Reading the script for The Searchers the other day made me appreciate how good the character of Martin Paulie is, though overshadowed by Ethan Edwards. In many ways the relationship between moral Martin and tormented Ethan is the heart of the movie - Ethan teaches Martin how to, well, be a vengeful maniac, but Martin teaches Ethan the importance of bringing Debbie home as opposed to, well, killing her.
It was probably the best role ever given to Jeffrey Hunter, an actor little remembered today - and to be honest probably little appreciated at the time. Hunter was a handsome lad, with a nice physique and handsome all-American looks. He was signed to a long term contract by 20th Century Fox who probably figured he'd be another Tyrone Power - they seemed to have similar thoughts about Robert Wagner, who also signed to the studio... though to be fair all the studios seemed to be signing up all-American boys in the early 50s: Warners had Tab Hunter, Universal had Rock Hudson, Columbia had John Derek, etc. One writer defined young male stars of this time as "brylcream boys" or "Brando boys" (Brando, Newman, Gazzara, Palance, Dean)... Hunter was definitely the brylcream brigade.
He was in a college play in 1950 when talent scouts saw him and Fox snapped him up. They were initially enthusiastic, giving him male juvenile leads or parts in war films such as The Frogmen - within three years he was given a lead in Sailor of the King. But it must've become apparently very quickly Hunter didn't have much charisma. He was handsome, he could act enough... but he had no personality, no charm, no individuality. He simply wasn't a star. Robert Wagner wasn't much of a movie star either - he had a slightly more brooding quality than Hunter which saw him outshine Hunter during the Fox tenure (in their films together - and they made several - Wagner almost always got the showier role); and Wagner went on to become a genuine TV star, something Hunter never managed.
Hunter's career is remarkable for the amount of lucky breaks he received, and failing to consolidate any of them - that initial contract, being cast in 14 Hours, a lead in Sailor of the King, The Searchers, playing Jesus in King of Kings, a TV show in Temple Houston, the original captain in Star Trek (he wouldn't do a second pilot). He was lucky to have been signed to a studio who did give him chances, he was lucky to have John Ford and Star Trek so people remembered him. I'm sure he was a nice guy and tried hard. But he was a bland actor and wasn't a star at all.
Nonetheless here is my Jeff Hunter Top Ten
1) The Searchers (1956) - brilliant Western and Hunter doesn't disgrace himself
2) King of Kings (1961) - Hunter does well in a difficult role
3) Sailor of the King (1953) - enjoyable movie which would've been better with a stronger actor
4) "The Cage" - the Star Trek pilot - would the series have been as successful with Hunter instead of Shatner? Who knows. It's still one of the better things he did
5) In Love and War (1958) - not bad all-Fox-young-stars WW2 epic.
6) The Longest Day (1962) - Hunter gets one of the best moments in this epic, dying on Omaha Beach
7) A Kiss Before Dying (1956) - Wagner gets the juicy role but Hunter does get to wear glasses.
8) Hell to Eternity (1960) - Hunter gets to play a real life hero in this war pic
9) Sergeant Rutledge (1960) - lesser known Ford with Hunter in the lead.
10) The Great Locomotive Chase (1956) - exciting Disney film.
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