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Ben Johnson, Someone to remember


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If you really want to know something about Bite the Bullet, why not just ramble on over to the Bite the Bullet corral, oops I mean Bite the Bullet thread on the Westerns forum.

 

Of course you will need to watch the movie first because I spill a lot of beans about the film.

 

If you have a computer you can download the film from iTunes for around $10. That's what I did, even though I have an old vhs tape of the movie.

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Hi Rey!

 

> {quote:title=fxreyman wrote:}{quote}

> If you really want to know something about Bite the Bullet, why not just ramble on over to the Bite the Bullet corral, oops I mean Bite the Bullet thread on the Westerns forum.

>

> Of course you will need to watch the movie first because I spill a lot of beans about the film.

>

 

I'd like to avoid spoilers, so that's why I have not read that thread yet.

 

> If you have a computer you can download the film from iTunes for around $10. That's what I did, even though I have an old vhs tape of the movie.

 

Thank you, Rey. I can wait until it next airs. I have SO many movies waiting to be watched and/or analyzed that I need to get to first. It's good to know that Johnson had a worthwhile

role at that late date.

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Well, I don't know about you but that is one of the reasons for having a film library.

 

Especially a film library of films you like to watch over and over again.

 

And as it pertains to me, a few films are on my i-tunes account. Specifically certain films that are either not yet released on dvd, or those films that have been released on dvd but do not have any extras on them as of yet.

 

Hence I will NOT buy any dvd unless it has some sort of commentary track or some other worthwhile value added to it.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Here are some caps from *Mighty Joe Young*, but I haven't the energy tonight to copy the dialogue.

 

The main idea of the scene is that Terry Moore wants to take Joe (the gorilla) back to her farm in Africa. Ben says he won't let Max the promoter talk her out of going back. Terry likes Ben (who doesn't?) but thinks Ben doesn't want to go back to the ranch in Africa with her. Ben, exasperated, tells Terry she can't go around picking up strage men and asking them to go to Africa with her. Terry says she only asked him. He says he didn't know she felt that way about him, does she? She says yes....

 

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Of all the Ben Johnson movies I've seen recently, Mighty Joe Young is probably one of the ones I've enjoyed the most. Terry and Ben had really good chemistry here; she also had very good chemistry with "Joe" - and all of it accompanied by Harryhausen's wonderful visual effects.

 

Plus, Ben gets to be so heroic near the end of the movie! ;)

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> {quote:title=JackFavell wrote:}{quote}

> Shane is on again tomorrow, September 3rd, at 4:00 pm

As much as I'd like to watch it again for the umpteenth time, I'll be at work at that time. I have a photo I want to post - I need to re-size it first. Wonder what Ben's wife thought of Terry Moore as his leading lady? Probably didn't bother her a bit - they were most likely a very down to earth couple

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> {quote:title=fredbaetz wrote:}{quote}

> Always wondered what other films he would have appeared in if he had not had the blow up with John Ford during the filming of "Rio Grande"

 

You know, this may seem an awkward thing for a self-professed Ben Johnson fan to say, but I probably don't know as much about that blow-up as I would like to. (I'm sure I must have read about it in this thread or elsewhere and forgotten much of it).

 

He'd have been great in just about anything Pappy cast him in, I'm sure. I would have loved to see him in The Searchers or The Horse Soldiers.

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Well the story goes according to Scott Eyman in his book "Print the legend" that when they started "Rio Grande" Ford called Dobie Carey and Johnson into his office and wanted to know if they knew how to ride Roman style. When you stand on two horses" Johnson said "No ,we never done that" Johnson said it would take longer then the 3 weeks Ford said they had. You had to special train the horses among other things", Ford said "I don't want the story of you life, just Roman ride in 3 weeks".Then during the shoot according to Claude Jarman Jr Ben became Fords whipping boy.Ford would tell Johnson "Forget about talking, just walk out and get on the damn horse" One evening during dinner Johnson was talking to Dobie Carey and said "There was a lot of shooting today, but not many Indians bit the dust" Ford was at the head of the table and heard the remark and took it as a criticism and said "What did you say" Ben replied " I was just talking to Dobie Mr Ford", Ford repeated the question and Ben gave the same answer and Ford said " Hey stupid I ask you a question. What did you say" Johnson got up and walked by Ford and told him what he could do with his picture and walked out. Ford told Dobie Carey to go and bring him back, but Johnson refused.They finished the picture and Ford acted like nothing happened, even kidding with Johnson about his fishing. After the shoot was over Johnson didn't work for Ford for 13 years even though Johnson was under contract to Ford for 4 more years. Ford did offer Johnson a part in "The Sun Shines Bright", but became furious when Johnsons agent wanted more money. Carey thinks this was the real reason Johnson was booted from the Ford stock company. But what ever the reason it was a shame the it ended so bad....

