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Strother Martin


Having just seen this again for the first time in years, including finally seeing the ending, I have to give Strother Martin a lot of credit. I was very impressed with his performance. He was totally believable, even sympathetic, as the mad scientist, but more than that he apparently put a lot of time and research into his part. He handles the snakes and speaks confidently, exactly as if he had made a career of it. Very professional behaviour by an actor for a part in a movie that was clearly going to be just a drive-in B-flick.
Heather Menzies deserves credit also for her few scenes with snakes - the weakest link was Dirk Benedict, I can't imagine anyone caring about what happened to him.

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I agree. Strother Martin was terrific in "Sssss." He was likewise excellent in "The Brotherhood of Satan," another fun low-budget 70's horror pic he starred in around the same time.

Look nonchalant and keep on smiling.

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Considering he died in 1980, I kinda doubt it.

Sometimes evil is just applied stupidity-Ronar

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Awesome talent! Always wondered if he was trying to pass as a Texan? Read that he was from Indiana.

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Suggested alternate scene. Dr Stoner (Strother Martin) says to himself:"David, I'm not going to tell you that I want to turn you into a cobra. What we've got here is a failure to communicate".
SPOILER:Strother Martin said the last line in COOL HAND LUKE.

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When David was having trouble with peeling skin, I expected Stoner to say,
"What we have here is...failure to exfoliate."

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Strother played it low key in this. Once, when we were watching in some movie or TV episode, my wife asked me, "Does he always talk like that?" You know what I mean. Well, SSSSSSS is an example where he doesn`t "talk like that." Anyway, terrific, believable performance.

🇺🇸 Liberty and Union, Now and Forever, One and Inseparable. 🇺🇸

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