There is a superb review of The Iceman Cometh by Pauline Kael that is easy to find online. This is simply one of the best reviews she ever wrote, with great insight into how the strengths and the weaknesses of the play sometimes help each other out. She is one who laments that Robards did not get to play Hickey, but nonetheless this is a great review.jamesjazzguitar wrote: ↑April 19th, 2024, 12:36 pmLee Marvin's screen persona was perfect for the role of Hickley. See the vet Ryan and the at his peak Marvin doing their dance is something special.kingrat wrote: ↑April 19th, 2024, 11:46 am To discuss something more interesting: Last night I watched the first half of The Iceman Cometh. This is from the American Film Theater project that filmed eight plays with various stars in them. Whatever complaints I could make about the play--such as that the Brit and the Boer are too Boer-ing--are unimportant next to the clash of Robert Ryan as the disillusioned ex-anarchist Larry Slade and Lee Marvin as the salesman Hickey whose visits to the saloon are what the other inmate of the saloon live for.
Some people lamented that the movie star Lee Marvin was cast rather than Jason Robards, Jr., who had played the role on Broadway, but I emphatically disagree. Marvin's charisma, his utter alpha maleness, his ability to walk in a room and own it, are what Hickey must have. The director, John Frankenheimer, also considered Marlon Brando (who would probably have been awful) and Gene Hackman, who would have been good, but Lee Marvin was his top choice.
Hickey knows that Larry Slade will be his toughest antagonist. The moments of Slade trying to figure out what Hickey is up to, while Hickey begins the process of testing Slade's vulnerabilities are really wonderful. Every shot of Robert Ryan seems to show a lifetime of experience. He would die not long after filming.
While I assume we both are not saying Robards wasn't up to the tasks, I can't think of another actor, with as much box office appeal being a better fit than Marvin. (and box office appeal was necessary to get people to go to the theater to see a movie that was over 3 hours long).
For me, Robards' performances run the gamut from great (Long Day's Journey Into Night) to godawful (Brutus in Julius Caesar). He would probably have been fine on screen as Hickey, but he lacks the charisma of Lee Marvin, and I doubt he would have had the great chemistry that Marvin has with Robert Ryan as the two match moves in what is in effect a duel to the death.
There's eloquent praise of Lee Marvin's performance in Stanley Kauffmann's Living Images. I'm not sure if the original review in the New Republic can be found online.
