Kurt Russell imitates Clint Eastwood in The Snake Plissken Escape from New York

John Carpenter’s 1981 sci-fi film “Escape from New York” Here’s a new premise. In the distant future of 1997, crime has skyrocketed by 400%. Instead of stopping crime in New York City, the government has built a wall around the island of Manhattan, turning the entire city into a giant prison. There are no police inside, only armed guards and mine-covered bridges to keep people inside. Anyone who commits a serious crime is locked in New York and must defend themselves.

Of course, Air Force One is shot down and the President’s escape pod lands in a New York prison. The President (Donald Pleasance) is trapped! Dangerous, eye-patched criminal Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) has recently been arrested for robbery and is given an ultimatum by the wily Police Commissioner (Lee Van Cleef). Snake agrees to infiltrate New York and rescue the President, or his criminal record will be wiped clean. The Commissioner also has a bomb planted in Snake’s neck that will explode if he fails to rescue the President in time. Cynical Snake hates being forced to be a hero. He won’t learn to be more heroic until the end of the film.

Carpenter has often expressed a fondness for classic Westerns, and he thinks that a cool-headed villain like Snake Plissken reminds him of a classic, seasoned Western hero. Kurt Russell also felt the same way about Plissken, even modeling his performance on Clint Eastwood. Russell’s decision to take on the role was solidified when he learned that Eastwood’s co-star Van Cleef had been cast in the project. Russell shared his thoughts in an interview: Escape Pages from New York and LA.

snake eastwood

AVCO Embassy Photos

Interviewer Whitney Scott Bain spoke extensively with Russell about Plissken, eventually turning to the character’s gruff voice. Snake delivers all his lines with a snarling disdain, never shouting but always full of contempt. Russell admitted that it was a direct imitation of Clint Eastwood, particularly the one Eastwood used in two films with Lee Van Cleef: “For a Few Dollars More” (1965) and “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” (1966). Russell said:

“Before we started filming, we were trying to find the voice for Snake, and John said, Bob Hawke was just played by Lee Van Cleef. Clint Eastwood had done all the movies with him and made him a star, so I thought I could do it. So we did the Eastwood version of Snake. He’s quieter than Eastwood, and sometimes he’s so quiet that you can barely hear what he’s saying.”

Of course, anyone who knows Clint Eastwood’s performances in “Dollars” and “Ugly” will know what Russell is doing. Eastwood’s on-screen persona is legendary, and Russell is very clearly imitating it. You’d know that even if Lee Van Cleef wasn’t in the film. It’s not exactly a secret. But Van Cleef’s presence certainly invites comparisons.

But when asked who his favorite actor is, Russell was diplomatic, saying they are all amazing because of their skills. He added that as an audience member, he enjoys watching all the movies. Of course, Russell has been working as a professional actor since he was 12.So he knows how to be calm and positive about Hollywood. Russell certainly wouldn’t want to go on record as loving or hating anyone more than anyone else. What we do know for sure is that he loves working with John Carpenter. They’ve made five films together.