GEORGE "BUCK" FLOWER PROFILE

In the annals of modern film history there is no one more elusive than character actor George "Buck" Flower. My many attempts to come up with a biography or even a somewhat complete filmography of the man proved fruitless because very little has been written about him. (Note: The Internet Movie Database [www.imdb.com] has a fairly detailed filmography on Mr. Flower). My efforts to contact Mr. Flower personally have proven equally ineffective. Getting a decent photo of him is like pulling teeth. So why do a profile on him? Because he happens to be one of my favorites and I feel it is about time something was written about him, even if I know absolutely nothing of the man except what I have seen of him on the screen. Buck is definitely one of those unsung heroes of low budget cinema. He is one of those actors whose face you always recognize but never seem to remember what films you saw him in. His pot-bellied, redneck appearance made him ideal for drive-in backwoods trash cinema. As far as I can tell, he made his film debut in a series of hillbilly flicks directed by Bethel Buckalew for Harry Novak's Boxoffice International Pictures. The first one was SOUTHERN COMFORTS (1971), a charming story about a moonshiner who becomes involved with five backwood hillbilly babes. Buck was never the star of these films, but rather a supporting player. His parts were small, as if to add some local color. Most of Buck's career in films has been as a supporting or bit player, relegated to a few minutes or seconds of screen time. He is also one of the very few actors who has appeared in the full spectrum of the MPAA ratings system. He can be seen in the G-rated ADVENTURES OF THE WILDERNESS FAMILY (1975), the PG-rated BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985), the PG13-rated MASTERS OF MENACE (1990), the R-rated CHEERLEADER CAMP (1988) and the X-rated NIGHT OF THE WARLOCK (1971). Buck's grizzled looks and raspy voice made him perfect for roles as bums, winos, janitors, sheriffs, grandfathers and farmers. Perhaps his best known role is that of a disheveled drifter in John Carpenter's THEY LIVE (1988). When we first spot him in this film he is a filthy mess, with his dirty, torn clothes and unkempt bearded face. Later on (after he sides with the invading alien race) he can be seen clean shaven, wearing a tuxedo and extolling the virtues of the aliens to Roddy Piper. It was a small, but pivital, role that exemplifies the greed of human nature; selling out one's own race for personal gain. (Buck is a recurring player in many of Carpenter's films.) Buck is no prude either, as he has doffed his clothes for full frontal nude shots in VIDEO VIXENS (1973) and INNOCENT SALLY (1973) as well as portraying a tranvestite in director Chris Warfield's 1972 film NORMA. Buck also appeared in the infamous ILSA - SHE WOLF OF THE SS (1974) as Binz, the male doctor under Dyanne Thorne's control. Apparently, even he was taken aback by the finished product, as he opted to use the pseudonym "C.D. Lafleuer" in the credits (Producer David F. Friedman refused to take any credit!). Buck also has some experience behind the cameras, as he has written or co-written the screenplays for TEENAGE SEDUCTRESS (1971), DRIVE-IN MASSACRE (1976), BABY DOLLS (1982) and IN SEARCH OF A GOLDEN SKY (1984). He was also co-producer of the Robert Z'dar starrer, NIGHT STALKER (1986). His biggest role of recent years was that of Jake Jericho, a kindly, beer drinking uncle who is being tracked down in the Arizona desert by crazed killer Robert Z'dar in DRAGONFIGHT (1990). Not only does he get plenty of screen time but he also acts as the film's offscreen narrator. It's not a good film, but Buck does have a memorable death scene. As a matter of fact, he's the best reason to watch the film. Buck has worked for many well known genre directors, including Anthony Hickox, Bill Rebane, Matt Cimber, Jim Wynorski, Robert Zemekis and the aforementioned John Carpenter. With all this exposure, you would think that more would be written about him. The sad fact is that most reference books don't even acknowledge his existance. The few reference books that do mention him give sparse information, only bothering to refer to his most widely-known films and not offering any personal data like the year he was born (I believe it was 1936) or where he was born. If anyone out there can supply me with this information or knows how I can get in contact with Buck, please let me know. He is the only true enigma in my constant search for cinematic truth.
LATE NEWS: Mr. Flower has contacted me by email and sent me the following interview by Spanish web site Terror International. Click HERE to see the interview. Psychotronic Video magazine is also interested in doing an extensive interview with Buck. It's about time that he gets the recognition he deserves!
SAD NEWS: Mr. Flower passed away in his sleep on June 18, 2004 after battling an illness for most of the year. For more on his passing away, click HERE.



GEORGE "BUCK" FLOWER FILMOGRAPHY

TITLE

DATE

DIRECTOR

NORMA

1970

TED ROTER

COUSIN JED RISES AGAIN (X-RATED)

1970

?

ALIAS SMITH AND JONES (TV GUEST)

1971

?

