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Jun 24, 2014 Web Exclusive By Frank Valish

Lee Marvin made a name for himself as the villain in many a cowboy movie in the ‘50s and ‘60s, and his legend includes how he changed the way violence was portrayed on the silver screen with realistic depictions that hadn’t before been seen. Dwayne Epstein’s thoroughly researched biography attempts to illuminate the man while recounting his illustrious Hollywood career. However, Point Blank largely leans on the latter. Filmography details are recounted and Epstein spoke with many of Marvin’s co-stars, directors, his manager, and fellow actors. Still, apart from a few things-Marvin’s time in the Marines, his legendary penchant for drink, his philandering, and his general rudeness to women-there is not as much here to illuminate the man as one would hope. Marvin’s roles often portrayed a violence that changed the landscape of film, and he was certainly a sketchy character even off the set, but how did this persona end up affecting (or being affected by) the person Marvin was? The book seems to leave much of this unanswered, or rather leaves the reader to connect too many of the dots. Certainly Marvin’s wartime military service affected his personality and the way he approached roles, but how personally are the two connected? Ultimately, there seems to be too few anecdotes in Point Blank, and, as such, the book often reads dryly, like a recounting of his career. This said, stories such as how they got the horse to lean drunkenly against the wall in 1965’s Cat Ballou are terrific. But ultimately the reader is left wanting more. (www.schaffnerpress.com)

Author rating: 5.5/10