Jeffrey Hunter (Henry Herman “Hank” McKinnies)
(November 25, 1926 – May 27, 1969)
Today let’s remember Jeffrey Hunter, an actor whose career was cut way too short. He’s seen above, at right, as Frank James in Nicholas Ray’s The True Story Of Jesse James (1956). He’s excellent in this underrated film.
Western fans also know him for his strong performance in John Ford’s The Searchers (also 1956). Not many actors could threaten John Wayne and not get laughed off the screen.
He was in the first Star Trek pilot.
And he played Jesus in Ray’s King Of Kings (1961) — he’s parlayed the role in my mind’s eye ever since. Another Nick Ray movie that doesn’t get its due.
There’s also The Great Locomotive Chase (1956), The Longest Day (1962) and many others. A remarkable body of work for someone who passed away at just 42.
It’s nice to see him remembered. You’re right about the movies you named, and of course there are others you could have named, including some other memorable Westerns. Ford plainly liked his work in THE SEARCHERS and used him twice after that. Although it’s Woody Strode who is the commanding center of SERGEANT RUTLEDGE (even if his billing is kind of absurd–not even an “and Woody Strode as Sergeant Rutledge”), Hunter is very good and does a lot in helping those courtroom scenes play well.
The 1961 KING OF KINGS is my favorite version of the so-often filmed story of Jesus, a movie made by a director who would probably have said he was not religious at all and yet it has a deeply spiritual aspect, as I feel other Nick Ray movies also do. The line that got attached to it–”I was a teenage Jesus” was absurd and very unfair to Jeffrey Hunter. When he played the role he was just about exactly the age Jesus was when he died. For me he bought a beautiful and moving quality to the role and was great casting.
Ray’s blocking of the Sermon On The Mount, as Jesus/Hunter weaves through the huge crowd addressing individual people with each line, is incredible.
Saw a dye-transfer print of it years ago, and that red shall thing Hunter wore was beautiful.
Amazingly, he co-starred with Robert Ryan, who played John the Baptist in “King of Kings”, in two Westerns. “The Proud Ones” (1956) and “Custer of the West” (1968),
Have this in widescreen and is an enjoyable film. Have watched it a few times in the past – but will take another look this weekend.