Marlon Brando's first film, "The Men" is conspicuous for many things
including how little he got paid for it, the method acting that went
into it, and the time Brando spent living like a patient in a veteran's
paraplegic hospital. One story I heard was that one night when Brando
was at a public place with the other (real) patients, a Bible thumper
started ranting about the power of faith. Brando gestured the man over
and asked him, "Let me ask you something, mister. If my faith is
strong enough, will I be able to walk again?" The religious ranter
paused and then said, "Yes, son. If it is God's will, you will even
be able to walk again." So Brando responded with mock sincerity,
"Well, by God, I am going to try right now." With that, he made a
few straining, unsuccessful attempts to raise out of his wheelchair.
But then he gave it his all, stood up completely, and went tap dancing
out of the establishment, much to the shock of the Bible thumper, and
much to the boisterous laughter of the other men in wheelchairs.
I choose to believe this story is true and that it, in effect,
created the scene when drunk Ray Teal comes over and starts patronizing
the characters played by Brando and Richard Erdman. Brando asks Ray
Teal, "Let me ask you something, mister. Could I marry your daughter?"
A sarcastic banter ensues and eventually Brando punches out Teal who
seemed to be discovering his type casting mold as an obnoxious
character who gets punched out ("Best Years of Our Lives") and a
bartender in Brando films ("The Wild One" and "One Eyed Jacks")
I'd like to ad a personal note to authenticate the serious message
of "The Men." Over ten years ago I taught a Japanese secondary
student whose English ability was extremely low. But her desire, her
drive, and her determination to learn were extremely high. After about
a year of struggle with words and sentences, she wrote her first
authentic essay for me. I had assigned an essay about someone she
admired. She wrote about her father who had lost his legs in an
industrial accident, but whose desire, drive, and determination to
become independent were extremely high. She concluded with, "My
father has learned to do many things. But the most difficult thing he
has learned is how to accept help for those things he really can't do."
