Here’s Ben Cooper as Turkey in Johnny Guitar (1954), with Royal Dano and Scott Brady. As this demonstrates, it’s hard to find Thanksgiving references in 50s Westerns.
Happy Thanksgiving.
November 22, 2018 by Toby
Posted in 1954, Ben Cooper | 32 Comments
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Pages
Well, that gave me a chuckle and a very different American Thanksgiving movie to watch.
I hope you have a lovely and blessed day.
Toby and Family, I hope you have a great THANKSGIVING DAY.
For a real Thanksgiving moment, wasn’t it THE SEARCHERS where there was a guy who imitated a turkey or maybe it was a chicken?
Who, can’t believe it, just got in after trying over and over these past weeks since I last accidentally made it thru whatever it is at WordPress that keeps not recognizing my password and then won’t even allow me to create a new password. Frustrating as heck when you wish to participate here but WordPress won’t recognize you.
Only recently learned that Ben Cooper rode the same horse in ‘Johnny Guitar’ that Alan Ladd rode in ‘Shane’.
Ralph B, I didn’t know this about the horse Ben Cooper rode in JOHNNY GUITAR. Where did you find this information?
Hi, Walter. It came from a great 30 minute interview with Ben Cooper on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV9ZosZIt7w
He is a delight. So many wonderful stories about his movie and TV career. Not just Johnny Guitar is discussed, but also his memorable scenes with Milburn ‘Milly’ Stone in Gunsmoke’s ‘Apprentice Doc’ and perhaps the second best episode of ‘The Westerner’ “Hand on the Gun” and Cooper’s relationship with Sam Peckinpah.
Very entertaining to learn how he approached his own training for his movie career.
Ralph B, thank you for triggering my memory. I have seen this very enjoyable interview of Ben Cooper before. I don’t know why I didn’t remember the part about the horse that he and Alan Ladd both rode. That’s what happens when you get older. I don’t know if you have that problem yet. Again, thank you.
Ben Cooper is a very good actor. I liked him as Jesse James in WOMAN THEY ALMOST LYNCHED(1953). This is another strong women’s movie put out by Republic Studios in the late 1940’s and ’50’s. Audrey Totter as Kate Quantrill, Joan Leslie as Sally Maris, and Nina Varela as Mayor Delilah Courtney. James Brown is Frank James and Jim Davis is Cole Younger. This is a good movie set during the War of the Rebellion. It takes place in Border City, which sits on the Arkansas/Missouri border. This is the very area where I was born and grew up. This is a good entertaining Ciivil War Western produced and directed by Allan Dwan.
Hi, Walter. Yes, ‘Woman They Almost Lynched’ is another terrific Republic picture. It’s its nods towards Johnny Guitar in having two female protagonists – Leslie and Totter. Here a lynch mob – this time the Union army – arrives and Leslie (Crawford) is not protecting the outlaw Cooper in her saloon but Totter (McCambridge).
Cooper teamed up again with Leslie and Jim Davis in the contemporary Republic western ‘Hell’s Outpost’. This also featured the then hugely impressive figure of Rod Cameron. A great film set in small town America. In many ways I wish life was like what we see in this and another Cooper contemporary western ‘A Strange Adventure’ today with those quiet mountain roads with hardly any traffic.
What I would also like to have heard from Cooper in his interview was his recollections of Audie Murphy from the two westerns he made with him. Murphy seemed to be disappointed with the movies and TV series he appeared in, but I find his 50s Universal westerns in particular to be colourful and entertaining especially when he teamed up with Duryea in ‘Ride Clear of Diablo’.
Over the past 15 years since I first saw ‘Johnny Guitar’ I must have watched it another 25 to 30 times being totally mesmerised by it – gaining new perspective each time. The only western that I’ve seen thus far that comes even slightly close to it in terms of pathos and texture is ‘The Maverick Queen’.
Two years ago I watched most of Cooper’s movie and TV work up to 1965 and wrote him a detailed letter about his roles and performances only learning soon after that sadly he was not well needing 24 hour care.
