Poseidon Quickies: Got Wood?

Only strangers to Poseidon's Underworld could fail to know about my never-ending obsession with Mr. Clint Walker. I've written and provided many photos of my "draw your perfect man" come to life over the last dozen years. Today, we'll take a brief gander at one of his 1960s movies - The Night of the Grizzly (1966), an example of the type of family-oriented film he was drawn to during the later part of his career. While he did indeed film The Dirty Dozen (1967) a year later, he was not at all keen on "bad" language, explicit sexuality or excessive violence on screen. (He even gave up a key scene in Dozen rather than be shown dropping a grenade into a bunker in which women were present!) If the opening card of Grizzly were removed which reads "A Paramount Picture," one would think it was a Disney family film, though it does contain far more lusty (and bloody) brawling that you would generally see come out of the "Mouse House."

Walker plays an ex-lawman who chucks everything to run a ranch inherited from his late uncle. His niece (far left), wife and two children arrive to find out that there is a lien on the property, which costs them virtually every cent they have.

Still, they press on, with only one friend to help as a ranch hand. Western veteran Walker really did drive the horse-drawn wagon across the prairie. 

They arrive to find the place a ramshackle mess in virtual shambles. Notice how the towering Walker seems to dwarf everything around him.

Leading ladies (in this case Martha Hyer) typically love tall leading men as it allows them to look up, extending their neckline.

Brawny Walker had many attributes, but in this post I cannot share one of his more endearing ones -- his soft, deep, velvety voice. I could listen to him speak all day.

There is a strong supporting cast in Grizzly, from Keenan Wynn to Jack Elam to Leo Gordon and even a young Ron Ely. At left above is none other than Nancy Kulp!

There is camp humor in the presence of two TV icons playing disparate types. Ellen Corby (later of The Waltons) is a tough pioneer woman while Kulp (of The Beverly Hillbillies) is a frilly, fussy shopkeeper.

Their house is beautifully fixed up as seen here. But also beautiful is the hulking Walker. Note that he's on the step half a foot below Hyer and is still taller!

A movie like this isn't going to thrill every viewer (though it does contain a fair amount of action.) The pleasure chiefly comes from getting to see and hear the leading man. His greatest days were spent on his popular series Cheyenne, but that was completely filmed in black & white.

He was born to portray Kal-El/Superman, but apparently no one ever thought about it.

On the subject of wood (see title of this post), many critics and viewers seemed to delight in referring to Walker's acting as wooden. I have never thought that. He was natural and actually quite expressive when it was called for and you can always see him listening to his fellow performers. His laconic style sure holds up a lot better than many over-actors of the 1950s & '60s as far as I'm concerned. Anyway, he looked so good in repose I don't really seek any strenuous acting!

Like I say. Nice scenery throughout!

I haven't even bothered to mention the primary plot line of the film...! Just as Walker is finally getting his family situated and his ranch built up with stock, a vicious grizzly bear is hell bent on destroying everything.

Needless to say, this causes considerable concern and upset for the family. Hey, this little girl has a great idea, though... Let's get that shirt off! That's why we're truly here after all. LOL

The unquestioned highlight of the film, the climax as far as I'm concerned, is when Clint and his ranch hand are fixing up the place and Walker begins whacking away...

...away at some huge logs with an axe! Oh. My. God.

This, kids, is what we call a "chest o'death!" Ha ha!

We've scarcely had time to collect ourselves from the wood-chopping scene when he's back in action soon enough with a shovel, digging post holes! Sadly, a visitor comes during this bit of drudgery and Walker reaches for a nearby shirt.

We don't get to see him undo his belt and tuck the shirt in, which is likely the only reason this movie didn't become the top-grosser of 1966! Even with it on, he looks damned good.

I have no reason to give you as to why, but I happen to LOVE this particular shirt. Maybe because somehow it magically transcends its intended time period and looks very contemporary to my eyes. I mean, I'd wear it. (Especially after he'd had it on! Ha ha!)

It's incredible the way he seems to dwarf not only his costars, but also the trees even! He was one hunky, handsome man.

Even though the negative is reversed for this lobby card, someone at Paramount knew what aspects of the movie to promote!

Step right up!

I don't know if they build them like this any more... If they do, they likely don't have the rich voice and gentle manner of Mr. Walker. Thank goodness some folks in the movie colony back then felt the need to showcase his chest over and over again in movies and on TV. Night of the Grizzly may be seen in a great print here.

The Living End!