Russell Johnson, who just everybody in America knows as The Professor from Gilligan’s Island, passed away today at 89.
He’s seen above (center) with Alex Nicol and Ronald Reagan in Law And Order (1953). He appeared in other 50s Westerns such as Rancho Notorious (1952, he runs the chuck-a-luck wheel), Seminole (1953) and Ride Clear Of Diablo (1954).
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
Sad news.
I loved Russell Johnson in LAW AND ORDER. He was hot! Which was something I never, ever dreamed I’d say about the Professor LOL!! I enjoy it when he turns up in ’50s films. 🙂
Best wishes,
Laura
Yes, all obituaries will say The Professor in GILLIGAN’S ISLAND, as if he is defined by that. It’s always the case if someone wound up in a successful and fondly remembered TV show.
But for some of us here, we will identify him much more as part of so any good 50s movies that we love, some of them deserving of being considered as classics. In Russell Johnson’s case, it’s perhaps especially true of his work in science-fiction films–IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE, THIS ISLAND EARTH and THE SPACE CHILDREN are major works in the genre. But his Westerns are in general a fine group too and he was always good–my memory is especially strong of a hook-handed villain in THE SAGA OF HEMP BROWN in which a confrontation with hero Rory Calhoun in the final reels was an exciting and dramatic one.
Just looked up THE SAGA OF HEMP BROWN on the strength of Blake’s mention and see it’s another Rory Calhoun film directed by Richard Carlson. They did such a good job in FOUR GUNS TO THE BORDER. Will have to track this one down!
Best wishes,
Laura
Mr Johnson certainly had some most impressive credits,ranging from
his fine work in many Universal Westerns to Noir and Sci-Fi and of
course his extensive work in TV series.
Interesting that Blake mentions his Sci-Fi credits and he also had a
more substantial role in Corman’s wacky and wonderful ATTACK OF
THE CRAB MONSTERS.
Never seen his Fifties TV Western series BLACK SADDLE I understand
that it’s pretty rare and highly regarded.
While we are talking Universal Westerns I understand that the forthcoming
Spanish DVD of SAGA OF HEMP BROWN is,like the recent Sidonis
release pan and scan.
Which leads us to the oft asked question do some of these Fifties
Universal CinemaScope films still exist in that format.
The recent Sidonis release of DAY OF THE BAD MAN again was pan &
scan which concerns me as Sidonis are painstaking in sourcing material
for their releases.
There are Universal big star vehicles in CinemaScope like NEVER STEAL
ANYTHING SMALL (Cagney) and ISTANBUL Flynn) that have never .
surfaced.Two sought after Jeff Chandler films (THE TATTERED DRESS,
RAW WIND IN EDEN) are also on the missing list.
Even Universal in France could not locate a widescreen version of
their recent releases of WILD AND THE INNOCENT and THE PURPLE
MASK. All this does concern me; to say the least.
Not a scope film but THE YELLOW MOUNTAIN now seems to have been
withdrawn by Sidonis,presumably because of quality issues.
Dear Laura and Blake,firstly I would like to thank you for your replies
to my posts on Laura’s blog regarding FORT YUMA. Blake I do hope
that you saw my reply to you and I was most interested to see your
take on THE OUTLAW’S SON.
Laura,thank you for directing me to your review of MYSTERY IN MEXICO
starring William Lundigan,You review has made this film a must have for
me. I DO wish Lundigan had made more Westerns,in some ways he
reminds me of Joel McCrea,I would have loved to have seen them in a
Western playing brothers.
Finally Laura many thanks for pointing out that Blake actually appears
on the “extras” of the release of SEVEN MEN FROM NOW.
It’s a long time since I have played these extras and I will do so over
this weekend,just to see Blake. Of course when I first played them,ages ago
I was not aware of Laura,Blake,Toby and Colin……..HOW did I exist
in those days!
John, yes I saw your reply at Laura’s. Thanks. Just want to say that like you I am very concerned about those 50s Universals turning up pan and scan when we know these French and Spanish companies are so conscientious.
It defies belief that the original negatives at least do not exist–or at least it seems to defy belief since I had heard that as little as they tended to put out on home video, Universal did have all the materials safely protected. When they had that fire (six or seven years ago–I can’t remember which year) there was some official pronouncement that nothing had actually been lost, except maybe copies of films, but nothing originally. But is it possible that they lied–and just said this to placate everyone because they don’t care?
If anyone who reads this is connected enough to Universal to know the truth, I’m sure we’d all appreciate if you would write.