I just watched a great interview with John Wayne on the Phil Donahue show from 1976 It went for about 45 min and he answered a lot of questions from the audience ,mainly women.He had just finished making THE SHOOTIST and still had the moustache he grew for the film.
Graham, I’ve the answer to what became of the real hangman in the movie BANDOLERO!(1968). About 15 years ago, or so, I found and bought an old paperback in a small used bookstore. The kind of small bookstore that is hard to find anymore. The book was a novelization of the movie BANDOLERO! based upon a screenplay by James Lee Barrett from a story by Stanley Hough. The movie novelization was written by Arnold Hano and published by Popular Library in 1967. Aside from his non-fiction books and work as a book editor and journalist, he was a highly productive writer of fiction in the 1950s and 1960s. Written under various pseudonyms, his standalone novels range from crime fiction and Westerns to biographies and film novelizations.
I had put aside the worn paperback with the intention of reading it someday. A few days ago I found the book while looking for another book. I have books galore from a lifetime of reading. I’m currently reading the book and am half way through it. I’m enjoying it very much. Hano really fleshed out the screenplay.
On page 26 and 27 Hano writes about the fate of the real hangman:
“Mace Bishop draws his gun very solemnly, as though he too has been caught up in the near-hallowed quality of the after-supper talk.
‘I’m afraid I’m going to have to impose a little more on your hospitality,’ Mace Bishop says. ‘But I imagine a man who loves life as much as you do will get over it.’
A frown turns Grimes’ face dour. The scimitar lines curl like crescent moons.
‘I don’t understand.’
‘You don’t have to. I’m taking your ropes, your horse, and your clothes’
Irritation replaces the frown. He begins to get up, but the gun waggles him back down.
‘That don’t leave me much, does it friend?’ Grimes says.
‘It leaves you naked and afoot. There’ll be a stage by here in two, three days. Now, let’s get’em off.’
Minutes later, clad in black, Mace Bishop on Grimes’ horse, and his own sorrel as a pack horse, the ropes still coiled neat as you please, rides quickly along the trail.”
Mace Bishop(James Stewart) doesn’t kill Ossie Grimes(Guy Raymond) the real hangman.
Walter ,thank you so much about the story on the hangman in BANDOLERO.I would love to see that scene included on a DVD release,as I would the scene from RIO BRAVO where Ricky Nelson goes under a horse.I now have THE LAW AND ORDER combo on order from Sidonis and am still waiting for the WINCHESTER 73 combo which was ordered over a month ago.
I don’t normally visit the Elephant films Facebook site,but I noticed a photo of someone in a jet aircraft outfit and helmet in the community section.It mentioned Clint Eastwood’s name and Jack Arnold Tarantula .
Does anyone know what film the photo is from?I thought it may have been FIREFOX but it was not.Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Clint’s the guy flying the plane that kills the tarantula in Tarantula. (I’m assuming that’s not a spoiler for anybody — the spider gets it in the end.) He’s almost unrecognizable in his helmet and breathing apparatus — the squint lets us know it’s him. He doesn’t get a screen credit.
Toby,thanks for that .I thought it was Clint .As you said ,the squint gives him away.I did follow the link to Amazon for that Jack Arnold collection ,but not sure if I’d like the films .Tempted to buy though .
I LOVE Tarantula! Jack Arnold, Mara Corday, John Agar, Nestor Paiva, Leo G Carroll, giants bugs — how could it miss?
The German Blu-Ray is wonderful.
On the Blu-ray front, it sure was nice to sit back and finally watch “Lisbon” (1956). It’s funny, because when I was a young’un, I specifically recall this film popping up on a local tv-station’s afternoon theater. Twice, I believe. My youthful reaction? I grimaced, and changed the channel. I would have been hoping back then for something like a good ol’ monster movie, a Tarzan film, or perhaps an Abbott and Costello comedy. Ray Milland in a skipper hat, and Maureen O’Hara smoking a cigarette? Grumble, grumble. But nowadays? It’s really nice to go back to something like “Lisbon,” and find it looking all spruced up and in its proper aspect ratio. Oh, I suspect the film is a bit too mellow, too lacking in zest, to please a lot of those who were teethed on 60s Eurospy type stuff, but its easy-going, travelogue-esque style was EXACTLY what I was expecting, and EXACTLY what I was wanting. Enjoyed it completely, which acknowledging its hardly any classic.
