BEN JOHNSON

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/doppjohn.jpg..http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/JO004.jpg

INFORMATION FROM IMDb

Date of Birth
13 June 1918
Foraker, Shidler, Oklahoma, USA

Date of Death
8 April 1996
Mesa, Arizona, USA. (apparent heart attack)

Height
6' 3" (1.91 m)

Spouse
Carol Elaine Jones (1941 - 1994) (her death)

Trivia
Died while visiting his mother in the 'retirement community' where not only she but he himself lived.

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994

A prize belt buckle that he won for calf roping was stolen from his car when he visited Houston in 1976; on a repeat visit a decade later he was an on-air guest on radio station KIKK when a caller returned the buckle to him.

He initially turned down the role in The Last Picture Show (1971) for which he won the Academy Award because the script contained too many curse words; with permission of the director, Peter Bogdanovich he rewrote his part with the offensive words removed.

As he was, his father, Ben Johnson, Sr., was a champion steer roper. The senior Johnson was also a cattleman and rancher who was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1961.

Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1982.

His father, Ben Johnson, Sr., was inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame of the Rodeo Historical Society (a support group of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum) in 1961. The Ben Johnson Memorial Award, in honor of his father, is awarded annually to prominent representatives of the western character and spirit (since 1998).

Johnson, his father, and nephew have Belt-Buckle awards for team roping.

Had Osage and Irish blood.

He turned down the role of Sam the Lion in "The Last Picture Show" when it was first offered to him by Peter Bogdanovich because he thought the script was "dirty" and he did not approve of swearing and nudity in motion pictures. Bogdanovich appealed to John Ford, who got Johnson to change his mind as a favor to him. Johnson won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar playing the role.

Johnson got his first big break as a member of John Ford's stock company in the late 40s. However, during the making of Rio Grande, Johnson and Ford had a brief verbal argument. All seemed well afterward, and nothing further was said of it, so Ben assumed it was completely blown over. However, Ford declined to use Johnson in any of his films after that for another 14 years, when Ben played a small part in the director's Cheyenne Autumn. They did manage to maintain a friendly relationship nonetheless.

Personal quotes
"Everybody in town's a better actor than I am, but none of them can play Ben Johnson."

"You know, I'd say that aside from Mr. Ford's help in my career, I'd lay any success I've had to not expecting too much. I never expected to become a star and was always content to stay two or three rungs down the ladder and last awhile. When I do get a little ahead, I see what I can do to help others."

[On leaving Oklahoma for Hollywood, where he became a horse wrangler for Howard Hawks on
"The Outlaw" (1943)] "I'd been making a dollar a day as a cowboy, and my first check in Hollywood was for $300.
After that, you couldn't have driven me back to Oklahoma with a club."

Mini biography
Born in Oklahoma, Ben Johnson was a ranch hand and rodeo preformer when, in 1940, Howard Hughes hired him to take a load of horses to California. He decided to stick around (the pay was good), and for some years was a stunt man, horse wrangler, and double for such stars as John Wayne, Gary Cooper and James Stewart. His break came when John Ford noticed him and gave him a part in an upcoming film, and eventually a star part in Wagon Master (1950). He left Hollywood in 1953 to return to rodeo, where he won a world roping championship, but at the end of the year he had barely cleared expenses. The movies paid better, and were less risky, so he returned to the west coast and a career that saw him in over 300 movies.
Written Bruce Cameron

Biography
from Leonard Maltin's Movie Encyclopedia:
Former rodeo star Johnson broke into the movie business in 1940, first as a horse wrangler and later as a double for cowboy star Wild Bill Elliott. After years of stuntwork, he was "discovered" by director John Ford, who may have seen another John Wayne in the tall, good-looking, slow-drawling Oklahoman. Johnson eased into acting with supporting roles in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, Mighty Joe Young (both 1949), and Rio Grande (1950), and Ford starred him with Harry Carey, Jr., in Wagon Master (1950), but the likable Johnson just didn't seem to be star material. He returned to character parts, mostly in Westerns (including Shane, One-Eyed Jacks and Hang 'em High and matured into a fine, if limited, actor. (He never forsook his roots; in 1953 he was the World's Champion Steer Roper.) He was a favorite of director Sam Peckinpah, and appeared in his Major Dundee (1965), The Wild Bunch (1969), Junior Bonner and The Getaway (both 1972). Johnson's career took a major leap forward when he won an Oscar for his performance as Sam the Lion, the theater owner in The Last Picture Show (1971). He subsequently appeared in Dillinger (1973, as Melvin Purvis), The Sugarland Express (1974), Bite the Bullet (1975), Breakheart Pass (1976), The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1977), The Swarm (1978), Tex (1982), Red Dawn (1984), My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (1991), and Radio Flyer (1992), among others. More recently, he appeared in Angels in the Outfield (1994) and Outlaws (1995). Johnson's weather-beaten features make him an icon for any filmmaker chronicling the American West-past or present.
Copyright © 1994 Leonard Maltin, used by arrangement with Signet, a division of Penguin Putnam, Inc.

