John Ford didn’t have much interest in discussing his creative process. Anybody who’s read a book or two on him knows he downplayed his incredible artistry (and sentimentality) at every turn, preferring to fall back on his reputation (deserved) as a mean old man who happened to make great movies.
Ford’s greatest collaborator, John Wayne, worked very hard to look like he wasn’t working at all. The fact that so many today think of Wayne as more a personality than an actor shows how well he succeeded.
Ward Bond was a natural, plain and simple. Over 200 films and a TV series, Wagon Train, certainly benefited from his style (or lack of style).
The politics of these three men were as varied as their approach to their craft, but they formed a fast friendship that lasted for decades — from Wayne and Bond playing football at USC in the late 20s to Bond’s death in 1960 and on to Ford’s passing in 1973. It’s a sort of father-sons relationship that just happens to include some of the finest films ever made.
If you’re a frequenter of this blog, you’ve probably got shelves loaded with books on Ford and Wayne. Some are indispensable, some are good, some aren’t so hot but maybe contain a still you can’t live without. I’d put Three Bad Men in the indispensable stack.
What Scott Allen Nollen does that sets Three Bad Men apart is use Bond’s biography (which has never been tackled before, to my knowledge) as the backbone on which the rest of the book hangs. Nollen covers the films they made together, along with the pictures that came between them. The book really benefits from this larger context, from the ups and downs of their individual careers (Wayne’s picture before The Searchers was The Conqueror; Bond went from My Darling Clementine straight to It’s A Wonderful Life) to the irony of Ford’s later years, when Wayne’s superstardom and Bond’s TV success made it harder for Pappy to line up his cast — when he could get a project off the ground.
As with most books about these men, tales of drinking and mischief fly fast and furious, along with valuable insight into their working relationship. Nollen strikes an almost perfect balance between the meticulously researched and the engagingly told. I found this a fun, fast, enlightening read — up there with the Bogdanovich book. (Some sections have already seen a second pass.) My only complaint: I would’ve liked another 20-30 pages on They Were Expendable (1945). Inspired by this book, I’m planning a Ford/Wayne/Bond binge, beginning with the Blu-ray of The Sun Shines Bright (1953).
Three Bad Men: John Ford, John Wayne, Ward Bond by Scott Allen Nollen, foreword by Michael A Hoey
398 pages Published 2013 by McFarland & Company, Inc – ISBN 978-0-7864-5854-7
Glad to see you enjoyed this book too Toby. I agree that the aspect that helps separate it from the pack of other Ford/Wayne bios is the way Bond is highlighted as the link between those two, and the in depth look at his life and career.
Between this book and William Friedkin’s new memoir, it’s been a good time for movie books.
Now, if that clod would hurry up and finish his thing on One-Eyed Jacks!
I’m sure it will be well worth the wait.
Let’s hope.
Excellent review, Toby. Scott and I thank you immensely. With a review such as Colin’s of Riding the High Country to follow, you chose your own way of approaching this epic book, and did it exceptionally well. Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks also for classifying it as “indispensable”. I will pass this on to Scott and McFarland. Must have gotten off your blog list somehow….will sign up again. Good show, Toby, KEITH
Thanks very much, Toby. Having worked on the book, off and on, for 28 years, I think of THREE BAD MEN as one of my children that had a really long gestation period. It is a true labor of love, and I am so pleased that people are enjoying it. All the best, Scott
The time and care that went into it is very obvious, as it is a book with its eye always on the Big Picture.
It’s easy for something like this to become episodic and disjointed — I see this as I work on my own book — but your focus stays true throughout.
Reblogged this on HAWKS WILL WESTERN and commented:
Third review out of the 23 I chose for Scott’s book. Scott says that Toby got exactly what he Intended to project! Check it out and don’t forget to leave a post for Toby…….probably will want to sign up for his blog, also. KEITH
I warn you Toby, bring a hankie for The Sun Shines Bright. Harry Carey Jr. reports in his great book Company of Heroes that Ford wanted to cast Ben Johnson in the movie — presumably in the role played by John Russell — but Ben’s agent asked for what Ford thought was too much money and he hung up on him. So Ben was still out in the cold for another 11 years.
Great, I gotta check out that book.
Thanks for this review Toby…The book’s pricey so it’s really good to have it recommended by a trustworthy source before I take the plunge!