# The Harry Dean Stanton Law **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 13, 2001, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432 "2001-07-13T23:30:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2001, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/1 "2001-07-13T23:30:42Z")
Roger Ebert coined the Harry Dean Stanton Law which stated that no completely bad movie was ever made that featured Harry Dean Stanton in some role, no matter how small. I was prepared to agree with him until I had the extreme displeasure to watch all that I could stomach (about a half hour) of _Up Periscope_. So I’m moving on. My new Harry Dean Stanton is now Morgan Freeman, who I can’t recall ever being in a bad movie. I’m a bit loathe to check the filmography at the IMDb for fear of ruining my fantasies, but until I come across a bad movie that he’s been in, I’ll have to let this stand. So … the philosophical question for the week is, who is your Harry Dean Stanton? ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2001, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/2 "2001-07-13T23:45:44Z")
Kevin Spacey has never been in a truely bad movie. Atleast not that I can think of. ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/3 "2001-07-14T00:12:18Z")
**Euty** , did you forget Mr. Freeman had a role in the famous flop _Bonfire of the Vanities_? I’m still looking for my Harry Dean Stanton. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/4 "2001-07-14T00:16:53Z")
mr freeman was in chain reaction. ---
**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/5 "2001-07-14T00:26:55Z")
“ **Jennifer Love Hewitt** has never been in a good movie, making her the Anti-Stanton.” Or so I believed, until I saw _Can’t Hardly Wait,_ a movie I actually enjoyed. But anyway, back to the OP. I’ve not seen all of his movies, but the presence of **Cary Grant** in a film guarantees a good performance which makes the film worthwhile. I’d say the same for **Minnie Driver,** due to my raging 29-year-old hormones. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/6 "2001-07-14T00:27:00Z")
Freeman was also in _Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves_. Recently, he has been in some decent films, some decent only because he was in them. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/7 "2001-07-14T00:56:38Z")
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…it would be a tossup between **Franklin Pangborn** and \*\*Michael J. Pollard. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/8 "2001-07-14T07:02:36Z")
I so wanted to say **Rupert Everett**. He’s been in quite a few of my favorite movies. It was while I was watching “The Next Best Thing” that I came to the conclusion that he really ought to be in _every_ movie. Unfortunately, I just checked the IMDB and saw that he appeared in both “Dunston Checks In” and “Inspector Gadget”. While I haven’t seen either of them, I have a bad feeling that even Rupert Everett couldn’t help them. OTOH, I see that he will be playing Algernon in a 2002 version of “The Importance of Being Earnest”, so I’m happy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/9 "2001-07-14T07:19:30Z")
Ebert’s basic premise is flawed because he forgot the Stanton was in the abominable “Red Dawn”, and was really, really bad in it. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/10 "2001-07-14T13:16:19Z")
My vote would go to **Eric Blore** , although for contemporary movies, there’s a strong case to be made for **David Strathairn** ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/11 "2001-07-14T16:48:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AlbertRose \* > \*\*“ **Jennifer Love Hewitt** has never been in a good movie, making her the Anti-Stanton.” > \*\* I would agree with this, since I feel that Love-Hewitt is the personification of Satan on earth, however, hasn’t she been in only, like, 3 movies? She is still my anti-Stanton, since I will never see any movie that chooses to cast her in any role, no matter how small. Most will disagree with me, but there is no movie that Bruce Willis has been in that I would consider bad. I even liked _Bonfire of the Vanities_ and _Hudson Hawk_. ---
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/12 "2001-07-14T17:19:25Z")
Another anti-Stanton: Daniel Baldwin. Or any of the non-Alec Baldwins. I liked _Can’t Hardly Wait_, too. And, **HelloKitty** , you’ll be pleased to know that JLH is playing the Devil in _The Devil and Daniel Webster_. Co-starring (or directed by, I can’t remember) Alec Baldwin. This is a strange world we live in. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/13 "2001-07-14T17:59:18Z")
> [@](#): > > Most will disagree with me, but there is no movie that Bruce Willis has been in that I would consider bad. I even liked Bonfire of the Vanities and Hudson Hawk. _Breakfast of Champions._ I need not say more. I’ll agree with Kevin Spacey. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/14 "2001-07-14T18:05:34Z")
Excepting \*Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas \* I would say that my Harry Dean Stanton is Johhny Depp. He sure has come a long way from _21 Jump Street_. [aside] I have a book called _Baked Potatos: A pot smokers guide to film and video_ (I only bought it based on its review of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory). The book has its own little rating system and special icons. One of the icons is for Harry Dean Stanton. [/aside] ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/15 "2001-07-14T18:06:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Montfort \* > \*\*Another anti-Stanton: Daniel Baldwin. Or any of the non-Alec Baldwins. > > I liked _Can’t Hardly Wait_, too. > > And, **HelloKitty** , you’ll be pleased to know that JLH is playing the Devil in _The Devil and Daniel Webster_. Co-starring (or directed by, I can’t remember) Alec Baldwin. > > This is a strange world we live in. \*\* Not only that, but it also stars Anthony Hopkins. ---
**Author:** ![deepbluesea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba9def/32.png) [@deepbluesea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deepbluesea)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/16 "2001-07-14T19:33:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Arden Ranger \* > \*\*Kevin Spacey has never been in a truely bad movie. Atleast not that I can think of. > \*\* Likewise. He’s one of the very few actors whose presence in a movie can, by itself, persuade me to see the thing - I remember watching The Negotiator and thinking “Wow, this is pretty good.” The energy between the actors and the strength of the acting itself completely concealed the standard-issue script and plot until the second viewing. After that, I just figured anything with Spacey in it was bound to be at least somewhat worth seeing. Hence, Spacey is my HDS. ---
**Author:** ![pesch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pesch/32/4925_2.png) [@pesch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pesch)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/17 "2001-07-14T19:33:28Z")
My favorite was Gene Hackman, especially after, during a broadcast of “Marooned,” on MST3K, they kept saying, “Oh, Gene Hackman, he good in everything.” He wasn’t in this one. Nor were Gregory Peck, James Farentino (or Franciscus), David Jannsen, Mariette Hartley, Lee Grant nor everyone else in this turkey. God is it bad! ---
**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/18 "2001-07-14T19:35:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…it would be a tossup between **Franklin Pangborn** … How could I forget Franklin Pangborn? I’d add **Eugene Pallette** to that list. That bass frog voice of his is hysterical enough on its own. **Charles Coburn** was another classy actor who was good in everything in which I’ve seen him. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/19 "2001-07-14T19:50:48Z")
Mine is Anthony Hopkins, who I’ve only ever seen in one bad movie: the execrable Mission Impossible 2. I have never figured out why he was in that movie. And I don’t mean, “Why is such a good actor in such a bad movie,” I mean, why did his character even exsist? This was Mission Impossible: why is Tom Cruise getting briefed in person? What about the exploding tape machines? Grr. ---
**Author:** ![katiekilldare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/838e76/32.png) [@katiekilldare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katiekilldare)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432/20 "2001-07-14T20:26:27Z")
**Edward Norton** ’s very presence in a movie makes it good. _Primal Fear_? Worth watching because of him. _Everyone Says I Love You_? Edward saved it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harry-dean-stanton-law/72432.md?page=2)