Filmography

Actor
1. The Evening Star (1996) .... Arthur Cotton
2. Ruby Jean and Joe (1996) (TV) .... Big Man
3. Bonanza: Under Attack (1995) (TV) .... Bronc Evans
4. Angels in the Outfield (1994) .... Hank Murphy
... aka Angels (UK)
5. The Outlaws: Legend of O.B. Taggart (1994)
6. Bonanza: The Return (1993) (TV) .... Bronc Evans
7. Radio Flyer (1992) .... Geronimo Bill
8. My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (1991) .... Jesse Dalton
9. The Chase (1991) (TV) .... Laurienti
10. Back to Back (1990) .... Eli Hix
11. The Last Ride (1989)
12. Dark Before Dawn (1988) .... The Sheriff
13. Stranger on My Land (1988) (TV) .... Vern Whitman
14. Cherry 2000 (1987) .... Six-Fingered Jake, Tracker
15. Let's Get Harry (1986) .... Harry Burck Sr.
... aka The Rescue
16. "Dream West" (1986) (mini) TV Series .... Jim Bridger
17. Trespasses (1986) .... August Klein
18. Wild Horses (1985) (TV) .... Bill Ward
19. Red Dawn (1984) .... Mr. Mason
20. Champions (1984) .... Burly Cocks
21. The Shadow Riders (1982) (TV) .... Uncle 'Black Jack' Traven
... aka Louis L'Amour's The Shadow Riders
22. Tex (1982) .... Cole Collins
23. Ruckus (1981) .... Mr. Sam Bellows
... aka Big Ruckus in a Small Town (USA: video title)
... aka Ruckus in Madoc Country
... aka The Loner
24. Terror Train (1980) .... Carne, Train Conductor
... aka Monstre du train, Le (Canada: French title)
... aka Train of Terror
25. The Hunter (1980) .... Sheriff Strong
26. Wild Times (1980) (TV) .... Doc Bogardus
27. Soggy Bottom, USA (1980) .... Isum Gorch
... aka Swamp Rats
28. The Sacketts (1979) (TV) .... Cap Roundtree
... aka The Daybreakers (USA: cut version)
29. The Swarm (1978) .... Felix
30. Grayeagle (1978) .... John Colter
31. The Greatest (1977) .... Hollis
32. The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1977) .... Captain J.D. Morales
33. The Savage Bees (1976) (TV) .... Sheriff Donald McKew
34. Hustle (1975) .... Marty Hollinger
35. Breakheart Pass (1975) .... Deputy U.S. Marshal Nathan Pearce
36. Bite the Bullet (1975) .... Mister
37. Locusts (1974) (TV) .... Amos Fletcher
38. The Sugarland Express (1974) .... Captain Harlin Tanner
39. Blood Sport (1973) (TV) .... Dwayne Birdsong
40. Kid Blue (1973) .... Sheriff 'Mean John' Simpson
41. Runaway! (1973) (TV) .... Holly Gibson
... aka The Frozen Passage (UK: theatrical title)
... aka The Runaway Train (UK)
42. Dillinger (1973) .... Melvin Purvis
43. The Red Pony (1973) (TV) .... Jess Taylor
44. The Train Robbers (1973) .... Jesse
45. The Getaway (1972) .... Jack Beynon
46. Junior Bonner (1972) .... Buck Roan
47. Corky (1972) .... Boland
48. "Gunsmoke"
... aka Gun Law (UK)
... aka Marshal Dillon (USA: rerun title)
- Drago (1971) TV Episode .... Hannon
- Quaker Girl (1966) TV Episode .... Vern Morland
- Quint-Cident (1963) TV Episode .... Ben Crown
49. The Last Picture Show (1971) .... Sam the Lion
50. "Bonanza"
... aka Ponderosa (USA: rerun title)
- Top Hand (1971) TV Episode .... Kelly James
- Deserter, the (II) (1969) TV Episode .... Sgt. Samuel Bellis
- The Gamble (1962) TV Episode .... Deputy Sheriff Stan Mace
51. The Bull of the West (1971) (TV) .... Spinner
... aka Hot Lead
... aka Vengeance Is the Spur (USA)
52. Something Big (1971) .... Jesse Bookbinder
53. Chisum (1970) .... James Pepper
54. The Undefeated (1969) .... Short Grub
55. The Wild Bunch (1969) .... Tector Gorch
56. "Disneyland"
... aka Disney's Wonderful World (USA: new title)
... aka The Disney Sunday Movie (USA: new title)
... aka The Magical World of Disney (USA: new title)
... aka The Wonderful World of Disney (USA: new title)
... aka Walt Disney (USA: new title)
... aka Walt Disney Presents (USA: new title)
