The lateTreat Williamswas long one of Hollywood’s most down-to-Earth and kind-hearted personalities, a once-A-lister who had never fallen in line with many of fame’s trappings. He was also a performer who could do just about anything, but without a doubt the actor was always more comfortable in a comedic role than, say, an antagonistic one. Yet, as films likeMulholland Fallshave proved, he could play the villain very well also.
For the most part, Williams' most renowned roles were in a supporting capacity, e.g. Sergio Leone’sOnce Upon a Time in America. But then there are the roles worthy of discovery. Or, rather, re-discovery.
111941 (1979)
Williams' earliest big role in a big movie was as Corporal Chuck Sitarski in Steven Spielberg’s misguided1941, widely deemed one of his worst films. But, Williams most certainly understood the assignment, and manages to get onboard with the film’s tone when it isn’t going off on a tangent.
Even still,1941is rough, and it’s grown even harder to watch in subsequent decades. Not because it delves into offensive territory, but rather because it’s just so unfocused and so unaligned with what’s called funny in modern times. But, at least Williams' filmography included a Spielberg film when all was said and done.RELATED:Here’s Why The Empire Strikes Back Is Still the Best Star Wars Movie
10Prince of the City (1981)
Prince of the CityisSerpicoifSerpicowas an epic. This isn’t the least bit surprising considering both films were directed by Sidney Lumet, one after the next (withSerpicocoming first). Williams plays dirty cop turned informant Danny Ciello, and even with a massive cast and an impressively expansive scope,Prince of the Cityis really Williams' show, arguably the best showcase the actor ever had of his range.
Williams never stops short of making both the audience and everyone around him guess his true allegiances, all while surmising that his only true allegiance is to his own freedom from incarceration. He also nails the film’s more intimidation-focused scenes, e.g. when he grabs the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney by the back of his neck, pulls him close, and says whatever happens tohisfamily will happen to the attorney’s. The attorney asks if he’s threatening him, and Williams drops his trademark niceguy smile and flattens his face, answering with a simple “Absolutely.”
9Flashpoint (1984)
Nearly 40 years later,Flashpoint’s Border Patrol-focused plot is a little problematic. Furthermore, how the characters talk about Mexican individuals is oftenextremelyproblematic.
But, there’s merit here in fits and starts. For one, Williams is all in on his role as a loudmouthed cop who wants to make the world a better place but just doesn’t know how. Two, there’s one incredible scene that easily stands as the highpoint of the film (even though Williams isn’t involved).That 70s Show’s Kurtwood Smith andBlade’s Kris Kristofferson sit on a river’s shore and discuss their careers. There’s a constant bit of condescension going from Smith to Kristofferson, but the latter holds firm. It’s a scene where two close-to-the-vest individuals try to get a sense of one another, and it reads as wholly organic. Too bad the rest of the film doesn’t do the same.
IsDead Heata great film? No. Is it even a good film? Thanks to a jumbled tone and the performance from Joe Piscopo, also no.
But, Williams is wonderful as a recently-deceased then reanimated and decomposing cop. He seemed to understand that the over-ambitious script was going to lead to a convoluted final product, so he modulates his performance to fit within the likable hero archetype, and that’s enough to keep the film’s perverse notion of what’s funny from becoming overwhelming. He also seemed to understand thatSNLvet Piscopo (who was allowed to improvise the majority of his lines, and it shows) wasnotgoing to modulate his performance at all, so at the end of the day it’s Williams who makesDead Heatworth checking out, but only for cult film enthusiasts.
7Tales from the Crypt Season 4, Episode 1 “None But the Lonely Heart” (1992)
One ofTales from the Crypt’s best episodesfrom Season 4, the Tom Hanks-directed debut episode “None But the Lonely Heart” has several reasons to recommend it. For one, Hanks puts in an appearance, two, Sugar Ray Leonard is in it, and three, Williams is outright incredible in the episode. Not one word from his mouth has a false note in it.
Every ounce of his goodguy charm is nowhere to be found, instead replaced by a smarmy, conniving pseudo-charm that makes the viewer constantly oscillate between trying to hate Williams' and remembering Williams in much kinder roles. In this episode of HBO’s classic horror anthology series, Williams portrays gold-digging serial murderer Howard Prince, who has made his way through elderly woman after elderly woman, and pocketbook after pocketbook. But, like with allTales from the Cryptmega-jerks, Prince gets his gravely due.
6The Phantom (1996)
One of several failed attempts to resurrect an ancient serial, 1996’sThe Phantomis at least a more entertaining film than the Alec Baldwin-ledThe Shadow. The Billy Zane-ledThe Phantom(which intially was tostar Bruce Campbell in the title role) is still no work of high art, but it’s obvious that, one, Williams has more screen presence and charisma than lead Zane and, two, the former actor is the only one having any fun.
In fact, Williams is really the only reasonThe Phantomis worth watching (save for a, per usual, antagonistic performance from the always-great James Remar). His power-hungry madman of a villain is cliché, sure, but with the right performer even cliche can seem like a refreshing spin on what’s already expected.
5Deep Rising (1998)
Stephen Sommers’Deep Risingperformed far differently from hisThe Mummy, released one short year later, but it’s since gone on to build just as big a following as that minor action classic. There are several assets in the aquatic creature feature’s corner, including a terrific cast, and best among them is Williams in a cocky Indiana Jones-type role (and area in which the actor excelled), John Finnegan.
Deep Risingcan be a surprisingly gory movie (for instance, when a crewman stumbles in front of the others with half his face melting away to nothing), and this is where the lighthearted Williams comes in extra handy. If it weren’t for him, not to mention Kevin J. O’Connor’s Joey Pantucci, Finnegan’s often-helpless righthand man.
4The Substitute 2: School’s Out (1998)
1996’sThe Substitutewas a somewhat surprising franchise-birther, but that’s not an indictment of the film’s quality as much as it’s an acknowledgement of its average nature. There was room for improvement, and improve is exactly whatThe Substitute 2: School’s Outdid.
What’s impressive is the fact that while the original film was a theatrical release,School’s Outwas straight-to-DVD. As far as the film’s visuals go, though, one could never tell, and time has shown that while Tom Berenger was the more bankable star, it’s Williams who had more talent, and he was also a better fit for the material. Like the original film, eachSubstitutesequel follows a professional mercenary adopting the persona of a substitute teacher to solve a crime (typically one that’s affected his own life).
3Everwood (2002-2006)
An unfortunate victim of The WB’s merger with UPN,Everwoodwas a reliable hit over the course of its four seasons. It also featured Emily VanCamp and Chris Pratt, future MCU stars.
The series features Williams as Dr. Andrew Brown, a widower who moves from Manhattan to an isolated Colorado town just to get a new start and put grief behind him. But, he can’t do it alone, and his two kids join him. With this new start, perhaps Dr. Brown can mend the broken relationship between himself and his children, who have constantly been pushed aside in favor of his career as a successful neurosurgeon.
2Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
While Williams' extra role inThe Empire Strikes Backis basically impossible to spot, but he was on location when director Irvin Kirshner was capturing the ice planet of Hoth. In fact, time has shown he wasdefinitelyon the set, given the release of some charming behind-the-scenes photos of him and Carrie Fisher (and Harrison Ford).
The story goes that Williams more or less just wandered to the set, thought it looked cool, and asked to be a part of it regardless of the role’s importance. So, in the end, while it would have been great to see Williams in a majorStar Warsrole, it’s still nice to know he was there having a good time and making friends.
