Slim Pickens performance in Dr. Strangelove

[one...two...tree 2,762]

...was listening to him singing and found this interesting tidbit. Makes the movie even more absurdly funny...and poignant...especially in context of today.

His most noted role was as B-52 pilot Major T. J. "King" Kong in Dr. Strangelove, which ended with Pickens riding an H-bomb down to global destruction, while waving his hat. He was chosen because he naturally fit the role of an absurdly patriotic and gung-ho cowboy-type officer, and in fact was not even told that the movie was a comedy: he was instructed to play the role straight, and was only given script portions for the scenes he was in, rather than a script for the whole film. He is best known for both the scene riding the bomb to destruction, and his over-the-top speech early in the film, after his character learns of the mission to bomb strategic targets within Russia:

"Well, boys, I reckon this is it — nuclear combat toe to toe with the Rooskies. Now look, boys, I ain't much of a hand at makin' speeches, but I got a pretty fair idea that something doggone important is goin' on back there. And I got a fair idea the kinda personal emotions that some of you fellas may be thinkin.' Heck, I reckon you wouldn't even be human bein's if you didn't have some pretty strong personal feelin's about nuclear combat. I want you to remember one thing, the folks back home is a-countin' on you and by golly, we ain't about to let 'em down. I tell you something else, if this thing turns out to be half as important as I figure it just might be, I'd say that you're all in line for some important promotions and personal citations when this thing's over with. That goes for ever' last one of you regardless of your race, color or your creed. Now let's get this thing on the hump — we got some flyin' to do."

Pickens credited the film as turning point in his career, saying "After 'Dr. Strangelove,' the roles, the dressing rooms, and the checks all started gettin' bigger." He also claimed that before 'Dr. Strangelove' he was "HEY YOU" on sets, and after it, he was called "Mr. Pickens." He seemed amazed at such a change occurring after one movie. Another of his memorable roles was as Taggart, head of the gang of cowboy thugs in Mel Brooks' classic 1974 comedy Blazing Saddles:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slim_Pickens

[almaty 19]

i liked slim pickens..he was great in that movie..like him in 1941...a john peters movie with belushi

[one...two...tree 2,762]

i liked slim pickens..he was great in that movie..like him in 1941...a john peters movie with belushi

Ah, 1941! I've got to see that again...it's been years.

[almaty 19]

i liked slim pickens..he was great in that movie..like him in 1941...a john peters movie with belushi

Ah, 1941! I've got to see that again...it's been years.

lol//slim pickens..was "Hollie" wood...and the japanesse were looking to motar it from their sub....he was great as was belushi, as the pilot .....and the actor who played kid, who had a serious wardrobe problem probl

[one...two...tree 2,762]

i liked slim pickens..he was great in that movie..like him in 1941...a john peters movie with belushi

Ah, 1941! I've got to see that again...it's been years.

lol//slim pickens..was "Hollie" wood...and the japanesse were looking to motar it from their sub....he was great as was belushi, as the pilot .....and the actor who played kid, who had a serious wardrobe problem probl

Must of been one of his last films - he died in '83...RIP

[almaty 19]

i liked slim pickens..he was great in that movie..like him in 1941...a john peters movie with belushi

Ah, 1941! I've got to see that again...it's been years.

lol//slim pickens..was "Hollie" wood...and the japanesse were looking to motar it from their sub....he was great as was belushi, as the pilot .....and the actor who played kid, who had a serious wardrobe problem probl

Must of been one of his last films - he died in '83...RIP

the film was made right after animal house .,...i miss ol' slim..liked him in westerns too

[one...two...tree 2,762]

i liked slim pickens..he was great in that movie..like him in 1941...a john peters movie with belushi

Ah, 1941! I've got to see that again...it's been years.

lol//slim pickens..was "Hollie" wood...and the japanesse were looking to motar it from their sub....he was great as was belushi, as the pilot .....and the actor who played kid, who had a serious wardrobe problem probl

Must of been one of his last films - he died in '83...RIP

the film was made right after animal house .,...i miss ol' slim..liked him in westerns too

As a kid, I thought he was just a hollering, bitter old man. It wasn't until college that I saw him in Dr. Strangelove - that part was made for him.

[almaty 19]

i , also, remember the part in pat garret and billy the Kid..where he got shot..and in the background..dylan's song....knocking on heaven's door played...a great scene

[Jasman0717 9]

He was in a lot of good movies, at least good for my taste. Two that I can recall right off the bat is One-eyed Jacks with Marlon Brando and Karl Malden and Will Penny with Charlton Heston and Ben Johnson