... aka Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (USA: new title)
- Ride a Northbound Horse: Part 2 (1969) TV Episode
- Ride a Northbound Horse: Part 1 (1969) TV Episode
- Ten Who Dared (1968) TV Episode .... George Bradley
57. Ride a Northbound Horse (1969) (TV)
58. "The Virginian"
... aka The Men from Shiloh (new title)
- Vision of Blindness (1968) TV Episode .... Jed Cooper
- Johnny Moon (1967) TV Episode .... Joe Hogan
- Dangerous Road (1965) TV Episode .... Jim Brandt
- Duel at Shiloh (1963) TV Episode .... Spinner
59. Hang 'Em High (1968) .... Marshal Dave Bliss
60. Will Penny (1968) .... Alex (Flat Iron Ranch foreman)
61. "The Monroes" (1966) TV Series .... Sleeve (1966-1967)
62. "ABC Stage 67"
- Noon Wine (1966) TV Episode .... Sheriff Barbee
63. The Rare Breed (1966) .... Jeff Harter
64. "Branded"
- McCord's Way (1966) TV Episode .... Bill Latigo
65. "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre"
... aka The Chrysler Theater
... aka Universal Star Time (syndication title)
- March from Camp Tyler (1965) TV Episode .... Burt Wade
66. Major Dundee (1965) .... Sgt. Chillum
67. "Perry Mason"
- The Case of the Reckless Rock Hound (1964) TV Episode .... Kelly
68. Cheyenne Autumn (1964) (uncredited) .... Trooper Plumtree
... aka John Ford's Cheyenne Autumn (USA: complete title)
69. "Stoney Burke"
- Point of Honor (1962) TV Episode .... Rex Donally
70. "Have Gun - Will Travel"
- The Fifth Bullet (1962) TV Episode .... John Bartlett
- The Race (1961) TV Episode .... Sam Crabbe
- A Head of Hair (1960) TV Episode
71. "Route 66"
- A Long Piece of Mischief (1962) TV Episode .... Del
72. "Laramie"
- Widow in White (1961) TV Episode .... Tarp
- A Sound of Bells (1960) TV Episode .... Driver
- Hour After Dawn (1960) TV Episode
73. Tomboy and the Champ (1961) .... Uncle Jim
74. One-Eyed Jacks (1961) .... Bob Amory
75. Ten Who Dared (1960) .... George Bradley
76. "Border Patrol"
... aka U.S. Border Patrol (USA)
- Everglades Story (1959) TV Episode
77. "Alfred Hitchcock Presents"
- And the Desert Shall Blossom (1958) TV Episode .... Sheriff
78. "The Restless Gun"
- No Way to Kill (1958) TV Episode .... Sheriff Tim Malachy
79. "Navy Log"
- Florida Weekend (1958) TV Episode .... Border Patrol Officer
80. "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet"
... aka Ozzie and Harriet
- Top Gun (1958) TV Episode .... Tex Barton
81. Fort Bowie (1958) .... Capt. Thomas Thompson
82. Slim Carter (1957) .... Montana Burriss
83. War Drums (1957) .... Luke Fargo
84. "Cavalcade of America"
... aka DuPont Presents the Cavalcade Theatre (USA: fourth season title)
... aka DuPont Theater (USA: fifth season title)
- Once a Hero (1956) TV Episode
85. Rebel in Town (1956) .... Frank Mason
86. Oklahoma! (1955) (uncredited) .... Wrangler
87. Simba (1955) .... Kimani
... aka Simba - Mark of Mau Mau!
88. Shane (1953) .... Chris Calloway
89. Wild Stallion (1952/I) .... Dan Light
90. Fort Defiance (1951) .... Ben Shelby
91. Rio Grande (1950) .... Trooper Travis Tyree
... aka John Ford and Merian C. Cooper's Rio Grande (USA: complete title)
92. Wagon Master (1950) .... Travis Blue
93. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) .... Sgt. Tyree
94. Mighty Joe Young (1949) .... Gregg
... aka Mr. Joseph Young of Africa
95. 3 Godfathers (1948) .... Posse man #1
96. The Gallant Legion (1948) (uncredited)
97. Badman's Territory (1946) (uncredited) .... Deputy
98. The Naughty Nineties (1945) (uncredited) .... Coach driver
99. Nevada (1944) (uncredited) .... Saloon Patron
100. Tall in the Saddle (1944) (uncredited) .... Townsman
101. Bordertown Gun Fighters (1943) (uncredited) .... Messenger
102. The Outlaw (1943) (uncredited)
103. The Fighting Gringo (1939) (uncredited) .... Mexican Barfly

