, James Cameron's, ALIENS, which later went on to open sixteen days later.
Henriksen has long drawn his strength from playing figureheads and mentors. Indeed it was the actor's sublime talent for conveying so much pain and torment through his craggy visage that drew notice from, Stan Winston when it came to casting, Ed Harley; the bereaved father of a murdered son who instigates the fury of a towering vengeance demon from the mists of the Appalachian Mountains – in his low budget, sleeper-hit,PUMPKINHEAD.
Henriksen took special care in crafting his character gathering the majority of his own props and wardrobe that included an old WWII pump action shotgun, his cap and the silver dollars he uses as payment. For the eagle-eyed fans of the film you might also notice the set of dentures he had commissioned to give his character a much more rural look.
Reputedly, Henriksen had initial reluctantness to perform in the supernatural-horror. Winston, however won over the hesitant Thesp by showcasing some of the more dramatic parts of the screenplay – specifically the scene where, Harley's deceased son questions his father's motives.
SPECIAL MENTION
If you're new to the careers of both, Kurt and Lance but you don't feel comfortable navigating their tumultuous 80's escapades just yet then fear not. A few mentions of some of their more contemporary fare oughta' ease you right into things.
Familiar with, THE X-FILES? -- Then you'll love,MILLENIUM. Originally a passion project of, Files, creator, Chris Carter's specifically envisioned with, Henriksen in mind. Millenium, sees the exploits of the, FBI's, greatest profiler, Frank Black as he suffers a life-long curse facilitating him the unfortunate ability to see through the eyes of the nations serial killers.
The series was described as a cross between,SE7EN and TWIN PEAKS and allowed, Carter much more freedom in pursuing drastically more adult plot-lines than was previously allowed him with, The X-Files. Including many of the same faces from the series and adopting producer, James Wong and famous, Files, director, David Nutter as regular members of the production.
Critics adored, Henriksen's portrayal of, Black so much that he was nominated for a, Golden Globe for best actor in a television series every year the show ran for. Tabloids such as, Entertainment Weekly, The Washington Post and The New York Times were all in agreement that this was the actor's magnum opus.
Russell's sadly under-discussed, 1997 suspense-thriller, BREAKDOWN about a man who must fight to save his wife from a ragtag group of kidnappers has never received the attention it should have. Directed by, U-571, helmer, Johnathan Mostow and produced by the legendary, Dino DeLaurentis with a score by, LONESOME DOVE, composer, Basil Poledouris. The film could most aptly be described as a blend of, THE HITCHER meetsRANSOM.
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