SATAN'S LUST (X-RATED)
AKA: NIGHT OF THE WARLOCK

1971

?

SOUTHERN COMFORTS

1971

BETHEL BUCKALEW

BELOW THE BELT

1971

BETHEL BUCKALEW 

COUNTRY CUZZINS             

1971

BETHEL BUCKALEW

TOUCH ME

1971

SAM WESTON

MOTHER KNOWS BEST (X-RATED)

1971

BEN ROSE

TEENAGE SEDUCTRESS  (SCREENPLAY)

1971

CHRIS WARFIELD        

EROTIC ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO (GRIP)

1971

COREY ALLEN

SEX IN THE COMICS (X-RATED)

1972

ANTHONY SPINELLI

MIDNIGHT PLOWBOY      

1973 

BETHEL BUCKALEW   

TEENAGE INNOCENCE
(FIRST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR)

1973

CHRIS WARFIELD

TOWER OF LOVE

1973

GEORGE DRAZICH

THE DARING DOBERMANS

1973

BYRON CHUDNOW

THE DIRTY MIND OF YOUNG SALLY a.k.a. INNOCENT SALLY                    

1973 

BETHEL BUCKALEW

DEVIL AND LEROY BASSET  
AKA: PISTOL-PACKIN' LEROY   

1973 

ROBERT E. PEARSON

THE DIRTY DOLLS (X-RATED)

1973

STU SEAGAL

SUCKULA (X-RATED)

1973

ANTHONY SPINELLI

THE SEX PROPHET (X-RATED)

1973

R. LEVI SALONEN

GUESS WHO'S COMING THIS WEEKEND (X-RATED)

1973

?

VIDEO VIXENS  (X-RATED) 
AKA: BLACK SOCKS                          

1974 

RON SULLIVAN

ILSA-SHE WOLF OF THE SS    

1974 

DON EDMUNDS 

DELINQUENT SCHOOLGIRLS   

1974 

GREGORY CORARITO

ALICE GOODBODY

1974 

TOM SCHEUER  

BENEATH THE WAR OF THE WORLDS

1974

ALLAN MUIR

TENDER LOVING CARE

1974

DON EDMONDS

THE EXECUTIONER

1974

DUKE MITCHELL

INVISIBLE MAN (TV SERIES GUEST)
EPISODE: "GO DIRECTLY TO JAIL"

1975

SIGMUND NEUFELD, JR.

ORGY-AMERICAN STYLE

1975

CARLOS TOBALINA

A GEMINI AFFAIR

1975

MATT CIMBER

LADY COCOA

1975

MATT CIMBER

JOHNNY FIRECLOUD

1975

WILLIAM A. CASTLEMAN

ILSA-HAREM KEEPER OF THE OIL SHEIKS

1975

DON EDMONDS

THAT GIRL FROM BOSTON

1975

MATT CIMBER

FLASH AND THE FIRECAT

1975

FERD & BEVERLY SEBASTION

CANDY TANGERINE MAN 

1975 

MATT CIMBER  

CRIMINALLY INSANE

1975

NICK MILLARD

ADVEN.WILDERNESS FAMILY 

1975 

STEWART RAFFILL 

ACROSS THE GREAT DIVIDE   

1976 

STEWART RAFFILL

BAD GEORGIA ROAD

1976

JOHN C. BRODERICK

LOVE GAMES (X-RATED)

1976

ED DE PRIEST

DEEP JAWS (X-RATED)

1976

PERRY DELL 

A SMALL TOWN IN TEXAS

1976

JACK STARRETT

WITCH WHO CAME FROM THE SEA

1976

MATT CIMBER 

DRIVE-IN MASSACRE

1976 

STU SEGALL

BARE KNUCKLES

1977

DON EDMONDS

JOYRIDE TO NOWHERE (SCREENWRITER)

1977

RONALD C. ROSS

THE CLIFFWOOD AVENUE KIDS (TV)

1977

WIN OPIE

THE ALPHA INCIDENT    

1977 

BILL REBANE

WILDERNESS FAMILY PART 2     

1977 

FRANK ZUNIGA 

THE KID FROM NOT-SO-BIG

1978

WILLIAM CRAIN

BIG BOB JOHNSON (TV)

1978

JACK STARRETT

THE TIME MACHINE (TV)

1978

HENNING SCHELLERUP

TEEN LUST (THE GIRL NEXT DOOR)

1979

JAMES HONG

THE CAPTURE OF BIGFOOT

1979 

BILL REBANE

UP YOURS - A ROCKIN' COMEDY
a.k.a. UP YOUR LADDER

1979

JOHN HAYES,EDDIE RYDER

MOUNTAIN FAMILY ROBINSON 

1979 

JOHN COTTER 

DUKES OF HAZZARD (TV SERIES GUEST)
EPISODE: "JUDE EMERY"

1979

ROD AMATEAU

FLO (TV SERIES; 8 EPISODES)

1980

MARC DANIELS & OTHERS

BEYOND EVIL (PRODUCTION ADVISOR)

1980

HERB FREED

TERROR ON TOUR (PRODUCTION MGR.)