Stunts
1. Oklahoma! (1955) (stunt double) (uncredited)
2. 3 Godfathers (1948) (stunts) (uncredited)
3. The Kissing Bandit (1948) (stunts) (uncredited)
4. Red River (1948) (stunts) (uncredited)
5. The Gallant Legion (1948) (stunts) (uncredited)
6. Fort Apache (1948) (stunts) (uncredited)
... aka War Party
7. Wyoming (1947) (stunts) (uncredited)
8. Ramrod (1947) (stunts) (uncredited)
9. Angel and the Badman (1947) (stunt double) (uncredited)
... aka The Angel and the Outlaw
10. Out California Way (1946) (stunt double: Monte Hale) (uncredited)
11. Smoky (1946) (stunts) (uncredited)
12. Badman's Territory (1946) (stunts) (uncredited)
13. California Gold Rush (1946) (stunt double) (uncredited)
14. Santa Fe Saddlemates (1945) (stunt double) (uncredited)
15. Nevada (1944) (stunts) (uncredited)
16. The Old Texas Trail (1944) (stunts) (uncredited)
... aka Stagecoach Line (UK)
17. Tall in the Saddle (1944) (stunts) (uncredited)
18. Tarzan's Desert Mystery (1943) (stunt double) (uncredited)
19. Blazing Guns (1943) (stunts) (uncredited)
20. Bordertown Gun Fighters (1943) (stunts) (uncredited)
21. Arizona Trail (1943) (stunt double) (uncredited)
22. Riders of the Rio Grande (1943) (stunts) (uncredited)
23. The Outlaw (1943) (stunts) (uncredited)
24. The Durango Kid (1940) (stunt double) (uncredited)
... aka The Masked Stranger (UK)
25. The Fighting Gringo (1939) (stunts) (uncredited)

Himself
1. Ben Johnson: Third Cowboy on the Right (1996) .... Himself
2. 100 Years of the Hollywood Western (1994) (TV) .... Himself
3. Warren Oates: Across the Border (1993) .... Himself
4. Picture This: The Times of Peter Bogdanovich in Archer City, Texas (1991) .... Himself
5. Thank Ya, Thank Ya Kindly (1991) (TV) .... Himself
6. John Ford (1990) (TV) .... Himself
7. Hollywood on Horses (1989) (V) .... Himself
8. "Oklahoma Passage" (1989) (mini) TV Series .... Himself
9. "Étoiles et toiles"
- Episode dated 14 April 1986 (1986) TV Episode .... Himself
10. Inside 'The Swarm' (1978) (TV) .... Himself
11. The 48th Annual Academy Awards (1976) (TV) .... Himself - Co-presenter: Best Supporting Actor
12. The 44th Annual Academy Awards (1972) (TV) .... Himself - Best Supporting Actor Winner
13. "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson"
... aka The Best of Carson (USA: rerun title)
- Episode dated 17 February 1972 (1972) TV Episode .... Himself

Archive Footage
1. Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade (2004) (TV) .... Himself
2. AFI's 100 Years, 100 Thrills: America's Most Heart-Pounding Movies (2001) (TV) .... Himself
3. The 69th Annual Academy Awards (1997) (TV) .... Himself (Memorial Tribute)

Watch Ben Johnson Trailers:-

Ben's Video Gallery (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0424565/videogallery)

Hi,
Ben Johnson, talented horseman, and actor, made 10 films with Duke,

The Train Robbers (http://www.dukewayne.com/showthread.php?t=1847) (1973) .... Jesse
Chisum (http://www.dukewayne.com/showthread.php?t=1783) (1970) .... James Pepper
The Undefeated (http://www.dukewayne.com/showthread.php?t=1815) (1969) .... Short Grub
Rio Grande (http://www.dukewayne.com/showthread.php?t=1920) (1950) .... Trooper Travis Tyree
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (http://www.dukewayne.com/showthread.php?t=1905) (1949) .... Sgt. Tyree
Red River (http://www.dukewayne.com/showthread.php?t=1844)(1948) (stunts) (uncredited)
Fort Apache (http://www.dukewayne.com/showthread.php?t=1896)(1948) (stunts) (uncredited)
3 Godfathers (http://www.dukewayne.com/showthread.php?t=1941)(1948) .... Posse man #1.... (stunts) (uncredited)
Angel and the Badman (http://www.dukewayne.com/showthread.php?t=1973)(1947) (stunt double) (uncredited)
Tall in the Saddle (http://www.dukewayne.com/showthread.php?t=1768)(1944) (uncredited) .... Townsman....(stunts) (uncredited)

Ben, once said of Duke's honesty,
If he told you tomorrow's Christmas, you would get your stocking ready,
He was that kind of person .

