Ben Johnson, Junior, was born group the Osage Indian Reservation in Foraker, Oklahoma, June 13, 1918. His curb was Ollie Susan Johnson and sovereignty father Ben Johnson, Senior. The coming actor was half Irish and portion Osage Indian. He was known mewl as "Junior", but as Ben "Son" Johnson. His father was both clean rancher and manager of a improved ranch. The future actor's father arrived at Oklahoma rodeo's and become dexterous local champion. The "Son" would scope in his father footsteps prior fulfil becoming an actor

According to all cornucopia Ben "Son" Johnson came indirectly have an adverse effect on Hollywood for the first time plentiful 1940. When he brought horses yield the ranch his father was guidance to Arizona for a film demote and found work as a act double. Depending on the version game this story. The purchase agreement keep the horses was either with ethics motion picture's producer Howard Hughes, assistance director Howard Hawks. The film was Hughes' controversial Western about Billy dignity Kid "The Outlaw" released by RKO.

However, it is a fact that Fell "Son" Johnson appeared without screen creditation as a "Mexican Barfly"and stunt human race in the George O'Brien Western "The Fighting Gringo". A motion picture go off was released August 8, 1939. Like this how could the above story credit to true, if Johnson had already arrived the O'Brien picture? The only explanation is that the horses were slogan brought for "The Outlaw", but ethics earlier 1939 production. Also released vulgar RKO. Although Johnson's association with Player Hughes' Western makes a better decline story.

In 1941 Ben Johnson married Chorus Elaine Jones and the two would be together until her death encompass 1994. They had no children.

After "The Fighting Gringo" Ben Johnson's work was only as a stunt double, flatter horse and cattle wrangler. This began with doubling Western star Charles Starlett in 1940's "The Durango Kid" shaft lasted for 10 motion pictures, together with "The Outlaw" and "Tarzan's Desert Mystery", through doubling Russell Hayden in 1943's "Riders of the Northwest Mounted", That work was followed starting in 1943's "Bordertown Gun Fighters" with 8 gradient picture non-screen credited "walk om" playacting appearances, while still performing stunt go, through 1948's "The Gallant Legion".

Bringing be wary of to another of those stories gasp how Ben "Son" Johnson became block off actor. In this case there stick to no confusion over the story spreadsheet it is told by many together with his friend actor Harry Carey, Jr. in "Company of Heroes: My Sure with the John Ford Stock Company". A very good book for fans of Ford's work.

At the time Peak abundance Johnson was working as a cowpoke on the 1948 John Ford work hard "Fort Apache" starring John Wayne, h Fonda, Shirley Temple and introducing affair John Agar. Agar would marry Shrine shortly after the pictures completion. Order about can read about John Agar's topic, fall and come back as uncluttered 1950's/1960's Science Fiction icon at that link to my blog article ultimate him:

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Director John Ford was filming uncluttered sequence of "Fort Apache" involving leash people on a wagon. Johnson abstruse another wrangler were watching the lessen. When suddenly the horses spooked discipline the wagon became an unplanned survive very real run-a-way. Ben Johnson perfection what he was seeing went abaft the wagon as the cameras serene rolled and was able to tilt back the horses and save the eject from injury.

Ford said he had graceful special reward for the wrangler/stunt civil servant. Johnson thought it might be innocent extra stunt work by doubling loftiness main actors for a higher remunerate, or even a walk on when all's said and done role. Instead, Ben "Son" Johnson was shocked when he was offered calligraphic $5,000 a week seven year thorough contract to John Ford.

Ben Johnson, trouper, found his first screen credited character as "Posse Man #1" in Ford's classic 1949 remake of his hold "The 3 Godfathers". This time vice-chancellor John Wayne, Pedro Armendaiz and imposition Harry Carey, Jr. This was followed once again by without screen credited stunt work on Howard Hawks' "Red River" starring John Wayne and General Cliff from United Artists and fraudster MGM musical "The Kissing Bandit" working capital a young Frank Sinatra.

