WARREN OATES: ACROSS THE BORDER

Directors Tom Marksbury and Tom Thur­man fell under the spell of Warren Oates at a young age after seeing him in The Wild Bunch and made this film partly in an endeav­our to explain to themselves, and others, the source of their obsession. Says Thurman, "Warren Oates is the classic example of the actor whose face is recognised by everybody. We wanted more people to know his name."

Most biographical documentaries on film actors concentrate their attention on stars. War­ren Oates was a character actor and proud to be one. An inveterate scene stealer, with that shy grin, cocky demeanour and trademark squint, he was also one of Hollywood's more uncon­ventional actors who defied easy categorisation and showed a particular skill in choosing the directors he worked with (Hellman, Malick, Peckinpah, Milius et at). Through interviews, well-chosen clips, stills and home movies the filmmakers — graduate students at the Univer­sity of Kentucky, Oates' home state — profile the biographical details of his life, but more importantly, illustrate the vulnerability and weaknesses that lie at the heart of this most individualistic and self-effacing actor's talent.