On the set of She Wore a Yellow Ribbon,
he claimed, he and Duke had a similar approach to acting,
and he said,
Duke's idea was,"How would John Wayne do it?"..
and that's the same theory I've got.I don't consider myself an actor;
I consider myself a character, Ben Johnson.
Everybody in town, is a better actor than I am,
but I can play the hell out of Ben Johnson.
Duke more or less played himself. .

During the night at location in MV, Ben, recalled the extraordinary evenings,,
the poker games and the sing-a-longs.
Just behind Goulding's Lodge, was a gigantic rock wall.
'Right down below us,like a quarter of a mile.....
a fire would start up, and the Indians, would start singing and dancing.
The sound bounced off this rock wall, and out into the valley..
it was the eeriest sound.
I personally think Ben Johnson, was more than a character actor,
I think he was a star in own right, and won an Academy Award to vindicate this.
During the filming of The Train Robbers, Ben was nominated for an Academy Award for his supporting role in THE LAST PICTURE SHOW.
At the time, Ben was with Duke in Durango, Duke loaned Ben his plane, wished him luck and sent him to LA.
Ben returned with an Oscar in his hand, and Duke's faith in unaffected acting was again confirmed.

I really enjoyed his portrayal of trooper Travis Tyree in Rio Grande and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, one tough hombre, but very likeable. ;)

Chester :newyear:

Hello Chester,

I echo your sentiments... Those are two of my favorite of Duke's movies and Ben Johnson was a big reason why. I also liked him in 3 Godfathers... I think he would have made a nice contribution to The Searchers.


-ncb

Hi nathan_brittles,

Nathan, you are probabaly aware of this, but folks who are not.

Ben, was not used in The Searchers , as he fell out with Ford big time,
during the making of Rio Grande ,
After the filming of the Indian attack on the Catholic church,
Ben, Duke, Ford, and Maureen and Dobe Carey, were having dinner,
when Ben drawled,
Well. there was a lot of shootin', but not too many Indians bit the dust.
It was an off the cuff, comic remark, but Ford was furious,
he said,
What did you say?
I was just talkin' to Dobe,Mr. Ford,
Ben replied
I know, what did you say?
Ford got nasty,called him stupid, the whole row blew up,
and Ben stormed off.
Ford, knew he had 'screwed up, because Ben had a quiet temperament.
Ben Johnson remained on the film,
but Ford dropped him from his Stock company,
and it was 13 years, before the two worked together again.

Hope this explains it,

Originally posted by chester7777@Feb 17 2006, 01:24 AM
I really enjoyed his portrayal of trooper Travis Tyree in Rio Grande and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, one tough hombre, but very likeable. ;)

Chester* :newyear:
27359


I agree 100%, he was just like seeing an old friend in a movie.


Baby Sis

:cowboy: :cowboy: :cowboy:

He was a really handsome man is his youth.

Until we started really watching JW movies in earnest, we didn't really know who Ben Johnson was. But we do now!

Here are some interesting sites, that might offer some more perspective on this actor -

Award Winners - Ben Johnson (http://www.movieactors.com/winsm/sm71.htm)
Ben Johnson in the Encyclohopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/J/JO004.html)
Notable Names Database - Ben Johnson (http://www.nndb.com/people/425/000064233/)
USA Deep South - Ben Johnson (http://usads.ms11.net/benjohnson.html)
Great Character Actors - Ben Johnson (http://www.dougmacaulay.com/kingspud/sel_by_actor_index_2.php?actor_first=Ben&actor_last=Johnson)


Mrs. C :angel1:

Hey Mrs. C,

This is really good. I didn’t know all that. I seem to learn more and more everyday.

Cheers B)

Hi Sue,

Thanks for the links, it all helps!

Hi all,
I agree with all of you about Ben Johnson, I like him in all Duke movies, but what I like best is his way of riding a horse - it is a sight for sore eyes! Expecially at She wore a yellow Ribbon. And how can we forget Roman style riding in Rio Grande. The detailes of prepearing it was well described by Harry Carey Jr. in his book.
Regards,
Vera :rolleyes:

Ben Johnson was always a Gentleman and always EZ to be around. :) The last time that I saw and talked to Ben was at Duke's 80th Birthday Party in Sedona, Arizona back in the 1980s. Every one liked him But John Ford! :fear2:

You can go to the Sites Below for a few Pictures of Him and a Little more Info. on His Falling out with John Ford. But any time Ford wanted some one that could "Ride a Horse Hell Bent For Leather" he went to Ben Johnson :angry:

