Hayden’s Sometimes Sterling Career

Sterling Hayden, who died May 23 at the age of 70 after a long bout with cancer, preferred writing novels and sailing yachts to acting. Even so, Hayden turned in several masterful performances, from the lanky heroes of his early-’50s pictures to the bearded patriarchs and wild-eyed mavericks of his later films. Here are some of his movies available on video. If your local store does not have a certain item, phone numbers may provide information.

“The Asphalt Jungle” (1950). John Huston’s famous, gritty account of a jewel heist. No rating. MGM/UA, $69.95. (212) 408-0600.

“Dr. Strangelove” (1964). General Jack D. Ripper (Hayden) starts World War III to save our “precious bodily fluids” in Stanley Kubrick’s dark comedy. Rated PG. RCA/Columbia, $69.95. (818) 906-1722.

“Final Programme (The Last Days of Man on Earth)” (1973). Bizarre British S-F comedy based on Michael Moorcock novel. Rated R. Thorn-EMI-HBO, $59.95. (212) 977-8990.

“Flat Top” (1952). World War II aircraft-carrier pilots are commanded by a hard-nosed skipper. No rating. Republic, $39.95. (213) 306-4040.

“Gas” (1981). Not to be confused with Roger Corman’s “Gas-s-s-s” of a decade earlier, this is a Canadian comedy about a gas shortage. Donald Sutherland, Howie Mandel. Rated R. Republic, $72.95.

“The Godfather” (1972). A family film, but not about your everyday American brood. Hayden plays a corrupt policeman. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Rated R. Paramount, $79.95. (Combined with “The Godfather II” and extra footage in “The Godfather Epic” for $179.95.) (213) 468-5000.

“Johnny Guitar” (1954). Nicholas Ray’s catty, kinky, Freudian Western stars Hayden in the title role, with Joan Crawford and Mercedes McCambridge providing the claws. No rating. Republic, $39.95.

“King of the Gypsies” (1978). Hayden is the title patriarch in this Frank Pierson-directed look at a tribe, with Eric Roberts and Susan Sarandon. Rated R. Paramount, $59.95.

“The Last Command” (1955). If you’d like to remember the Alamo cinematically, here’s an alternative to John Wayne’s later epic. This Frank Lloyd film stars Hayden as Jim Bowie, of knife fame. No rating. Republic, $39.95.

“Suddenly” (1954). Good guy Hayden tries to thwart Frank Sinatra’s plans to assassinate the President. No rating. Continental, $39.95. (213) 477-8055.

“Venom” (1982). A terrorist and his hostages are trapped in an apartment with one of the deadliest snakes known to scriptwriters, the black mamba. Also stars Klaus Kinski and Oliver Reed. Rated R. Vestron, $59.95. (203) 968-0000.

“Winter Kills” (1979). One of those love-it-or-hate-it William Richert movies, this one about an attempt to solve a presidential-assassination case (shades of “Suddenly”). With John Huston, Jeff Bridges. Rated R. Embassy, $69.95. (213) 553-3600.