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Post by Dark Cloud on Jan 11, 2013 11:33:55 GMT -6
Heard from Bob Reece that Evan Connell had died at 88.
Like it or not, his book was the device that led to a resurgence of interest in Custer in 1984. It sold a ton and still in print, I think. Hated the 'movie' made from it, but the book I value greatly. Also, he sent me a letter once, in reply to a query of mine. Still have the copy, gave the original away to a family member.
He could write really well, and nobody approaches him in talent or mere skill.
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Post by fred on Jan 11, 2013 12:28:20 GMT -6
I agree totally, DC. Son of the Morning Star started me on this journey and like Fox and Gray, I have read it several times. Beautifully done.
By the way, Quincannon and all you others who remember-- I only saw this today, but Harry Carey, Jr., died at 91. He was the last of the John Ford "stock company." And Mr. Cohill's sidekick. Like John Wayne and Ben Johnson, John Agar and Victor McLaughlin, I shall miss him.
Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by quincannon on Jan 11, 2013 21:32:27 GMT -6
In many ways Harry Carey Jr. was the best of them all, a character actor's character actor. He was just as good with Selleck and Elliott in the Sackett movie(s) as he was as Pennel or in the Searchers with Wayne. A fine tribute to his mother and father who were spendid actors in their own right.
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Post by Yan Taylor on Jan 12, 2013 8:23:53 GMT -6
I use to like the bunch of actors used by Wayne, he looked after his friends well and used them in a number of his films, Fred you have named most of the Wayne Crew but I think you have over looked one ‘’Bruce Cabot‘’.
Ian.
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Post by quincannon on Jan 12, 2013 18:05:18 GMT -6
Ian: The ones listed by Fred were the so called Ford Stock Company. He left several out like Harry and Olive Carey, Ken Curtis, the guy who played Old Mose (can never remember his name) Ward Bond and many many others. Ford and Merriam C. Cooper of King Kong and Chennault's chief of staff in China, kept all these folks on the payroll, I suspect retainer is more like it for twenty or more years. Bruce Cabot though I don't believe was among them. He and Wayne were long time personal friends, they had some sort of prolonged falling out in the late 40's and into the 50's then kissed and made up in time for the Commanchero's and some of Wayne's more suspect movies like Sons of Katie Elder and the mid 1960's tripe.
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Post by fred on Jan 12, 2013 22:19:12 GMT -6
Ian: The ones listed by Fred were the so called Ford Stock Company. He left several out like Harry and Olive Carey, Ken Curtis, the guy who played Old Mose (can never remember his name)... Hank Worden. One of my favorite character actors, along with Ben Johnson. Wayne and Bond met at USC I believe and Wayne got him into the movies. They were really good friends. Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by quincannon on Jan 12, 2013 22:42:32 GMT -6
Ben Johnson was the real deal. He was also a rather good cook as I understand it. I picked up a cowboy cook book many, far to many, years ago at Royal Gorge, and there must be ten to fifteen Ben Johnson entries in it along with Gregory Peck ( I still like the way he fixed eggs for breakfast) the members of the Sons of the Pioneers, and many more from those thrilling days of yesteryear.
The Pioneers were also associated with the stock company appearing in Rio Grande, the Searchers, and a few others.
Three Godfathers was a good outing for Carey Jr, and Johnson carried Wagon Train along with Bond's backsliding Mormon elder.
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Post by Yan Taylor on Jan 13, 2013 8:08:35 GMT -6
I remember reading in a magazine that John Ford used to give Ward Bond a hard time, I think the article also said that Ford told off Patrick Wayne when he messed up his lines (it may have been the Searchers), later Patrick had a word with his dad about the incident and Wayne said don’t worry you’ve seen the way he talks to your Uncle Ward (Bond) so don’t pay any attention to because he doesn’t mean it.
Ian.
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Post by quincannon on Jan 13, 2013 9:22:48 GMT -6
Ford did a lot of things to enhanse performance from his actors. Some of them were dirty rotten tricks, but they seemed to work.