Ben Johnson was the Best on Horse Back that I had ever Seen! :rolleyes:

Ben Johnson (http://www.ranch26bar.com/BEN1.html)

MAKING OF RIO GRANDE (http://www.wyntoontrip.com/RIOGRANDEA.html)

Chilibill :cowboy:

Hi Bill,
Thank you for the photos and story. They are wonderful as always.
Regards,
Vera :rolleyes:

Ben Johnson has always been one of my favorites. Never saw him in a role I didn't like. But, what he said about not taking that role in The Last Picture Show because he didn't approve of nudity and cursing in movies doesn't make sense. Four years earlier, he did The Wild Bunch and he and Warren Oates had some scenes in a vat of wine with two half naked Mexican women. Didn't seem to mind then. Still, I do agree with him. I like to see naked women on the screen as much as anyone and the cursing doesn't bother me much, unless they start using Jesus Christ name in them but, I don't think they need that stuff in a movie for it to be a good movie. It's just uneccessary.

Originally posted by WaynamoJim@Mar 20 2006, 10:49 PM
. I like to see naked women on the screen as much as anyone 29635


Hi,
Certainly I'm not anyone.

Originally posted by Senta@Mar 21 2006, 12:51 AM
Hi,
Certainly I'm not anyone.
29642


Certainly no offense intended on your behalf, Senta. Most men in this country like that sort of stuff. I don't mind it, though, I don't think it's ever necessary. They got along without it during the lates 30's up to the late 60's. My wife thinks it just plain stinks to put that stuff in movies. Same with the using of Christs name in such a careless manner. She won't watch anything if it's in there and if, it shows up even near the end of a movie, she'll turn it off or walk out.

Speaking of "The Wild Bunch", I just watched it yesterday and I think it was more of Peckinpah thing with all the swearing.

I had a chance to sit down and start watch the "Train Robbers" earlier and I have to say that ol' Ben Johnson was not just a fine actor, but a perfect compliment for Duke. I never really knew he was such an accomplished actor, nor did I ever recognize that he was in so many of Duke's movies until I read an "Arizona Highways" article chronicling his passing. Since then, I have become quite a fan of his movies. I know, a slow start, but I caught on. :headbonk:
Bo

Originally posted by bopoppa@Jul 5 2006, 04:30 PM
I had a chance to sit down and start watch the "Train Robbers" earlier and I have to say that ol' Ben Johnson was not just a fine actor, but a perfect compliment for Duke.* I never really knew he was such an accomplished actor, nor did I ever recognize that he was in so many of Duke's movies until I read an "Arizona Highways" article chronicling his passing.* Since then, I have become quite a fan of his movies.* I know, a slow start, but I caught on.* :headbonk:
Bo
32708

I always liked Ben Johnson. I remember the exact time and place I was at when I heard of his passing. I was in the waiting room of Spohn Hospital waiting to be checked in, and it was on the NBC evening news and was the last news story reported.

I've been a big fan of Ben Johnson since first watching him in Duke's early cavalry movies. If you get a chance to see the early version of 'Mighty Joe Young', and 'Shane' you can also see a lot of him.

I really love reading 'Arizona Highways' - I always pick up a copy whenever I make it to Arizona.


-ncb

Ben Johnson played a nasty villain in "One Eyed Jacks," where he made his character quite believable. He played a number of other shady characters over the years, such as in "The Getaway" with Steve McQueen (some scenes were filmed here in San Antonio, noteably the ones on our fabled River Walk), but his character in "Jacks" had no redeeming features.
Cheers - Jay :D

And look at all the movies I never knew he was in and now can look forward to watching. This site is fantastic. Thank you as always.
Bo

Ben Johnson was also really good in "Bite The Bullet" with Gene Hackman & "The Shadow Riders" with Sam Elliott & Tom Selleck....

Shoot....Ben Johnson was just great in any darn movie he was ever in !!!!!

Just my opinion, but I think his best role (outside of his roles in John Wayne films) was that of Cap Rountree in The Sacketts.
Best,
Colorado Bob

Yep! Whole bunch of good un's in The Sacketts!

You have to turn to television now for the really good Westerns. Thank goodness, there's at least one medium left that hasn't written them off completely. And thank goodness for the likes of Elliott, Selleck, Duvall, etc. who use the medium to good advantage.....