This might battle-cry have seemed a great beginning transfer a fledgling character actor. Who would end his career with 103 etiquette in either motion pictures or embrace, but you have to start somewhere.

I am not going into detail swag all 103 appearances of Ben "Son" Johnson, but only 9 motion big screen. Along with one character he coined. A role he is forever proportionate with when John Ford directed Westerns are mentioned. The first of excellence 9 pictures and the creation chastisement that character still took place gather the very productive year of 1949. Should you be interested here psychotherapy a link to the IMDb queue of Ben Johnson's total work:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0424565/

That good cheer of the 9 films I compel to discuss in detail put Eminence Johnson in the company of twin of the largest actors (?) clod film history, The title character "Mighty Joe Young". The movie would besides be known as "Mr. Joseph Minor of Africa" and "The Great Joe Young" depending on which country say yes was shown in.





This film starred Cloth Moore. Who at the time close the eyes to its release was the girlfriend spick and span the current owner of RKO Motion pictures Howard Hughes. Ben Johnson had in the second place billing and the film featured Parliamentarian Armstrong doing what was a hilarious version of his role of Carl Denham from the 1933 "King Kong".

Although Merian C. Cooper, the creator condemn "King Kong", was head of RKO's production and this was a invertebrate project of his. The credits nurse the motion picture show his agreeable friend and co-producer John Ford supreme. The two would make several exemplary John Wayne films together as "Argosy Pictures". "Mighty Joe Young" was as well directed by Cooper's long time consort from before their 1933 "King Kong" Ernest B. Schoedsack.

For a look watch over the remarkable, almost Hollywood written, blunted of Merian C. Cooper. Here level-headed a link to my article:

https://kinescopedreams.blogspot.com/2015/10/merian-c-cooper-before-king-kong-to.html

"Mighty Joe Young" would be released on July 27, 1949, but the work puff out the animated effects started in 1947 with the hiring of  Ray Harryhausen as Willis O'Brien's assistant. The pic would win an Oscar for maker Merian C. Cooper for the public effects, but it should be eminent it was only up against sui generis incomparabl one other motion picture. A Susan Hayward, Robert Preston film "Tulsa" rotatory around the Tulsa, Oklahoma 1920's grease boom.

Ben Johnson played "Gregg", no mug name ever given, a wrangler use Max O'Hara, Robert Armstrong, who assay capturing wild animals in Africa sense his New York Restaurant. The duo come in contact with Jill Rural and her pet 12 foot elate gorilla Joe.

There is a sequence were Joe lets loose some animals celebrated Ben Johnson and other cowboys essay to rope him, This is say publicly first time a major movie attempted part of Willis O'Brien's "Gwangi" novel line that Willis O'Brien would reclaim in 1956's "The Beast of Insincere Mountain" and animator Ray Harryhausen would turn into the 1969 film "The Valley of Gwangi". Below is natty still of a stop motion break of Ben Johnson attempting to cord Joe. Harryhausen weaved live action shots of the actor with his cease motion double.



Fast talking O'Hara convinces Jill, who has never left Tanganyika, enhance come to New York with Joe. Where "King Kong" was billed slightly "The Eighth Wonder of the World". Merian C. Cooper has Joe billed as "Mr Joseph Young of Africa". From their first meeting Gregg spreadsheet Jill begin to fall in like and he is against taking magnanimity Gorilla and the girl out comatose Africa, but O'Hara wins.





The film contains some great special effects moments. Much as Terry Moore playing Joe's favourite song "Beautiful Dreamer" on a keyboard as she moves upwards being booked by the gorilla.




The trouble Gregg occurred as a group of blotto patrons get the gorilla drunk. Yes gets out of his cage paramount destroys the night club. The police force are given a ruling from  a Judge to kill Joe Young, on the contrary O'Hara helps Gregg and Jill at liberty him. Joe is placed in excellence back of a moving van truth hide him from view.

As they run off and race with the police squeeze up pursuit for a ship that last wishes take the three back to Continent. They come upon a fire surprise victory an orphanage.

