A Better than Average Actor who was Unappreciated
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Doug McClure
Conagher_1880 — 15 years ago(March 27, 2011 11:36 AM)
I have to admit that early on, although I liked McClure, I fell prey to the parody of him from
The Simpsons.
My main memory of Doug McClure came from
The Land That Time Forgot,
and that had been better than thirty years past since I'd seen it. That movie sure wasn't likely to make me think of him as being a skilled actor. Rather, I thought he was probably just a decent guy who had made a few TV series, a B-movie or two, and was just now famous for being famous.
Well, Encore Westerns began showing
The Virginian
and I started watching when possible. Now, being a former working cowboy, I tend to notice little details in westerns. Sometimes that can be good, and often it isn't. One thing I was rolling my eyes at was the modern hats and tack, as well as the typically low-budget wardrobe the actors were given. The stories were good, and that made up for the lack of visual accuracy. I saw that Doug McClure was always giving a good performance and was taking his role in that series VERY seriously. I also started noticing McClure's horsemanship.
Most actors in westerns aren't really good riders. Notable exceptions are John Wayne, Sam Elliott, Robert Duvall and Buck Taylor. All ride like working cowboys. So did Doug McClure. Somewhere along the line, he picked up the mannerisms and used them. He mounted like a cowboy, not an actor. He handled his horse like a cowboy, sat his saddle like a cowboyand even went so far as to learn how to rope. In a few episodes there were scenes where he had to rope, and without a cut, he actually was roping calves and steers. This guy was GOOD! My opinion of him was beginning to change: He wasn't a "washed-up '70's B-movie actor," as "Troy McClure" was on
The Simpsons
, he was looking like a good, versatile leading man-type who never really got decent parts.
I've seen McClure in
The Unforgiven
and
The Enemy Below
, and when well-directed, he rose to the challenge. Recently I watched
The Land That Time Forgot
and I can truthfully say that McClure's talent saved that piece of crap from being a total waste of time. He was better than his material, which is the sign of a fine actor. Rather than treating that pile of dreck like just another paycheck, he gave a firm, serious performance that can make the viewer think the actions on screen are actually happening.
Doug McClure was a sadly underrated actor and deserved better than he got. When you see the no-talent hacks who are out there now, the pretty-boys and wimpy-boys who people the covers of celeb magazines, it makes you appreciate the quiet professionalism and genuine skill of McClure. My guess is that he just had a lousy agent or perhaps that casting directors couldn't see beyond theb68 blond hair and big smile to the genuine skill that was there. If McClure were still around, he'd probably be getting better parts from those directors who remembered him from when they were kids and liked him then. It's a shame he passed when he didbut the DVD's will be there for us to see how good he really was.
"
It's a hard country, kid.
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blondcowboy — 14 years ago(April 24, 2011 08:59 PM)
Hello,
Nice thoughtful comments. I absolutely agree. I think Doug's acting in the Virginian demonstrated a wide range of ability such as being funny, sad, sensitive, and he was totally relaxed with the character of Trampas. His physical skills were also very obvious. -
sevenof9fl — 14 years ago(May 11, 2011 11:44 AM)
Beautiful, beautiful writeup.
I think Doug McClure was my first crush. And the things you've said about his riding skills, my dad said before you - which made The Virginian Required Watching in our house.
My friends tell me, and have told me over the years, that I am an overly harsh critic of actors.
I don't think I'm harsh; I think the talent is lacking, and I'm glad to see more and more statements like yours about old and new school actors.
I'm glad the DVD's and YouTube will be around for these actors for a long, long time.
"As the Philosopher Jagger said, you can't always get what you want." -
Chaarles — 14 years ago(May 11, 2011 02:43 PM)
Well said. I always liked Doug from my childhood watching The Virginian and the 'That Time Forgot' style movies, and then recently when I realised he was in 'The Unforgiven' I watched his performance closely in that and thought he gave a really strong, beautifully nuanced performance. And let's face it he was playing in the frame with no lesser talents than Lancaster and Hepburn, and in my opinion he came out with top marks and never seemed for a moment out of his depth, delivering a pitch perfect and absorbing performance. As you say, quiet professionalism and genuine skill, and all that on top of bucketfuls of natural talent. I don't believe an actor can turn in a performance like that in that kind of company without being a dedicated artist and a great actor.
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Clatskanie — 14 years ago(July 23, 2011 09:06 PM)
McClure was a big favorite in our house. Think the drink got to him, though. Pretty sure that is the case. He should've gone much, much farther. Your remarks are great.
And, I was excited when he reemerged later, but soon realized that he had been damaged by the drink. In at least one interview I read or saw at that time he struck me as sad, frustrated, and resentful (I used to be bigger than Burt Reynolds). The interview may have been in TV Guide. I was also struck by the fact that the writer seemed to be mocking McClure, his subject.
If someone has better info that I, I'd be glad to eat my words, but think my take is true.
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LookUpForJoy — 12 years ago(December 18, 2013 11:43 AM)
Doug McClure looked more like a cowboy, I imagine, because he worked as a cowboy on summer vacation in high school years, in Nevada, so said fellow actor James Drury in an interview. He told an amusing story Doug had told him about this: the cowboys in camp at the time saw an approaching dust trail indicating a car driving down the long dirt road as it got closer, they could see it was a police car one by one they left the camp, leaving Doug by himself when the cop car got there, the cop gets out & says, "Are you Doug McClure?" "Yes", he says "Well, your mother says to call her!"
This is a link to a great FaceBook video post:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=633127870041108
A comment on the same FB post by Nic Fewer: "In interviews both Jim and Doug mentioned Ben Johnson as being the BEST rider in Westerns. But as Doug said, what about Trampas? I hope Doug gets into the Cowboy Hall of Fame where he belongs" -
js5905 — 11 years ago(May 31, 2014 11:49 AM)
he was appreciated; but we never knew time was so short. he had great success with the ABC telemovie, 'Shirts/Skins' he was moving onto a new phase in hid television career. just as fast; it was over. even Jim Drury never got over it. it's life; I guess. we still have his many appearences to remember him by.