Originally posted by bopoppa@Jul 5 2006, 11:30 PM
I had a chance to sit down and start watch the "Train Robbers" earlier and I have to say that ol' Ben Johnson was not just a fine actor, but a perfect compliment for Duke.* I never really knew he was such an accomplished actor, nor did I ever recognize that he was in so many of Duke's movies until I read an "Arizona Highways" article chronicling his passing.* Since then, I have become quite a fan of his movies.* I know, a slow start, but I caught on.* :headbonk:
Bo
32708

Hi all,
I don't know how to add link, but you can see a lot about Ben Johnson in the special thread in Pals of the Saddle section.
Regards,
Senta :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Jay J. Foraker@Jul 5 2006, 04:12 PM
Ben Johnson played a nasty villain in "One Eyed Jacks," where he made his character quite believable.* He played a number of other shady characters over the years, such as in "The Getaway" with Steve McQueen (some scenes were filmed here in San Antonio, noteably the ones on our fabled River Walk), but his character in "Jacks" had no redeeming features.
Cheers - Jay :D
32721


I agree, he played a very good bad man in that movie. I thought he did a great job, though I was very dissapointed in him when he shot Marlon Brando's buddy in cold blood :o

It's funny, all the great westerns he was in..and he won his only Oscar for The Last Picture Show, which took place in the 50's.

Here's a little tid-bit from IMDB about his taking that roll:

He turned down the role of Sam the Lion in The Last Picture Show (1971)
when it was first offered to him by Peter Bogdanovich because he thought
the script was "dirty" and he did not approve of swearing and nudity in
motion pictures. Bogdanovich appealed to John Ford, who got Johnson to
change his mind as a favor to him. Johnson won a Best Supporting Actor
Oscar playing the role.

Mark

Ben Johnson started out as a Real Cowboy in Oklahoma before he went to films. :cowboy: Most of the people that saw him work thought that he became a Very Fine Actor in his later years. :) And everyone thought that He was the Best on Horse Back in the Western Films! :D

And He proved how good of a Actor He was by getting The Oscar for "The last Picture Show" in 1972. :jump: You can go to the Site Below for more Info. on Ben Johnson and His Films. :rolleyes:

BEN JOHNSON (http://www.ranch26bar.com/BENJOHNSON.html)

Chilibill :cowboy:

Chilibill,

Thanks for the post! Us Okies are proud to claim Ben Johnson.

As I recall, he spent his later years taking care of his mom in her old age.

He was a fine one, God Bless him!

Tbone

Originally posted by Tbone@Jul 6 2006, 09:48 AM
Chilibill,

Thanks for the post! Us Okies are proud to claim Ben Johnson.

As I recall, he spent his later years taking care of his mom in her old age.

He was a fine one, God Bless him!

Tbone
32745



If im not sadly mistaken, I THINK that the news report reporting his passing away, I THINK they mentioned that Ben Johnson died during a visit with his mother. I might be badly wrong but, that's what I could swear that I heard on the news.

Yes Ben has passed on. You are correct.

Originally posted by Tbone@Jul 7 2006, 09:47 AM
Yes Ben has passed on. You are correct.
32782


?

Hello all
I would put Ben johnson in my top ten of actors who worked more then once with the Duke.

Hi Kilo6.

I was wondering if you could give me the translation for your tag line?

I've got a good part of it but I'm not familiar with the term "sing" in Latin.

Thanks,
Tbone

Hello TBone
Thanks for the feedback I had misspelled it, I neither read or write in Latin and the ornate carving I took the last four words from was not easy to recognize. I did a little research and found the real spelling. These last four mean that all may be one. The first sentence has a history what did you translate it as meaning?

I'm having trouble with some of the spellings but as best I can make out, it is something to the effect of "To embellish the true and good is not detrimental when all are united as one."

Ut unum sint is how Our Lord begins His prayer to the Father that the church He has founded may always be one.

Ut unum sint.. May they be one... as You and I, Father, are one.

Tbone

Originally posted by Tbone@Jul 11 2006, 05:50 AM
I'm having trouble with some of the spellings but as best I can make out, it is something to the effect of "To embellish the true and good is not detrimental when all are united as one."

Ut unum sint is how Our Lord begins His prayer to the Father that the church He has founded may always be one.

Ut unum sint.. May they be one... as You and I, Father, are one.

Tbone
32878

It never ceases to amaze me the diverse gifts and knowledge that abound on this site. :huh: Tbone and Chilibill together at a campfire would require pen and paper or at least a tape recorder to remember everything that was said.
Bo

Hello All
Hello TBone I should have dropped the last four words to a lower or 2nd line as I added them to the first sentence without intending that they be read as one thought. I have gone back and edited my sig line so they now appear as two separate sentences. As for the first sentence I hope that my spelling there is not awry and thus misleading. I left a message with the faculty Dept of Classical & Near Eastern Studies at the University of British columbia asking for an exact translation of that sentence, so as to compare it with your translation. The original and ongoing thing with that motto which I adapted as a family creed years ago, is that if someone wanted to know what it meant they would have to do the research and then perhaps the sentiment would have more impact having been earned so to speak. You are one of few who has voiced an interest although many have seen it. It is written in large print on a laminated plastic sign attached to our mailbox at the front door. Anyhow I will be in touch with you via pm when I get word(s) back from UBC. :)

Hello All

Here’s a query for our experts

The actor Ben Johnson who was part of the John Ford company fell out with him during the filming of Rio Grande and did not work with the director again until Cheynne Autumn.

