Seldom a leading man — in fact a character actor almost from his start in movies — Van Heflin was one of the stalwart actors of Hollywood’s Golden Era. Yet he still flies below the classic celebrity radar.
One of our 2,000 followers on Twitter is a BIG Heflin fan, and keeps bugging us to write more about the star so here goes. To satisfy popular demand, we are devoting this week’s Quiz to this consummate actor.
Unlike most classic Hollywood stars, Heflin looked “recognizably American.” He often portrayed the principled father-husband, but could turn it on convincingly when a movie called for a measure of nastiness.
Make no mistake. Despite his aw-shucks facade, the former Emmett Evan Heflin Jr. (born in Oklahoma in 1910) was an accomplished craftsman who worked hard on each of the some 66 movie and tv roles he assumed before his death of a heart attack in 1971, at the age of 60.
Ok, Heflin fans. Let’s see how much your known about your Van. As usual, questions today and answers tomorrow. Here we go:
1) Question: Perhaps Heflin’s most memorable performance was delivered in George Stevens’ 1953 western, Shane, costarring Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, Jack Palance and Emil Meyer. Who played the character of “Joey,” Heflin’s son in the picture who implores the title character — “C0me Back, Shane” — at the movie’s emotional finale? a) Freddie Bartholomew; b) Roddy McDowell; c) Jackie Cooper; or d) Brandon deWilde.
2) Question: Which studio boss told Heflin that with his looks, you will never get the girl at the end? a) Harry Cohn; b) Darryl Zanuck; c) Louis B. Mayer; or d) David Zelznick.
3) Question: Heflin’s private life was livened up by his second wife, a former actress who was a real social whirlwind. Who is she? a) Mae West; b) Linda Darnell; c) Frances Neal; or d) Terry Moore.
4) Question: Heflin costarred with Robert Ryan and an aging Mary Astor in a 1948 noir thriller directed by Fred Zinnemann. Can you identify this picture?
5) Question: Heflin costarred with Glenn Ford in what is now considered one of the best westerns ever made. Can you name the film? (Hint: It was remade — badly — in 2007 with Russell Crowe and Christian Bale).
A whole week of the BIG Bugging Twittering Fan’s VAN HEFLIN!
At least Joe & Frank are starting us off with a very simple quiz, and with NO trick questions…
1) D Brandon deWilde’s tragic life ended almost one year to the day after Van Heflin’s, and he was less than half his age.
2) C
3) C
4) ACT OF VIOLENCE
5) 3:10 TO YUMA
Van Heflin’s final motion picture AIRPORT in 1970, was flying very much ABOVE the radar, a massive hit that turned around MCA-Universal’s financial woes and garnered good reviews for Heflin’s character as the depressed passenger bomber.
Van Heflin was a good actor, and I suspect this week he’ll get the attention he so richly deserves.
Funny, I’m always “bugging” Joe & Frank about subjects they should feature, but then Twitter, Facebook and all that “trending now” stuff is not my scene.
1. d
2. c
3. c
4. Act of Violence
5. 3:10 to Yuma
I’m surprised you didn’t write anything about (what I think was) his best picture, 1951’s “The Prowler” with bombshell Evelyn Keyes which you include a picture of (above). A creepy, lusting, scheming scum of an L.A. cop does Heflin play in this film, which I think was Joseph Losey’s last directorial effort in America (or it might’ve been the remake of “M”). Well worth purchasing!