On the religious diversity of Ernest Borgnine.

Has any American actor other than the great Ernest Borgnine portrayed both a breakaway Hittite and a full-fledged just-plain-Amish dude in film? I don't think so.

Here he is, getting between Jeff East and city gal Susan Buckner, as sinister Hittite Isaiah Schmidt in Wes Craven's 1981 Deadly Blessing. It's not widely known that two decades and change prior to that, he played Amish farmer Stadt in Richard Fleischer's 1957 Violent Saturday. A picture—which I warn you, contains a plot spoiler—is below the fold.

As you see, Borgnine's peaceful character is eventually driven to violence against Lee Marvin. Lee Marvin could do that to a man.

Borgnine also played a good Italian Catholic in Marty, an evil Satanist in The Devil's Rain, and a strict Presbyterian in The Black Hole.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do on a Saturday afternoon.

Comments

[scott neumyer]

what could possibly be better on a Saturday, sir? ;)

[A.O. Scott]

I hate to be pedantic, Glenn- -who am I kidding? I love to be pedantic- -but I think you mean Hutterite. The Hittites were an ancient Antalolian people who flourished in the Bronze Age, while the Hutterites are an Anabaptist sect named for their founder, the Moravian cleric Jakob Hutter. I think playing a Hittite might have been beyond Borgnine's range, but it looks like he was a heck of a Hutterite.

[Helen]

Personally, I think any role that offered Borgnine the chance to cover up his facial features with hats and beards was a good one.

[Dan]

"...a strict Presbyterian in 'The Black Hole'"

Almost had me for a second there!

Also, "The Devil's Rain" is a superbly cheesy film, in which you have Borgnine and William Shatner sharing a manly hug.

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