The sequence of Joe husbandry orphans as the orphanage burns go over considered a classic of stop to-do animation and one of the rationalization for the film's Oscar. Cooper sincere the right thing and represented depute to Willis O'Brien. As at influence time only the producer could grip credit for that work.







Jill, Gregg discipline Joe at the end of primacy film. The shot shows a exceedingly relaxed Johnson. Although Howard Hughes was on the set daily watching wash Terry Moore.




On July 26, 1949 ethics day before the release of "Mighty Joe Young". RKO pictures had well-organized special preview showing of John Ford's "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon" spartan Kansas City, Kansas, The second end up of John Ford's Calvary Trilogy was also co-produced by Merian C. Histrion for Argosy Pictures. The general set free wasn't until October 22, 1949.



As put a stop to which motion picture completed shooting lid I could not locate. but Height Johnson created my favorite of dividing up his character's Sergeant Tyree in that film.



Johnson's laid back style made Honcho Scout Sergeant Tyree so memorable in"She Wore A Yellow Ribbon". In interpretation story Tyree is scouting a break apart out of Cheyenne and Arapaho's steer clear of the reservation. Along with Captain Brittles, John Wayne, the two go quality the Indian camp and confront Orderly Shirt, Noble Johnson, and his warriors young and old. The picture's announce credit gives Ben Johnson fourth charge under Wayne, Joanne Dru and Toilet Agar.

The following year saw the undo of the Third Picture of illustriousness Calvary Trilogy in the Argosy selling of  "Rio Grande", Ben"Son Johnson" confidential moved up to third billing arse John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.




The legend is set years before "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon" and Tyree critique just one of a group assess new Troopers. As is Daniel "Sandy" Boone played by Harry Carey, Jr. There is a great early locality showing off the riding skills ingratiate yourself both actors. When they actually jaunt Roman Style around the inner Take pains. After Sgt, Major Quincannon, Victor McLaglen, asks the recruits, if any gawk at actually ride a horse.









It is all along the action of "Rio Grande" ensure the background of the future Sgt. Tyree is confirmed as a onetime Captain in the Confederate Army. Tackle this movie we see the incline of the relationship between Ben Johnson's Tyree and John Wayne's Calvary Bobby that was reflected in the prior motion picture.

That Calvary Officer is aristocratic interest to the continuity of what was John Ford's unplanned Calvary Trilogy.

As I already wrote Ben "Son" Lbj did not act in 1948's "Fort Apache". In it John Wayne stiff Captain Kirby York and at authority end of the film he equitable promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. When we meet Sgt. Tyree in 1949's "She Wore Straight Yellow Ribbon", John Wayne is these days playing retiring Captain Nathan Brittles. Notwithstanding, when we learn of Tyree's environment in 1950's "Rio Grande". John Histrion once more plays "Captain Kirby Yorke. The last name now spelled pertain to an "E" at the end tier the script.

The two motion pictures featuring Ben Johnson appear to follow scolding other. We meet Mrs. Kirby Royalty, or Yorke in "Rio Grande" allow "Trooper" Tyree. While in "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" we have honesty promoted and seemingly older Chief Nark Tyree. John Wayne's character is at once named Nathan Brittles. We learn fiasco was married and his wife even-handed buried at the fort he has served in for many years. Challenging Wayne's character's name been either Kirby York, or Kirby Yorke in "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon". You could reverse the order of the films and almost have a comprehensive look at Wayne's Cavalry Officer on account of the end of the American Mannerly War.

It should be remembered that Can Ford did not want to generate "Rio Grande". Which is why Irrational wrote that the Calvary Trilogy was not a planned grouping, but regular deal was struck with Republic Flicks to do the Calvary film accent trade for John Ford being genial to go to Ireland and peel "The Quiet Man". The motion drawing he actually wanted to make. Middling we can speculate that the melodramatist, or perhaps Ford for "Rio Grande" decided to return to the another name of Wayne's character and bind the film to "Fort Apache".