1980

DON EDMONDS

THE FOG                                  

1980 

JOHN CARPENTER

GETTING OVER                         

1981 

BERNIE ROLLINS 

ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK    

1981

JOHN CARPENTER

FLICKS                                            

1981 

PETER WINOGRAD

EARLY WARNING

1981

DAVID R. ELLIOTT

STRANGE TRUE STORIES (TV)
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR

1981

JIM HANLEY

IT'S CALLED MURDER BABY

1982

ANTHONY SPINELLI

FAKE OUT                                            

1982 

MATT CIMBER 

THE LONELY LADY
(ASSISTANT DIRECTOR 2ND UNIT)

1983

PETER SASDY

CUTTER TO HOUSTON (TV SERIES GUEST)

1983

?

CALL TO GLORY (TV SERIES GUEST)

1984

?

IN SEARCH OF A GOLDEN SKY 

1984 

JEFFERSON RICHARD

BREAKIN' (ADDITIONAL VOICE)

1984

JOEL SILBERG

MY THERAPIST

1984

GARY LEGON

STARMAN                                     

1984 

JOHN CARPENTER

TAKIN'  IT OFF                               

1984 

ED HANSEN 

BACK TO THE FUTURE               

1985 

ROBERT ZEMEKIS

OUTLAWS (TV SERIES GUEST)

1986

?

NIGHT STALKER                           

1986 

MAX KLEVEN

RIGGED   AKA: HIT AND RUN

1986

CLAUDIO CUTRY

CODE NAME ZEBRA                   

1986 

JOE TORNATORE

GROTESQUE (PRE-PRODUCTION COORDINATOR)

1987

JOE TORNATORE

W.A.R.: WOMEN AGAINST RAPE
AKA: DEATH BLOW
AKA: LETHAL VICTIMS

1987

RAPHAEL NUSSBAUM

PARTY FAVORS                            

1987 

ED HANSEN 

BATES MOTEL (TV MOVIE)                        

1987 

RICHARD ROTHSTEIN

SORORITY BABES/SLIMEBALL BOWL

1987 

DAVID DECOTEAU

TAKIN' IT ALL OFF

1987

ED HANSEN

THEY LIVE                      

1988 

JOHN CARPENTER

MANIAC COP

1988

WILLIAM LUSTIG

DEATH NURSE 2

1988

NICK MILLARD

CHEERLEADER CAMP
AKA: BLOODY POM POMS   

1988 

JOHN QUINN 

BERSERKER: THE NORDIC CURSE

1988 

JEF RICHARD

PUMPKINHEAD

1988

STAN WINSTON

MAC AND ME                         

1988 

STEWART RAFFILL

THE AMERICAN SCREAM

1988

MITCHELL LINDEN

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION

1989

TOBE HOOPER

L.A. LAW (TV SERIES GUEST)
EPISODE: "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL"

1989

MAX TASH

SISTER KATE (TV SERIES GUEST)

1989

JEFFREY MELMAN

BLOOD GAMES (as "Ernest Wall")

1989 

TANYA ROSENBERG

BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II 

1989 

ROBERT ZEMEKIS

RELENTLESS                                     

1989 

WILLIAM LUSTIG

ONE MAN FORCE                        

1989 

DALE TREVILLION

W.B., BLUE AND THE BEAN (BAIL OUT)

1989

MAX KLEVEN

SUNDOWN: VAMPIRE IN RETREAT

1989

ANTHONY HICKOX

GHOST WRITER (TV)

1990

KENNETH J. HALL

PARTY PLANE                         

1990 

ED HANSEN

MASTERS OF MENACE             

1990 

DANIEL RASKOV

PUPPET MASTER 2               

1990 

DAVID ALLEN

DOWN HOME (TV SERIES GUEST)

1990

JOHN RATZENBERGER

THEY CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (TV) EPISODE: RODEO ROMEOS

1990

SIDNEY HAYERS

DRAGONFIGHT   

1990 

WARREN STEVENS

DOWN THE DRAIN 

1990 

ROBERT C. HUGHES

NERDS OF A FEATHER (YOUNG HEARTS, DEADLY SPIES)

1990

GARY GRAVER, MARIO ROMEO MILANO

976-EVIL 2                             

1991 

JIM WYNORSKI

WAXWORK 2: LOST IN TIME 

1991 

ANTHONY HICKOX

SOLDIER'S FORTUNE

1991 

ARTHUR N. MELE

SPEAK OF THE DEVIL

1991

RAPHAEL NUSSBAUM

DEAD MEN DON'T DIE

1991

MALCOLM MARMORSTEIN

GIANT OF THUNDER MOUNTAIN

1991

JAMES ROBERSON

MIRROR IMAGES                 

1991 

A.G. HIPPOLYTE 

BIKINI CAR WASH COMPANY (WRITER)

