Films and television episodes that are must-watches:
The Green Years (first half only): Stockwell became most famous for his role in this when he was starting out at MGM. Newspaper articles and other promotional materials related to his work during the late 1940s or so would often mention his performance in this. Many reviews say the second half with Robert Shannon as a young man isn’t as good as the first half with the same character as a child (featuring Stockwell), so it’s your choice whether or not to watch the full film.
The Boy with Green Hair: This film was what launched Stockwell into the spotlight as a child, plus he said this was the only drama where he took his acting seriously when he was young. It’s also interesting that many people watched this and came away only remembering the boy’s green hair, not what the hair was meant to represent.
The Happy Years: Stockwell is good in this, and he said he’d enjoyed making the two comedies he did as a child. This is the more accessible of his two childhood comedies (Home Sweet Homicide is the other, and available only via an obscure rented or bootleg DVD), and funnier overall.
Kim: Dean Stockwell works with Errol Flynn! Along with how much he looked up to Flynn, he shows serious range too.
Compulsion: Stockwell won one of two Cannes scrolls for this, and he was also originally in the Broadway role of Judd Steiner as well. This film also marked a significant shift in his career, especially with the types of roles he was offered.
Long Day’s Journey into Night: Stockwell won his other Cannes scroll for this, and everyone in this is great. It’s a film adaptation of the greatest American stage play, and Stockwell said in an interview that he waited a long time to get this role. He worked hard in his role too.
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour “Annabel”: As a young man, especially after Compulsion, Stockwell was often cast in creepy psycho roles like this. He plays mentally disturbed well, despite his reluctance at being typecast in those types of roles, and this is one good example. (This is from the 1960s. If you want a 1970s example, Streets of San Francisco’s “The Programming of Charlie Blake” is another good one)
Bonanza “The Medal”: Matthew Rush, Stockwell’s character, is sweet, misunderstood and atypical compared to the other types of legal system, deranged and/or criminal characters he was playing around this time (late 1960s to 1970s).
Paris, Texas: The role that helped push Stockwell back into the 1980s spotlight (along with Dune, but I’m not going to recommend Dune for most people) after many years of not getting good work. He’s only in the first half or so, but it’s overall a good film.
Blue Velvet: Stockwell’s only in one scene, which only lasts about eight minutes, but this scene is fantastic and helped make him famous for a reason. Ben is also easily the most out-there of any of the characters he’s played.
Married to the Mob: Stockwell received his Academy Award nomination for this film, and it was what helped launch him into steady work throughout the 1990s.
Quantum Leap episodes (in particular, “M.I.A.”): As Admiral Albert “Al” Calavicci, Stockwell shows a very wide range. Sure, Al may seem like a lech at first, but over the course of the show, Stockwell gives him so much depth. His performance in “M.I.A.” earned him an Emmy nomination, which he should have won.
Battlestar Galactica episodes (in particular, “No Exit”): Brother Cavil continues Stockwell’s old tradition of playing psychotic/evil/creepy characters, in the form of a machine turned man who resents it. With age, he gives Cavil depth as well. “No Exit,” in particular, has Cavil’s well-known speech: “I don’t want to be human! I want to see gamma rays!”
BSG: The Plan: This stars Cavil, and also has a reference to The Boy with Green Hair, letting Stockwell’s career come full circle.