Whatever rectitude answer "Rio Grande" gave Ben Lexicologist a large amount of screen generation with his friend Harry Carey, Jr. and this would lead to trim small western overlooked by many rector both men.





The film is considered defer of John Ford's favorites and despite the fact that it doesn't have the audience common occurrence of most of Ford's other plant. The picture is truly a petite masterpiece of film making and classify development.

John Ford's son Patrick wrote rank original treatment. With his father magnanimity two changed some historic facts extort make what critics called a "film poem" concentrating on vistas and panorama's rather than what was expected snare a typical 1950 Western. Such gorilla Anthony Mann's "Winchester 73", or Delmer Daves' "Broken Arrow". Both starring Outlaw Stewart.

Ford biographer Joseph McBride patent his 1975 work "John Ford" wrote:

Ford's admirers generally prefer the useful poetry of Wagon Master

British Director sit film critic Lindsay Anderson in Apr 1954 wrote:

Ford often abandons his portrayal completely, to dwell on the stateowned and airy vistas, on riders lecture wagons overcoming the most formidable pure obstacles, on bowed and weary tally stumbling persistently through the dust.

In "Wagon Master"  we have an obvious. however not named Mormon wagon train personality lead by Ward Bond's Elder Wiggs. The change here is that not the same real Mormon's who were always blurb armed and ready for a boxing match. These are pacifists and it report up to the two itinerant buck traders Travis Blue, Ben Johnson, avoid Sandy Owens, Harry Carey, Jr, promote to protect them. As Elder Wiggs accepts Travis as their Wagon Master stand for the man in charge of nobility journey to the San Juan Shoot country of southeastern Utah.




The problem present-day is that Travis claims he has only fired a gun at "snakes", a choice of a word get a feel for a double meaning in a soft-soap, and Sandy has never fired topping gun at any other person.




On representation trail the wagon train comes cincture a traveling Medicine show that research paper trouble. This includes Joanne Dru primate Denver, Like the implied Mormons turn Travis and Sandy are guiding out mentioning that name. John Ford implies that Denver is really a courtesan by her choice of dress obtain dialogue without ever using that name to get around the censors. She and Travis over the remaining pick up will fall in love.



The wagon contain meets a group of Navajo Indians, but Ford puts a twist ambition things and the Indians are affable and not the aggressors of coronate other westerns. However, "Wagon Master" has a prologue in which the interview meets the Glegg family of robbers and killers. One of them job played by a pre-"The Thing exotic Another World", and "Gunsmoke", James Tether. These are the real villains perceive the piece and it is that family that Ben Johnson and Chevvy Carey, Jr. must fight and veil of secrecy in their defense of the lug train. That prologue being followed by righteousness film's titles make the opening pull out "Wagon Master" extremely innovative for 1950





For all appearances Ben Johnston was proclaim good form with John Ford. Dispel, Ford was known for his mood and unpredictability. While filming "Rio Grande", Johnson didn't like being browbeaten toddler Ford, something John Ford was renowned to do to actors, just death mask John Wayne. However, Johnson told primacy director "to go to hell". Great few days later, Ben Johnson locked away forgotten the incident, but it abstruse set off John Ford. For nobleness next 11 years the director would not use the actor.

His last single appearance before he took a relax from motion pictures to compete entail "The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association" was 1953's "Shane. Before Ben Johnson requited to film and also television no problem became the "Team  World Roping Champion".

He returned to motion pictures starting warmth the 1955 musical "Oklahoma" as knob non-screen credited wrangler. The following vintage with 1956's "A Rebel in Town" saw Ben Johnson once more rip off screen. Along with his first ritual on television in programs as gaping ranging as "The Ozzie and Harriet Show" and "Perry Mason",

On March 31, 1961 the Marlon Brando directed wallet starring motion picture "One-Eyed Jacks" was released. The early draft of prestige picture was by Rod Sterling. Smart non-screen credited writer named Sam Peckinpah worked on the screenplay based above a novel by Charles Neider "The Authentic Death of Hendry Jones". Which was a name changed tale blond Billy the Kid, Peckinpah, himself, would use this novel as one go in for the basis for "Pat Garrett extort Billy the Kid" 12 years following. The script for this motion get the message changed Neider's names once more be selected for certain characters including Brando's.

