When Alan Hale jr was considered for the part of the skipper on GI, he was doing a picture with the cowboy star Audie Murphy. He stated this on "The Gilligans Island reunion" Back in the late 80s on the Ross Shafer show and it was also said in the TV movie "Surviving Gilligans Island" I was just curious as to what movie Alan was doing with Murphy at the time, and the only thing I can find is "Bullet for a Badman" A western from 1964. Also, I have seen Alan in many roles part from GI and he was one heck of a good actor, as you won't see a hint of the skipper in his other roles.

Here is Alan in the movie he was making in 1963 when he rode a horse off the Utah location at Zions National Park. Hitchhiked to the airport in Las Vegas and flew to LA to audition for the role of his lifetime.

The role uses Alan's good looks but not his charm.

In BULLET FOR A BAD MAN, good guy Audie Murphy is out to avenge bad guy Darren McGavin.

Alan plays henchman Leach and only has a fight scene at 36 minute mark after Audie catches Alan bullying the gorgeous Ruta Lee.

The movie also has future sitcom stars Beverley Owen of the Munsters and Ed Platt of Get Smart.

Interesting!!

In Gilligan's Island, Bob Denver and Alan Hale are similar to Laurel and Hardy. Bob Denver acts like Laurel and Alan Hale acts like Hardy. The Laurel and Hardy connection is one factor that made the show popular, and also a reason it's popularity continues today.

Funny you mentioned "Surviving Gilligan's Island," because you just made me consider snagging a copy on DVD. The big surprise I remember from this is who played Alan Hale in that movie; None other than "Good Luck Charlie's" Eric Allan Kramer.

Yes, a good movie. Alan was great as a baddie, of sorts. Darren and Ruta were great and Ed Platt had a small part. Ed was also part of the Hwood Hackers a group of entertainers who prefered to play golf where and whenever without having to join a snooty golf club. Alan was a member. ;) The best Alan role I've seen, to date, is his appearance in passport to danger. It is on dvd.

Funny you mentioned "Surviving Gilligan's Island," because you just made me consider snagging a copy on DVD. The big surprise I remember from this is who played Alan Hale in that movie; None other than "Good Luck Charlie's" Eric Allan Kramer.
And you know something? He even looked like Alan in many of the scenes.

Absolutely! He even laughed like him in his very first scene, at the commissary when Sherwood first found him. I, being a detailed person, didn't care for the inaccuracies of the scene. 1) Alan was filming Advance to the Rear and was playing a southerner who joined the union. In the CBS film, Alan's character is wearing a Rebel uniform. 2) Alan tells his wife, Trinket, that he could go back to selling vacuum cleaners. Alan DID sell them but only when he was married to his first wife Bettina. This was back in the 40's and early 50s.;)