The classic movie that Henry Fonda “hated”
Routinely cited as one of the greatest leads Hollywood has ever seen, Henry Fonda left an indelible impact on the world of cinema. Ranging from incredible early works like The Ox-Bow Incident to his Academy Award-winning final film On Golden Pond, Fonda maintained his versatility and dedication to his craft throughout his illustrious career. That’s precisely why fans are often hesitant to single out just one all-time favourite when it comes to his extensive filmography.
During a 1972 appearance on The Dick Cavett Show, Fonda experienced the same dilemma when he was asked to select his personal top picks. In addition to citing his work in John Ford’s acclaimed adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath, Fonda chose his stunning performance in 12 Angry Men as a career highlight: “12 Angry Men has to be on the list because that’s my Easy Rider, I produced it… I’m proud of that on more than one level.”
Over the years, Fonda collaborated with Ford on multiple occasions, including the celebrated 1946 movie My Darling Clementine, which is now hailed as one of the best westerns ever made. However, there’s one particular Ford movie that never sat right with Fonda because he wasn’t happy with the way the film adaptation panned out. Titled Mister Roberts, the 1955 work disappointed the actor who returned to cinema after an extended hiatus.
Following World War II, Fonda decided to focus his time on theatrical productions and only returned when Ford offered him a part in Mister Roberts. While speaking to Cavett, he explained his disappointment: “When you’ve done a play as long as I did Mister Roberts, I did it for four years, 1600/1700 performances, you become a purist about that play, and I wasn’t the only one. Everybody that was involved with that play, we hated the picture because it took liberties.”
Fonda had starred in the Broadway version for a long time, earning widespread acclaim for his brilliant performance. Due to his relatively brief departure from movies, the studio initially wanted to cast a bigger name like Marlon Brando in the film adaptation. However, Ford was adamant about casting Fonda, which is why the executives finally acquiesced. Despite this, the production wasn’t free of conflict between the two creative titans.
In addition to having a conflicted on-set relationship with James Cagney, Ford allegedly had an infamous spat with Fonda, who was concerned about the way the adaptation was being handled. When the actor tried to explain his worries to Ford, the director reportedly got up and punched him, following which Ford was soon replaced by Mervyn LeRoy. Given the tumultuous background and the inadequate final product, it’s no surprise that Fonda prefers the theatrical version.
Watch the full interview below.
