Alternate Mortimer

[Alias]

I suspect this topic has come up for discussion before, and I've always thought of Colonel Mortimer as Lee Van Cleef's signature role, not to mention his best performance. But what if Van Cleef hadn't been available in 1965? Who would have beenan adequate substitute? Apparently Lee Marvin and Robert Ryan were both approached by Leone. Ryan in particular, I think, would have been good casting as an honourable man of an older generation. (Not that Marvin wouldn't have been great too, in his own way.) Also quite like the idea of either Joel McCrea or Randolph Scott - although it's hard to imagine the latter, who had by then retired, comfortably wealthy, taking a trip to Spain to make a few bucks. But just imagine Randolph Scott facing off against the likes of Kinski and Volonte...  (Given the maturity of these actors, it would probably make more sense for Mortimer to be avenging his daughter rather than his sister).

Any other suggestions?

[Cusser]

Fonda ?  Jimmy Stewart?

[titoli]

Glenn Ford. But probably the only viable, feewise, alternative could have been Karl Malden.

[cigar joe]

Richard Boone 

[titoli]

Richard Boone 

I though about him but thought, wrongly, that he looked younger than LVC at the time (actually he was 8 years older). And both him and Malden at the time of shooting might have been available.

[Alias]

Hadn't thought of Richard Boone. Good call.

Could also imagine Glenn Ford in the role.

Stewart would certainly have been interesting, though he would've bust the budget. And Fonda, obviously - yet that might somehow 'clash' with his turn as Frank in OUATITW. (Just as, in a way, I'd rather remember Van Cleef as Mortimer and see someone else - Jack Palance, maybe - in GBU.)

Apparently Charles Bronson was also approached - but he would surely have seemed miscast as a Colonel from the Carolinas? As would Yul Brynner.)

Gregory Peck or William Holden - might have been interesting, but both too expensive. Dana Andrews, possibly?

Maybe a desperate Leone would even have considered Stewart Granger? Or his old pal from The Colossus of Rhodes, Rory Calhoun?

And if only Gary Cooper had still been around...

[stanton]

So, actually, thousands or everybody could have played Mortimer. Except Marilyn Monroe of course, but mainly cause she was pretty dead in 1965.

[Alias]

But Joan Crawford was still alive...

[stanton]

I'm sure Joan Crawford in her black Johnny Guitar costume was definitely a contender for the role ...

... and without the black costume also a contender for Monco or El Indio or the half shaved bandit or Groggy's horse.

[Alias]

...and why not have Lillian Gish play Red "Baby" Cavanagh instead of that Burt Lancaster lookalike?

[titoli]

But Marvin wasn't simply approached. He had actually signed for the movie, according to Leone, only to retire at the start of the weekend before shooting began because he veered toward Cat Ballou, forcing Leone  to fly on the Saturday to the USA to find the man (whose name he didn't remember but found in the actors directory book) he remembered from High Noon and How the West Was Won and who presented himself at his hotel on the Sunday. I'm quoting from the Gabutti's book which I'm currently reading.

[Bronsonica]

Richard Widmark would have been an ideal candidate for Mortimer (equally at home as a colonel, as a crack shot, as a psychotic) and most of all in his element as the kind of emotionally scarred man who is obsessed with inflicting vengeance. I don't suppose he would have been available, though, and he would have been way above budget at the time.

[sonalford3]

I considered him, but mistakenly assumed he appeared younger than LVC at the time (actually he was 8 years older). And he and Malden may have been available at the time of shooting.

[titoli]

But Joan Crawford was still alive...

She could have subbed for Kinski at most.

[uncknown]

 Susie Murphy