Publius & Co.

Happy Birthday, Joe Don!

Sixty-eight years ago today, Joe Don Baker was born.

I've written about my fanatical devotion to Joe Don in the past. Now I'd like to explain that a little.

I admit, it wasn't immediate. Joe Don fandom is an acquired taste--trust me. I know I had seen at least four Joe Don Baker movies (Cool Hand Luke, Walking Tall, The Natural, and The Living Daylights) without really noticing him.

It wasn't until I discovered Mystery Science Theater 3000 and soon after that, Mitchell, that I began to realize Joe Don Baker existed.

You have no idea how I discovered Mitchell. Devotees of MST3K remember Experiment 512-Mitchell as Joel's last episode (not counting the cameo appearance in Season 10); they also remember it as one of the funniest MST episodes of all time. Joel and the 'bots tore JDB a new one so thouroughly they've reported JDB has threatened to body slam them should the writers ever cross his path (I suspect that's not true, personally, but still...).

The movie, as presented on MST3K, is hard to follow. As always, some scenes were cut out (mostly so it would fit in the two-hours alloted for an episode, but also because there was some almost-nudity) and the plot makes no sense.

Uncut, the movie isn't much easier to follow. You discover one of the characters dies, which clears up an apparent hole, but it still doesn't flow well. The blurb on the DVD describes Mitchell as A cop with a gun, a drink, and no friends. I wouldn't say that's exactly true...he makes friends with the hooker that someone tries to bribe him with (which leads to one of the funnier scenes in the movie: Mitchell and Greta are on the floor in a little nulla puella negat when he uses his big toe to hook one of the empty rings in a six-pack of Schlitz on the nightstand, then uses that same toe to put it back on the nightstand (a trick no doubt learned as a brother in Sigma Phi Epsilon) minus one beer! He didn't get one for Greta!).

Believe me, you gotta see this movie. I recommend starting off with the MST version, though. Trust me.

I became obsessed with Mitchell. I started looking for soundbites on the internet; I discovered an online Joe Don Baker discussion board. It's not as active as it used to be, but back in it's day--there were a couple of occasions where the comments were coming so fast and furious we may as well have been in chat.

It's a shame it's no longer that active. I suspect we've said about all we can say about Joe Don; that we've found about all we can find out about him (like, the time he lost a fight with a rooster. That article was also the first indication we had that Walking Tall was being remade.).

In between the teasing and general poke-funnery of the board, I began scouring eBay for JDB stuff, and let me tell you: I've found a lot. I've got publicity shots, posters, an autograph, one of his resumes...and of course, videos.

I've seen a lot of JDB movies and TV appearances (the earliest from 1965!) and I came to realize: He's a damn fine actor. Sure, he takes some bad roles (and a few truly absolutely horrendous ones) but every time you see him--he's one of the shining stars in the movie.

I tease ol' Joe Don a lot, but man--do I love watching him work.

When I saw Miracle I also saw the trailer for the new Walking Tall (starring The Rock in Joe Don's role). It's been modernized: the drug destroying the hero's city is crystal meth and they've renamed Sheriff Pusser.

Hmmm.

I'll be there, but to me, remaking Walking Tall is a bit like remaking Casablanca. Sheriff Pusser was, and forever will be, Joe Don's role (he refused to redo the part in parts two and three, because he felt it would be disrespectful to the late Sheriff Buford Pusser). Updating it; making it a more modern movie with a different name for the hero...no. It won't be the same.

I wonder what Joe Don thinks about it?

Happy Birthday, Joe Don, and I wish you many more.

Joe Don Baker Resources:

IMDB
Porkapalooza!
Dr. Torgo's Ode to Joe Don
The Yellow Thing

Posted by Victor at Febrero 12, 2004 01:16 PM