'The Swede' is famous western artist Olaf Wieghorst
I was curious about the man who played "the Swede" the gunsmith that sells the double barreled sawed off shotgun to "Mississippi". His telling of the shooting of the piano player story about the previous owner of the gun is one of the best and funniest scenes in the movie:
"He couldn't see too good. He yust shoot where he hear somebody talk. One night, he get into a fight in the saloon. And, the piano player, he made so much noise, he couldn't hear the other fella speak. So, he yust shoot the piano player...and they hung him!"
Turns out that all the paintings at the opening credits of the movie are by the same man that played the Swede character...Olaf Wieghorst (1899-1988.) Search his name on the internet and you will find the facinating story of this Danish born great American western artist.
Director Hawks made a nice recognition of the man and his paintings by putting him in the movie as "The Swede". His delivery of the gun story was perfect!
Did anyone else appreciate the paintings and enjoy "the Swede" scene?