Deforest Kelley in non-Star Trek roles
So as my appreciation for Deforest grows, I've been seeking more of his non-Trek roles. Luckily there is actually a lot of stuff freely available on youtube. Of course I have only touched the tip of the ice berg but here are my favorites so far.
Fear in the Night: This is a low budget noir with De Kelley in his first starring role. The film is as I said low budget and it involves some hokey things about hypnotism, but it still has great atmosphere and Kelley is in practically every scene. He is only 27 here and plays a kid who thinks he committed murder along with the fear & depression of that perfectly. Freely available through the public archives.
Warlock This was my first non-Trek Kelley thing I saw. He plays a supporting role opposite Henry Fonda & Richard Widmark.
What is nice about this role while Kelley starts off as the villain he has a character arc where he realizes the error of his ways and tries to do the right thing in the end, yay for character development. Clips on youtube but the full movie is on Comcast On Demand.
Tension at Table Rock This one I only saw a short scene of De Kelley coming in to town as a gunslinger and getting in a gun fight with his old friend. De Kelley plays the villain here but he does it with such style. Although I know I am becoming too much of a fan of his when I get sad when he dies, even when he is playing the villain lol
Kelley had a coin trick that he did every so often in Westerns and apparently he showed off at conventions. He does this in this movie.
Death Valley Days-Lady of the Plains I don't know much about this series but it seems like an anthology western with different guest starts each week and no recurring characters.
In this episode De Kelley plays sort of a rouge gambler type going out west to Salt Lake City. But this is a fun one where he actually gets the girl and there is an awesome kiss scene.
The only thing I don't like about this episode is the killing of the Native Americans. This is one thing I really hate about old Westerns. (full episode on youtube)
The Virginian: Man of Violence Here De Kelley plays another Doctor. This time a drunk one in the army. This is another one where De Kelley's character has a story arc where he starts off as drunk and hopeless, giving up on live but redeems himself in the end. Even though he was the guest star, he is definitely the hero of the episode. And surprise surprise Leonard Nimoy actually has a small cameo in the beginning. Full episode on YT with De Kelley as Dr. Belden.
Sadly there is also killing Native Americans in this :/
333 Montgomery This is an un-produced pilot with Kelley as a San Francisco Lawyer. Interestingly this was written by Gene Roddenbery and you can say this is where their relationship began and what eventually lead Kelley to play Bones in ST (Gene Roddenberry never forgot him). Although it isn't my favorite thing ever story wise, I enjoy Kelley as the lead here (and he looks cute in glasses). Also available on youtube.
Where Love Has Gone It's not so much the movie or the role but the fact that he has scenes opposite Bette Davis in this movie which is beyond awesome.
TBC as I watch more stuff;
Fear in the Night: This is a low budget noir with De Kelley in his first starring role. The film is as I said low budget and it involves some hokey things about hypnotism, but it still has great atmosphere and Kelley is in practically every scene. He is only 27 here and plays a kid who thinks he committed murder along with the fear & depression of that perfectly. Freely available through the public archives.
Warlock This was my first non-Trek Kelley thing I saw. He plays a supporting role opposite Henry Fonda & Richard Widmark.
What is nice about this role while Kelley starts off as the villain he has a character arc where he realizes the error of his ways and tries to do the right thing in the end, yay for character development. Clips on youtube but the full movie is on Comcast On Demand.
Tension at Table Rock This one I only saw a short scene of De Kelley coming in to town as a gunslinger and getting in a gun fight with his old friend. De Kelley plays the villain here but he does it with such style. Although I know I am becoming too much of a fan of his when I get sad when he dies, even when he is playing the villain lol
Kelley had a coin trick that he did every so often in Westerns and apparently he showed off at conventions. He does this in this movie.
Click to viewDeath Valley Days-Lady of the Plains I don't know much about this series but it seems like an anthology western with different guest starts each week and no recurring characters.
In this episode De Kelley plays sort of a rouge gambler type going out west to Salt Lake City. But this is a fun one where he actually gets the girl and there is an awesome kiss scene.
The only thing I don't like about this episode is the killing of the Native Americans. This is one thing I really hate about old Westerns. (full episode on youtube)
The Virginian: Man of Violence Here De Kelley plays another Doctor. This time a drunk one in the army. This is another one where De Kelley's character has a story arc where he starts off as drunk and hopeless, giving up on live but redeems himself in the end. Even though he was the guest star, he is definitely the hero of the episode. And surprise surprise Leonard Nimoy actually has a small cameo in the beginning. Full episode on YT with De Kelley as Dr. Belden.
Sadly there is also killing Native Americans in this :/
333 Montgomery This is an un-produced pilot with Kelley as a San Francisco Lawyer. Interestingly this was written by Gene Roddenbery and you can say this is where their relationship began and what eventually lead Kelley to play Bones in ST (Gene Roddenberry never forgot him). Although it isn't my favorite thing ever story wise, I enjoy Kelley as the lead here (and he looks cute in glasses). Also available on youtube.
Where Love Has Gone It's not so much the movie or the role but the fact that he has scenes opposite Bette Davis in this movie which is beyond awesome.
TBC as I watch more stuff;