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This might be the earliest mention of LVC being a villain, at least in a non-English newspaper. In 1953, just one year after High Noon!

HE DOESN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT HIS "BAD MAN" REPUTATION Recalling that Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, Alan Ladd, and other famous and beloved stars began their careers in "villain" roles, Lee Van Cleef does not complain about the reputation of being "the quintessential cinema bad guy" that he earned from his first eight performances.* Nevertheless, he is satisfied with his new film, in which he plays a likeable role, paradoxical as that may seem. This film is Arena, M.G.M.'s first 3D feature-length production. Lee will appear as a daring and brave Western cowboy. Starring alongside him will be Polly Bergen, Jean Hagen, and Gig Young.

I was surprised once to find an Italian article from the late 50s along the same lines, but this is even earlier. I wouldn't have expected Lee to be on the radar of the international press pre-Leone, but I suppose these kinds of articles were based on press kits sent from the film production companies to newspapers.

* Lee starred in seven and not eight films before Arena, and in one of them he played a good guy (The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms), assuming he was a bad guy in the lost White Lightning too.

Source: Correio Paulistano, 10 September 1953

#lee van cleef #lvc articles #arena 1953

Angel Eyes is the character of all time. He's bad. He is ambiguous. He's good. He is a supernatural entity that personifies institutional cruelty against people in vulnerable situations. He's just a guy doing some shit. He is calculating and cold. He giggles all the time and has a lot of fun. He is always one step ahead. He is fooled. He is a bounty hunter. He is a soldier. He works alone. He has a bunch of henchmen. He is the villain. He is the one who personally killed the fewest people in the entire movie. He struck a woman like a dirty coward. He gave a bottle of liquor to comfort a dying man. He is Mortimer's twin. He has no ties to anyone. He is confident. He is careless. He is terrifying. He feared Blondie. His Italian name is "Sentenza"—judgment. Its introduction is like a horror movie. He is the one who treats Blondie the best. Blondie hates him more than he hates Tuco. He knew about the treasure the whole time. He died a pathetic death without ever seeing the fortune. The fandom hates him. The fandom admits how well-written he is. He was just watching the toxic Yaoi between Blondie and Tuco. He wanted to be part of the team in some way. He is the devil on Tuco's shoulder. He didn't care about him. He is a liar. He was the most honest one. He had a very clear work ethic. He was completely crazy. Lee's best-known role.