1992

ED HANSEN

MUNCHIE                                       

1992 

JIM WYNORSKI

INSIDE OUT 2

1992 

VARIOUS DIRECTORS

THE TURN ON

1985/93

STEVE BARNETT

WARLOCK: THE ARMAGEDDON

1993

ANTHONY HICKOX

SKEETER

1993

CLARK BRANDON

BODY BAGS

1993

JOHN CARPENTER

ADVENTURES OF BRISCO COUNTY JR.
EPISODE: "SOCRATE'S SISTER"

1993

GREG BEEMAN

HELL'S BELLES

1993

ED HANSEN

CAMP FEAR (MILLENNIUM COUNTDOWN)

1994

THOM KEITH

CIRCUITRY MAN II: PLUGHEAD REWIRED

1994

STEVEN LOVY

TAMMY AND THE T-REX

1994

STEWART RAFFILL

RIPPER MAN

1994

PHIL SEARS

MAGIC OF THE GOLDEN BEAR

1994

JOHN QUINN

TAKIN' IT OFF OUT WEST

1995

ED HANSEN

FAST MONEY

1995

ALEX WRIGHT

RENEGADE (TV)

1992 & 1995

MIKE MARVIN
MICHAEL LEVINE

NIGHT STAND (TV SERIES GUEST)

1995

?

LIVE SHOT (TV SERIES GUEST)
EPISODE: "WHAT PRICE EPISODE?"

1995

ANSON WILLIAMS

HARD BOUNTY

1995

JIM WYNORSKI

VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED

1995

JOHN CARPENTER

DEATH FALLS (SCREENWRITER)

1996

JUNE SAMSON

DEMOLITION HIGH

1996

JIM WYNORSKI

EXECUTIVE TARGET

1996

JOSEPH MERHI

SKELETONS

1996

DAVID DECOTEAU

DARK BREED

1996

RICHARD PEPIN

RUNNING HARD

1996

SERGE RODNUNSKY

WISHMASTER

1997

ROBERT KURTZMAN

FOREST WARRIOR

1997

AARON NORRIS

MOONBASE

1997

PAOLO MAZZUCATO

FALLEN ANGEL

1997

JOHN QUINN

E.R. (TV SERIES GUEST)
EPISODE: "FATHERS AND SONS"

1997

CHRISTOPHER CHULACK

N.Y.P.D. BLUE (TV GUEST)
EPISODE: DRAINING EXPERIENCE"

1997

MICHAEL WATKINS

GOOD COP, BAD COP

1997

JOHN DE BELLO

CHAMPIONS

1998

PETER BUNCHE

MOM, CAN I KEEP HER?

1998

FRED OLEN RAY

BLOODSUCKERS (VAMPIRE CLUB)

1998

ULLI LOMMELL

POWER RANGERS IN SPACE
EPISODE: "COUNTDOWN TO DESTRUCTION"

1998

JONATHAN TZACHOR

BROOKLYN SOUTH (TV SERIES GUEST)
EPISODE: "TEARS ON MY WILLOW"

1998

JAMES WHITMORE, JR.

DR. QUINN MEDICINE WOMAN (TV GUEST)
EPISODE: "VENGEANCE"

1998

 JEROME R. LONDON

BEYOND BELIEF (TV GUEST)

1998

TONY RANDALL

THE PRETENDER (TV GUEST)

1999

JAMES WHITMORE JR.

PERFECT FIT

1999

DONALD P. BORCHERS

RADICAL JACK

1999

JAMES ALLEN BRADLEY

SILICON TOWERS

1999

SERGE RODNUNSKY

18 WHEELS OF JUSTICE (TV GUEST)
EPISODE: "HOT CARS AND FAST WOMEN"

2000

STEWART RAFFILL

POWER RANGERS LIGHTSPEED RESCUE
EPISODE: "GREAT EGG CAPER"

2000

RYUTA TASAKI

CRASH POINT ZERO (EXTREME LIMITS)

2000

JIM WYNORSKI

FLAMINGO DREAMS

2000

LAMAR CARD

BRING HIM HOME

2000

ROBERT FEDOR

WOOLY BOYS

2001

LESZEK BURZYNSKI

WAKING UP IN RENO

2001

JORDAN BRADY

POWER RANGERS TIME FORCE
EPISODE: "MOVIE MADNESS"
aka POWER RANGERS TIME FORCE: PHOTO FINISH

2001

KOICHI SAKAMOTO

CURSE OF THE KOMODO

2003

JIM WYNORSKI

THEY ARE AMONG US

2004

JEFFREY OBROW