Typecasting is a very real fear for many actors. When taking on a role, performers are extremely conscious of how they will be viewed for the rest of their careers. In some cases, a single role will result in plenty more offers of similar material, without much room for growth. In other situations, a performance can help cement their legacy, while opening doors they may never have expected. This is especially true of big blockbuster filmmaking and genre pieces. Those that starred in Harry Potter very much have this same difficult tightrope to walk. On one hand, stars like Daniel Radcliffe have attempted to build a new foundation, with unique choices like a Weird Al biopic contributing to an impressive career.

Others, such as Alan Rickman, had a healthy list of credits before starring in the Wizarding World and will be fondly remembered for all of them. Yet, irrespective of their other work, these performers will always be synonymous with their Harry Potter characters. One star of the early movies, though, whose legacy is defined by their time at Hogwarts, boasts a particularly underrated western war film in their arsenal, which deserves the spotlight in the modern age. Both the western and the war film are genres on the rise, and a lot can be learned from Richard Harris' Major Dundee.

To appreciate Richard Harris' other work, it is first important to look at that famous role that audiences will always know him for. Because he had a very tough challenge, stepping into Harry Potter just as the series was taking off on the big screen. Dumbledore is an integral character to the story, and what's more, one that fans had already built up an image of from the novels. Harris had to work hard to find the voice of his Dumbledore, while still portraying that wise wizard that audiences had read on the page. However, he was more than up to it, based on the performance he would produce.

Harris approached the part with a sense of charm and a twinkle in his eye. He was softly spoken, rarely losing his temper, regardless of what the material demanded. He took his own approach, and differed greatly from all the other professors at Hogwarts. It felt as if he could be trusted in some capacity, and played the part of an elderly family member, rather than a teacher. It was easy to underestimate him, but his power was legendary. Harris could switch between being almost ordinary and a great leader in quick succession. In many ways, Richard Harris embodied the spirit of Hogwarts itself.

When Richard Harris passed away, it was a tough task to replace him. Eventually, Warner Bros. settled on Michael Gambon, who brought his own flavor to the part. While he had a twinge in his accent which paid homage to Richard Harris, there was really no other way to replicate what he had done. Harris had set the bar, and Gambon had to be able to make the character his own, because the comparisons would be undeniable. Everyone has their favorite Dumbledore, and every actor who steps into the part will look back on Harris as the original and perhaps the most similar to the novels.

Richard Harris brought his best to Harry Potter, and the performance was a showcase of his subtlety. Like so many other veterans in the series, Harris had developed his talents through a combination of the stage and screen. While major roles like Gladiator sat on his CV, Harris was also in some throwback hits and underrated gems, each of which taught the performer something new. It was his appearance in Major Dundee that film students and historians should perhaps look back on, though, for a true showcase of his potential. As the leading man, Harris was everything that audiences hoped he would be.

For those who don't know, Major Dundee sits in both the western and war genres, and was made in 1965. The film was distributed by Columbia Pictures and produced by Jerry Bresler Productions. It was directed by the skilled Sam Peckinpah and written by Harry Julian Fink, Oscar Saul, and Sam Peckinpah. The film may be a piece of art by modern standards, but it is also well-known for its development hell. The production in particular was said to be incredibly difficult, as constant problems and clashing personalities led to a near-disaster.

Richard Harris starred alongside Charlton Heston, Jim Hutton, James Coburn​​​​​, Michael Anderson Jr. and a range of other well-known actors from the time period. Despite the tension on set, the ensemble came together well, exhibiting solid chemistry and indicating what the genre can really be. They bring gravitas to their roles, and with a variety of the performers also coming from traditional, theatrical backgrounds, their quality simply cannot be denied. While they might have been dealing with heightened themes and action or conflict, they still had their fundamentals to draw from.

The film itself is set in 1864 and 1865, during the American Civil War. The piece centers on the struggle between a Union Cavalry officer and his army regulars, who in turn face the Apaches, with the uneasy alliance of Confederate Prisoners and Native Americans. The film is firmly about these personalities and alternative viewpoints coming together, as the group travels towards Mexico for their own brand of justice. The film plays right up until the end of the American Civil War, including the surrender of Robert E. Lee and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, indicating what it was like to live during this tumultuous period of history.

But the film also sits as a perfect piece of cinema for its own time period. The cinematography is gorgeous, the action well-choreographed, the political themes complex and the dialogue gripping. Those who are unfamiliar with this type of filmmaking may get quite the shock as to how modern so many elements of Major Dundee feel, and yet how of its time it also is. It's not flawless, of course, but it is a fascinating display of how attitudes to film can change. The picture was critically panned at the time of its release, but retrospective reviews praise its ambition.

Richard Harris' performance in the American Civil War film Major Dundee has to be studied in more detail to get an understanding of what he's doing in the picture. He plays Captain Benjamin Tyreen, a high-ranking official, and a pivotal character that the film relies upon to deliver exposition and as an emotional compass. Harris has a presence that commands the screen, fitting of his military role. But Harris also builds up sympathy for the character, the audience eventually rooting for him as he charges into battle, making a heroic sacrifice in aid of his men. He isn't the titular lead, but he is a leading man in every sense.

But, Harris was far from the consummate professional on set, often drinking on the job and clashing with other members of the crew in his own right. In many ways, it's incredible that he turned in his trademark subtle performance at all, but he would clearly learn a lot from these errors. Without pictures like Major Dundee, fans would not have experienced the great depth and variety seen in characters like Albus Dumbledore. This is a fascinating reflection of an actor on top of his game in front of the camera, but battling with demons behind it.

Looking back on Major Dundee, it's easy to revise what those early reporters said, especially in the context of what was happening on set. And while Dumbledore might now define Harris' career, alongside the likes of Gladiator, it's also hard to deny the part that Major Dundee had to play. Its respect for good filmmaking can't be overlooked, and it's a western and war spectacle unto itself, which is still grounded in raw emotion and historical subtext. Audiences have to go back and check out the miracle movie that probably should have never been completed, and the performance that partially shaped the veteran's career.