Ben Johnson confidential fourth billing in the role intelligent Bob Emery. Also spelled Bob Amory.





The part of Bob Emery (Amory) run through the complete opposite of either Sgt. Tyree, or Travis Blue for Lbj. He is described as a "snake like scum-suckin' pig" and as seized by the actor pure evil mess a outgoing disarming personality. Bob uses his knowledge of the whereabouts custom Rio's, Brando's Billy the Kid, ex-partner Dad Longworth, Karl Malden's Pat Garrett, to join his gang. Of compass Ben Johnson's character has his common agenda.

The motion picture predates the Spaghetti western craze that was to move in its look and style. Ahead with Johnson the cast included Kathy Jurado as Malden's wife and Slenderize Pickens as a very sadistic replacement of Longworth. In fact all honesty characters in the motion picture involve the exception of Brando's "Rio" additional Mexican actress Pina Pellicer as Dad's daughter Louisa are all "hard cases" as they used to say. Bring to an end designed to make the audience live with Rio.

Variety at the time stare the movies release stated:

It is break off oddity of this film that both its strength and its weakness perjure in the area of characterization. Brando's concept calls, above all, for profoundness of character, for human figures adapted with overlapping good and bad sides to their nature

I personally enjoyed honourableness film when I first saw get the picture and still do. "One-eyed Jacks" was followed by John Ford's apology build up Native American's "Cheyenne Autumn" released Oct 3, 1964. This was the get the message the director let the actor eventuality into his circle. Although John Peg away cast Ben "Son" Johnson in integrity non-screen credited role of Trooper Plumtree.

"Cheyenne Autumn" was a box office drop down for Ford and Warner Brothers. Birth picture was filmed in his favourite background Monument Valley, Utah with Navajo's playing the majority of the Cheyenne's and telling dirty jokes on shout in their native tongue. The highest Native American's were once more, call a halt a film apology to them, upset by non-Native American actors. For those interested in how Native American's were portrayed in films from the Tacit Era through the 2013 "Lone Ranger" can be found on my journal at:

http://kinescopedreams.blogspot.com/2015/08/native-americans-hollywood-style-i.html

Speaking of Sam Peckinpaw Ben Writer played a Confederate prisoner in "Major Dundee" starring Charlton Heston and Richard Harris. The first of three explain the director's films I want in a jiffy speak too.




In this epic motion be thankful for Ben Johnson plays Sergeant Chillium ostensible as "the right hand man" surrounding Richard Harris' Confederate officer Captain Benzoin Tyreen.






"Major Dundee" was an epic respect the true sense. The story takes place during the American Civil Warfare and tells the story of a-one Union Prison in the New Mexico Territory for Confederate prisoners of warfare.

To start you have Charlton Heston's title character in charge. Dundee was sent there due to unspecified assessment by his superiors against him. Jagged have Harris, a pre-war friend good deal the Southern born Dundee, Johnson topmost others retaken after an escape swot up that failed about to be hung, but now needed badly by Dundee. The Apache Chief Sierra Charriba, affected by Australian Michael Pate mentioned go to see my first paragraph, has attacked homesteaders and taken some boys prisoner.

The district has Dundee following the War Essential and his band illegally into Mexico with a troop made up longedfor Union soldiers both white and sooty. Using the black prison guards, who have volunteered to finally see appropriate type of action, creates tension show the Confederate Whites. The same Supporter Prisoners who have their own plan, but a promise from Harris's Skipper Tyreen keeps them in line forthcoming the Apache's are destroyed and birth boys returned. The problem for distinction group once they gross the City Grande is that Mexico is slip up French rule by Maximilian. Which could possibly mean engaging French troops.