A friend of mine who teaches at Colorado College is doing a book on Ford and he tells me of one incident during the filming of Sergeant Rutledge where Ford told Woody Strode (SGT Rutledge) that he had the next day off, there would be no filming, and then proceded to take him out and get him snockered. Stode is in his cups, and is put to bed very late. Before dawn Ford has Strode awakened and they then shoot the Rutledge on the witness stand scene, with Strode having the great grandaddy of all hangovers.
He tried something similar with Stewart and Widmark before the cigar smoking by the creek scene in Two Rode Together.
Ford was the master. If you really want to find out just how good he was watch his Battle of Midway. It was a masterful job of wartime film making.
If you want to look at Ford in stark contrast to others try and pick out the Ford directed scenes in Wayne's Alamo. Wayne was the director but Ford did several scenes for him, and my view is that they are the best in the movie from a pure filmaking perspective.
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Post by shatonska on Jan 13, 2013 16:39:32 GMT -6
Ian: The ones listed by Fred were the so called Ford Stock Company. He left several out like Harry and Olive Carey, Ken Curtis, the guy who played Old Mose (can never remember his name)... Hank Worthen. One of my favorite character actors along with Ben Johnson. Wayne and Bond met at USC I believe and Wayne got him into the movies. They were really good friends. Best wishes, Fred. hank worden my favorite character actors along with Ben Johnson , yes i am probably the only one on earth who realized he was the blackfoot friend of the traders in "the big sky" , incredible
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Post by fred on Jan 13, 2013 17:08:01 GMT -6
hank worden my favorite character actors along with Ben Johnson... Shatonska, Great job! My spelling was incorrect; you got it right. Sorry. And I agree with you; great character actor, wasn't he? Another one of my favorites was Elisha Cook, Jr. And I really loved Peter Lorre, though he was more a star in some rights-- in Europe, anyway-- than a character actor. Of course they weren't Western actors. Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by shatonska on Jan 13, 2013 17:26:06 GMT -6
And I agree with you; great character actor, wasn't he? yes , i smile everytime i see him terrific horseman as Ben and Harry C. jr
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Post by quincannon on Jan 13, 2013 17:48:16 GMT -6
I should have titled that movie Wagon Master not Wagon Train -----I think Worden was in that too.
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Post by Yan Taylor on Jan 14, 2013 5:30:14 GMT -6
Hi Chuck, there was a big football match on TV yesterday so I made myself scarce and went up stairs to the spare room to use Daniels TV, and see what was on the other channels, I came across a western movie titled ‘’The last of the Comanche’s’’ (Aka ‘’The Sabre and the Arrow’’) in was made in 1953, the movie its self was a direct copy of the Bogart war movie SAHARA, there was a line in the film that brought to mind a phrase you posted a few weeks back about Cavalry defending, during the movie the Indians attack a stage coach which the Cavalry had commandeered, and when the Indians gave chase our hero played by Broderick Crawford ordered the coach to turn around and charge the Indians, of course it worked and when he was asked to explain his actions Crawford said ‘’Cavalry are no use unless they are attacking’’.
P.S. The Indian Chief was called ‘’Black Cloud’’ I wonder if DC had a relation who was in the film business.
Ian.
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Post by quincannon on Jan 14, 2013 10:24:17 GMT -6
Brodrick Crawford. Everytime I hear the man's name I think only of his TV series Highway Patrol and have the uncontrollable urge to shout 10-4 at the top of my lungs.
His performance in "All The King's Men" was the best of his career, and the finest performance of an actor in his generation for my money. He did a creditable job as a young actor in Beau Geste, and in another seldom seen movie "Lone Star" with Gable and Gardner.
Cavalry (and Armor) terms itself the Arm of Decision. In the horse days there is very good reason to make a statement such as this, but it is a statement depicting decisivness, and not an entirely acurate statement of capabilities. Therefore the statement is much to broad, not taking into acount the ninety percent of the cavalry mission menu that involve the more ordinary, the more mundane, fending, scouting, guarding and the like. If you want to make a movie though, these everyday missions hold little drama, and no visual excitement. I still get a chill up my spine when I see a good old wagon rescue, by cavalry brandishing sabres, trumpet blaring, guidon dancing in the wind. For God sake don't tell Keogh.
Sahara - great movie, one of Bogarts best. I believe it was filmed in the area that is now the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. That Grant was a beast. What were they thinking?
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