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>Always wondered what other films he would have appeared in

 

I've always wondered that, too Fred. I truly wish they had done more films together. I have found out since reading the Eyman book that Ben and Ford actually developed their friendship during that thirteen years. Odd, isn't it? This is why I tend to think that it had to do with the agent and outside forces more than the blow up at work.

 

I certainly think that Ben should have gotten far more roles and far better roles than he did in his lifetime, but we are so lucky that he continued to work all the way up until 1996. I would love to have seen him have one more really huge meaty role, one that stretched him as an actor, because frankly, I think he could have done about anything with the right director. He is so good _naturally_, with no help at all, that he might have been an incredible star with a little push. I hate to say I would love to have seen him in *The Searchers*, because it is sooo very good the way it is, but I can't help wondering about it. He was part Cherokee after all. Maybe it would have been better for him to have had a movie all to himself. I would have loved that dearly, 2 hours of Ben Johnson on a quest to find something. WOW.

 

His acting is very, very fine, and I sorely regret there is no real showcase for it. Just a bit here and a bit there. He plays small and internal, at a time when most actors were being very showy and grand (I'm thinking Stewart Granger, Karl Malden, or Charlton Heston here). He is a precursor to a more modern school of acting, without all the theatrics. He doesn't look out of place next to Marlon Brando. He has more in common with Gene Hackman than with a Montgomery Clift or Rock Hudson. I think this is why he continued on, making movies up into his 60's and 70's, he was so laid back and easy, where the others always look like they are trying so hard. He lets the camera come to him, look inside him. His natural urge to look away from the camera, or to look down makes me want to find out what is on his mind, what makes him tick. Can you tell I adore him? :)

 

I can't really do the what ifs, because it will break my heart. I can just enjoy and appreciate him, love his performances and be real happy that he was around for the length of time he was.

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> {quote:title=cinemafan wrote:}{quote}

> As much as I'd like to watch it again for the umpteenth time, I'll be at work at that time. I have a photo I want to post - I need to re-size it first. Wonder what Ben's wife thought of Terry Moore as his leading lady? Probably didn't bother her a bit - they were most likely a very down to earth couple

 

I know. I find myself VERY jealous of Terry... and every other woman in his films. I don't know how Mrs. Ben (the real one, not me, ha ha) could handle it. She must've been very sure of herself. I picture her as down to earth, but keeping Ben in line, letting him know she was too good a thing to lose. :)

 

I can't wait for that picture, Cinemafan..... I am all a twitter. :x

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Jackie,

It's been a while since I watched 3 Godfathers, but I didn't remember that

Ben was in this movie, in a small part ("Posse Man #1"). I happened upon

this website that features some stunning screencaps from westerns, and

there was Ben...does he appear to better effect than in the screencap

shown?

 

http://theartofmemory.blogspot.com/2008_06_01_archive.html

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Be still my heart! Oh that is the most exciting thing that has happened in a long time, Ben-wise.

 

He is my posse man #1.... wearing his shiny star proudly..... oh what a man! I'll dream of Ben tonight, that's for sure.

 

two things. no wait, three things.....

 

1. I cannot believe you found a website I _haven't_ been on, with pics of Ben that I haven't seen! Bravo! Bravo! You have been very industrious.

 

2. I have been trying to see that second picture for ages...... there is another website n which it is shown, but it's so small that you can't see Ben at all. This is tremendous!

 

3. I think, from looking at one of those GORGEOUS pictures, that what I suspected is true - that the studio dyed his hair a lighter color at the very beginning of his career..... there are a couple of publicity stills where his hair looks way lighter to me.

 

P.S. I love those photos of Jimmy Stweart from Winchester 73 at the beginning of that blog.... and who new Richard Hageman made a little guest appearance in 3 Godfathers....

 

_Thank you_.

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