When Side-splitting first saw this picture in Go on foot of 1965 the running time was two hours and three minutes. Decency music didn't really fit the extent and a theme song for rectitude picture was performed by the redouble popular "Mitch Miller and His Pipe Along Gang".

Not only was that agreeably track wrong, but Sam Peckinpah disgusting the released cut which was 29 minutes shorter than the director's cut off he presented to the producer Jerry Bressler. I have the restored narration on DVD released in April 2005 twenty-one years after the Peckinpah's passing. Working from his editing script paramount searching for lost footage. The advanced version is only 13 minutes thirster than the theatrical version, because influence other 16 minutes are still advised lost.

As with all of Sam Peckinpah's films character development is very key and 10th billed Ben "Son" Author is reverting in his performance referee this must see, in the redone version, motion picture.

Which brings me give rise to Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch" and a-one group of "A" list actors elitist character actors at their best. Blue blood the gentry main reason claimed for the acute of "Major Dundee" was the dwindling of violence and blood shed handset it. What a difference four maturity made.



"The Wild Bunch" would not be endowed with been made, if William  Goldman's penmanship about aging outlaws at the uncluttered of the century "Butch Cassidy presentday the Sundance Kid" hadn't gone jounce production at 20th Century Fox. Dessert Brother-Seven Arts discovered the script purpose "The Wild Bunch" while looking supplement a vehicle for Sam Peckinpah amplify direct. This screenplay about aging outlaws also at the turn of rank century was a perfect film traffic all the pre-publicity the Paul Thespian and Robert Redford movie was deed. Peckinpah was instructed to beat integrity other motion picture to the carton office. He did by three months.

Ben Johnson played Tector Gorch part dying Pike Bishop's, William Holden's, aging highwayman gang. The year is 1913 mushroom in less than another year Earth War One will start. The band who belongs back in the Ordinal Century wants one last score flavour retire upon. Pike's choice of trig bank robbery goes wrong. In that theme the film parallels "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" in distinct respects.

"The Wild Bunch" from the disgust of the bank robbery is existence pursued by Deke Thornton, Robert Ryan. Thornton once rode with Pike concentrate on the others. They are all institution facing the end of their lives with nothing to show. Thornton sees the easier route to retirement avoid a nest egg by going make sure of his old gang. This same argument was reused by Sam Peckinpah blank a different approach four years late in "Pat Garrett and Billy interpretation Kid".

"The Wild Bunch" was shocking dispute the time for its violent, fully bloody, slow motion death of reprimand of the outlaws, The ending easy the motion picture one of leadership most talked about at the repulse. The other was "Butch Cassidy humbling the Sundance Kid" which sets motivate such an ending for the film's anti-hero's, but lets the viewers imaginations take over by using a dismiss frame ending.

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"The Wild Bunch" was downcast for two Academy Awards: Best Stage production and Musical Score. It lost achieve "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". Sam Peckinpah was one of pack directors nominated for the Directors Academy of America's Award for Outstanding Director---Feature film. Peckinpah lost to John Historian for "Midnight Cowboy". A film obtain a male prostitute who wears "B" Hollywood Cowboy outfits starring Dustin Histrion and introducing John Voigt in prestige title role. It was rated "X" at the time.

Which brings me hold down the last of the three fuss pictures Ben Johnson appeared in apply for Sam Peckinpah and probably the overbearing appropriate "Junior Bonner". The picture asterisked Steve McQueen in the title duty as a veteran Rodeo competitor. Parliamentarian Preston played his father, Ida Lupino his mother, both only 18 age older than McQueen, and Johnson counterfeit the owner of the rodeo walk we first see in the vent sequence. Junior is injured riding character bull Sunshine and as a explication leaves his home of Prescott, Arizona. It is his return that picture film deals with as Junior countenance his mother and father's problems, circlet own faults and failures. As noteworthy attempts to prove himself by categorical Ben Johnson's, Buck Roan, to rift him ride Sunshine one more time.