Great commentary too, especially all that fascinating backstory involving its troubled film shoot. I love hearing and learning about that kind of stuff. Ditto about the waning days of Republic. It’s still indeed mystifying that the studio didn’t right away latch on to that kind of burgeoning drive-in fare (teen/sci-fi cheapies) that might have kept it afloat. Similarly, I’ve also wondered why Republic didn’t go full-bore into television, transitioning their adept b-units. I guess they did “Stories of the Century” and that abbreviated “Fu Manchu” show (plus maybe “Frontier Doctor,” or was that maybe an indie outfit working out of the studio? don’t recall). However, they really could have delved into that tv arena. I guess they were just satisfied at getting the cash they did from leasing the studio and backlot out to Revue (before the Universal deal), and thought that was enough. Guess we’ll never know what Yates was thinking. Well, other than trying to turn Vera into a box-office name.
Thanks for your kind words about the Lisbon commentary. When there’s that much of a backstory, they’re pretty easy to pull together. (However, I can’t imagine listening to my voice for 90 minutes!)
With Republic, I think Yates simply didn’t GET the movie business from a creative standpoint. Labs and distribution, he understood. Serials and B Westerns were things the little studios he gobbled up (Mascot, etc.) were already doing well — he just kept the factory going.
TV would’ve been a great next step for them — most of their staff ended up there anyway. And when they ventured out in a different direction — crime and JD pictures, for instance — they did pretty well. They simply waited too long to change course — the damage had already been done. And maybe some of that “waited too long” came from being so caught up in Vera Ralston’s career.
That’s just my opinion, and it’s worth absolutely nothing.
Yeah, I think that likely nails the situation. It was also always a shame that Nat Levine couldn’t have stayed around longer. I think he truly had a love for the actual ‘movie making’ process, which Yates never quite got.
I think Herb Yates did get the movie business, but not the changing times. Louis B. Mayer didn’t either. In essence, both men lost their jobs.
From Thanksgiving and a picture from Johnny Guitar, we’ve made our way to an analysis of the demise of Republic Pictures. Funny how that works.
THE DEERSLAYER (1957)….Film Jewels Germany 2018
A Blu Ray Review.
Due to the enormous success of the Winnetou films a German distributor
obtained the rights to Kurt Neumann’s 1957 film, hacked it to bits and
inserted scenes from the Euro Western BLACK EAGLE OF SANTA FE
a cavalry/Indians/Wagon Train Western headlining American Peplum/
Spaghetti Western star Brad Harris.Apart from the mis match of the time
period the newly inserted scenes make no sense at all.
What we have on this new German Blu Ray is the 60’s mash up (76 minutes)
in German only. As an addition we get 61 minutes of Neumann’s original
film,as if edited by a chain saw. This version has an English soundtrack
but minus 16 minutes of original footage.
The picture quality is OK it looks like an up-scaled DVD and there are minor
imperfections late into the film. It’s a widescreen presentation and had it
included all of the original 78 minute film I would have been very happy indeed.
Obviously with this shortened version it’s a pretty action packed affair.
The Sierra Nevada locations are stunning.
Actor Carlos Rivas: “We all had a lot of fun filming on those great locations,
there was more fun than work”
The German Blu Ray has a very nice 20 page booklet,sadly all in German
with extensive details about the film. The packaging is attractive with a high-
gloss slipcase.
As an additional extra there are 12 trailers,mostly Euro Westerns/Thrillers
and TV Mini Series….all in German only.
Overall,the film just about makes sense despite the jarring cuts and jumps
here and there
Sadly,I feel that the new German Blu Ray of THE DEERSLAYER is
possibly the only way we are going to get an English language version of
this film. I think,despite originally being a Fox picture the rights are now
owned by Paramount.
I understand it got caught up with a heap of RegalScope films that ended
up with Paramount.
The huge purchasing power of Horror/Sci Fi fans ensure that we have
Carlos Rivas’ THE BEAST OF HOLLOW MOUNTAIN and THE BLACK
SCORPION on Blu Ray.