Laura, THE SAGA OF HEMP BROWN is a good Western, though not nearly as special as FOUR GUNS TO THE BORDER. It was nice to see Carlson directing Calhoun again, and there is just a touch of the eroticism of the earlier work in the interaction of Calhoun and wonderful Beverly Garland (well, there is also an unusual scene with Calhoun and Yvette Vickers as an unhappy wife–the movie follows Calhoun with various characters as he searches for the man, played by John Larch, who framed him). I hope it will surface in proper form–as you know, I won’t recommend watching anything pan and scan anymore as I won’t myself no matter how much I want to see it again. Or even for the first time.
John, thanks for your note! I’m so happy you will get to try MYSTERY IN MEXICO. I couldn’t agree more about William Lundigan. Like him so much. I would have liked a Western featuring him and Robert Sterling who was so good in ROUGHSHOD. Think it would have been a good pairing. Well, we can dream!
Particular thanks for your closing thoughts, which made my day (which you have a way of doing on a regular basis!). I feel so incredibly fortunate to be able to “talk movies” with such a great circle of kindred spirits and love how the circle keeps expanding also. 🙂
Best wishes,
Laura
“there was some official pronouncement that nothing had actually been lost, except maybe copies of films, but nothing original.”
Just mistyped that last word before.
I am especially distressed about THE WILD AND THE INNOCENT, an outstanding and unusual little-known 1959 movie that has both charm and seriousness. It was an early role of Sandra Dee opposite Audie Murphy (and Joanne Dru and Gilbert Roland are also among the main actors). I really would like this one to be better known and wish people could see it and I could see it again (fortunately, I did see in ‘Scope in a theatre near first release though it came and went so fast the first time I missed it). Jack Sher directed this, very well–he didn’t do much directing and mainly a writer (he did some credited work on SHANE for one). It is one of the best Audie Murphy movies for me, comparing well to NO NAME ON THE BULLET the same year, though very different. And yes, I know that’s saying a lot for it.
Just to add re movies John cited, in its good days AMC (American Movie Classics) had the Universal and pre ’50s Paramount package and showed some things 50s U-I CinemaScope films letterboxed–among these were DAY OF THE BADMAN, THE TATTERED DRESS and THE PURPLE MASK (watched all three that way so can personally attest that they were shown properly). So what happened to those copies/tapes? It’s worrisome, to say the least.
Also John, haven’t seen ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS or maybe I would have mentioned it. BTW, L.A. Times obituary of Russell Johnson only named a few movies–it was mostly about Gilligan’s. Sometimes it’s frustrating when you feel they don’t have any real sense of a career. It’s nice to be at blogs like this where everyone from the host on really cares.
Hi Blake,
Thanks to Laura,I can now put a face to the name regarding the extras
on SEVEN MEN FROM NOW.
I enjoyed all the things that you said before but of course then I did
not know you through cyberspace.
Also I am not too informed regarding American film writers and historians
though of course I am aware of people like Todd MCarthy and Peter Travers
who I enjoy reading from time to time.
Not too keen on Pauline Kael the comment- “the only suspense in watching
Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea Westerns in the Fifties was seeing if they
were able to get on their horse!”- really turned me off so I tend to ignore her!
Anyway Blake it’s really cool to put a face to the name-I am sure that I
have seen you on other “extras” on DVDs-please advise.
Wanted to add to this thread I’ve been watching George Montgomery in BADMAN’S COUNTRY (1958) and who should turn up as the Sundance Kid but Russell Johnson?!
Plot follows some of the same lines as Montgomery’s THE TEXAS RANGERS (1951), which I watched a few days ago, as Montgomery goes up against Butch, Sundance and the gang. BADMAN’S COUNTRY has lower production values than TEXAS RANGERS but is completely enjoyable. I did a search and was able to track down comments John K made on that movie here at 50 Westerns about 18 months ago:
https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/want-list-the-parson-and-the-outlaw-1957/
John calls it a “totally charming piece of nonsense” and I so agree. Watched this one with a smile on my face. And it was nice to see more of Russell Johnson’s work in Westerns.
Best wishes,
Laura
Ain’t Texas Rangers cool?
Loved both TEXAS RANGERS and BADMAN’S COUNTRY. A whole lotta fun. 🙂
Best wishes,
Laura
I’ve now got a (hopefully) perfect print of “Texas Rangers” and after the comments from you guys I must make an urgent date with it!
LAW AND ORDER is a great movie. Very underrated. Russell Johnson did a great job with the varied and low-budget genres he worked in. A lot of the “second” actors had very short amount of time to study script and get in the part. Acting! Always hurts to find out the actors in the greatest generation are passing away.
Russell Johnson’s passing was a sad day for me. I had the pleasure of standing in for him…. way back in the late 1950s on the Black Saddle. Even though I have not had any contact with him since then, it seems like yesterday that I rushed into the bar or jail or street to take his place for the setting of the next scene. Here are a few notes about the Black Saddle:
https://ralphm1999.wordpress.com/2010/05/03/black-saddle/