BILL KILLS: David Carradine,
73rd Annual Academy Awards, 2001 Patience, young grasshopper, and you will
grow up to be king cobra of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. During his
long, meandering journey toward cinematic apotheosis as the Bride's nemesis,
Carradine hooked
... more up with Scorsese's "Boxcar Bertha," played legendary Woody Guthrie, and suffered soulfully in "The Serpent's Egg" for Ingmar Bergman. Quentin Tarantino first offered the
role of Bill to Warren Beatty, envisioning a reaper as suave as James
Bond. Beatty said no, but suggested Carradine. Now, of course, it's impossible
to imagine this magnificent revenger flick without the central, lethal gravity
of the once and future "Kung Fu" master. At the Oscars in
2001, he was dazzling in a vintage champagne tux with contrasting satin lapels,
tie and slip-ons. That's Carradine to a T, high style with just an edge of de
trop. (Ernie Stewart/Retna Ltd.)Close