Strother was terrified of both Peckinpah and John Ford. Denver Pyle tells about working on Liberty Valance. He related that Ford used to unnerve Strother by calling him Stroker. Pyle's chair was next to Pyle's one morning and Ford commented that Martin was getting used to him. Pyle asked "How's that, Mr. Ford?"
Ford replied "He doesn't jump as high now when I call him." Ford yelled "STROKER MARTIN!" Strother flew about three feet in the air and scrambled over to Ford, who turned to Pyle and said "He didn't jump nearly as high as he used to, did he?"
We deal in lead, friend.