I don’t hold out much hope for anyone taking a chance on THE DEERSLAYER
unless of course Toby wins the lottery.
Second billed Rita Moreno is still going strong,she turns 87 on December 11th
I wonder what memories she has of the film,and also the two Lesley Selander
Westerns that she made. Rita also worked with Toby’s fave Fred F Sears.
Even on this sub par Blu Ray THE DEERSLAYER is still a gorgeous
looking film,I just cannot begin to explain how much I’d love a restored
remastered version of the complete film.
I win the lottery, and the first title I’d tackle would be Hellfire, followed by Hell Canyon Outlaws, Dragoon Wells Massacre, Stagecoach To Fury and Fury At Gunsight Pass. (Don’t think I haven’t given this any thought.)
Then there’s a great little Republic Bob Steele picture called The Great Train Robbery — jam-packed with Lydecker stuff. It’s terrific.
Toby ,that sounds like a good list ,but be sure and include a A C Lyles western boxset and include the TV western THE LAST DAY.The other day I watched SUNSET BOULEVARD and Lyles was in the special features in an interview.
Thanks for the review John, it’s a shame that it won’t make my “to buy list”. I can’t even remember seeing the film before, I only know it from pictures in an old Western Film Annual.
Based on the above, I’m gonna be rooting for you to win that lottery, Toby!!
It hasn’t escaped my attention that of all the blu-rays I’ve purchased over the past two or three months (six discs in all), four of them have managed to offer Toby Roan commentaries. I doubt that this ratio can be maintained, but I certainly wouldn’t protest if it did! Good films, tied with good commentaries.
Next up, “Old Ironsides” (1926), which I already know pretty well, but look forward to seeing remastered.
Walter, RE/”BANDOLERO! Thanks for the book excerpts concerning the Hangman’s scene with James Stewart. When I first saw this in it’s first theatre release, I could swear that particular scene was IN THE FILM and spoken with pretty much all of that same dialogue intact! Then I remember seeing it years later, (and since) and the rest of that scene from memory, seemed missing!! ALWAYS seemed like WTF?–It was edited out –just as he’s explaining his profession! I cannot find a good reason for cutting that dialogue/scene, which leaves EVERYBODY in the audience wondering whether or not Stewart could be so vicious as to have murdered the poor fellow, and THAT DOES NOT seem possible, not here. So that is a major misguided moment which goes to show you how important dialogue is in ANY FILM ; and by just a few lines edited IN OR OUT the result can turn a character, or story in another direction.
Stevens733, your welcome. Graham and I had discussed the missing scene from BANDOLERO! last April. It looks like that we can’t blame the producer, director, or editor for the missing scene. I take it that the scene was in the version shown overseas? Stevens733, where did you first view the movie?
I so agree with you about how important dialogue is and how a few lines in or edited out can change everything.
Toby, I found out today that actor Wright King died on November 25th at the age of 95. He acted in Western movies and TV shows from 1950-76: THE YOUNG GUNS(1956), STAGECOACH TO FURY(1956), THE GUNFIGHT AT DODGE CITY(1959), CAST A LONG SHADOW(1959), and JOURNEY THROUGH ROSEBUD(1972). King guest starred in numerous TV shows; THE GABBY HAYES SHOW, MAVERICK, CHEYENNE, SUGARFOOT, BRONCO, THE TEXAN, THE REBEL, WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE(11 episodes), GUNSMOKE(8 episodes), HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL(6 episodes), RAWHIDE, HOW THE WEST WAS WON(TV Series), and others.
Wright King R.I.P.
I knew Wright King was still around, but way up there in age. Before he got to be pretty regular face in tv-westerns, he had that quirky early-1950s kid’s show, “Johnny Jupiter.” I think I ran across an episode on youtube. Either there, or somewhere else. RIP
Walter; re/”BANDOLERO!”, if memory serves correctly, YES, in answer to your question above -come to think of it- I DID see the film, overseas- for the first time, in 1968! Yes! I can conclude that THAT particular important scene mentioned earlier was indeed intact with a first -showing of a ‘theatrical print’ of ”BANDOLERO!”.