In looking at Ben’s career he didn’t seem to work with John Wayne from Rio Grande until he appeared with him again in The Undefeated, Train Robbers and Chisum.

Considering that Ben was a capable actor particularly in westerns did John Wayne not employ him out of deference to Ford because of their row or was it a case of their paths didn’t cross.


Mike

Mike;

Ben Johnson was a always a Gentelman, and Duke and Ben were very close for many years up till Duke's Passing in 1979 and never had anything bad about each other .:)

Below is a story about the making of "Rio Grande" that will tell you a little more about the Falling out of Ben Johnson and John Ford as told by Maureen O'Hara.:(

http://www.wyntoontrip.com/RIOGRANDEA.html

Bill

Hi Bill

I knew I could depend on you.:)

Yes, I know that Duke and Ben never fell out but I find it strange that they never acted together from 1950-1969 when Ben was appearing in films particularly westerns everywhere else but with Duke.


Mike

That is an excellent question. I wonder how John Ford would have responded to Duke, if he had employed Ben in one of his films after Ford had banished Ben. We all know that John Ford was the one man who could tell Duke to jump, and he would reply 'how high?'.

Hi falc,

Here is the dedicated thread to Ben,
I am sure all you answers are here

Hi

http://www.dukewayne.com/imagehosting/22545d87afd34ca8.jpg

Fine picture any guesses on the film. My first choice was The Train Robbers, but I suppose it could be Chisum.

Regards

Arthur

Arthur, great photo!

I think The Train Robbers,

he wore a different hat band in Chisum

Arthur, That is a great photo!

Chester :newyear:

I remember a while back in '97 (give or take a year) that I bought an issue of a magazine called "Arizona Highways"?? and there was an article and pictures of Ben Johnson on a ride through Monument Valley. I believe this came after his passing as the title (if I remember correctly) was "Last Ride". If this is so, what a timely article and a very poetic last ride for such a man.

Bo

Ben Johnson was another H.H.N. in our house. I never really knew who he was until watching some John Wayne movies. However, I had seen several of his films without knowing who he was, such as: Mighty Joe Young and The Hunter w/ Steve McQueen. Two movies I was surprised that he was in were: Red Dawn and Cherry 2000.

I remember the day that it was announced on the news that he had passed away. I was sick and was checking myself into the hospital and heard it mentioned in the news. Damn, I sure hate seeing him gone.

Ben Johnson was an all time favorite of mine. I loved him with Duke in Chisum. I watch that movie allot.

Dixie

Ben Johnson was a Fine Man, and just like Duke played Duke, He played Ben Johnson and No one Else could do the Parts that He Did and He became a Very Fine Actor !
:thumbs_up:
Chilibill
:cowboy:

Ditto's ChiliBill, . . It always seems like he was the perfect actor for the part that he was playing.

Chester :newyear:

Why is it whenever I click on links to Ben Johnson's work I get a website about traveling of some sort? It's been like ever since I joined up in here. I never said anything before, but nosey me feels like she's missing something. It happens on allot of threads. HELP!!!!!!!

Dixie

Why is it whenever I click on links to Ben Johnson's work I get a website about traveling of some sort? It's been like ever since I joined up in here. I never said anything before, but nosey me feels like she's missing something. It happens on allot of threads. HELP!!!!!!!

Dixie


Dixie,
The links you tried the one is missing the photos and the other does take you to a travel site. You are doing nothing wrong.
Even the links Mrs C posted since they are from 2006 a few are broken. The second and last ones just in case they didn't work for you.

Dixie,
Even the links Mrs C posted since they are from 2006 a few are broken. The second and last ones just in case they didn't work for you.

Dixie and Shortgrub.
When posting external links, one is never to know
how long they will be good.

As far as links internally within this board, some do not fuction,
as they were transferred over from our old forum, and therefore,
cease to work on this board.

As far as links in the Movies, 'Pal's section,
I have spent many hours repairing them,
and hopefully, they all now function.

However, if you come across any that don't,
please PM me, with the rogue link.

EE, I wasn't complaining, just trying to help Dixie out. I know with older links you can run into problems that is why I said they are from 2006 so Dixie would understand.
Thanks for explaining the internal links.

Why is it whenever I click on links to Ben Johnson's work I get a website about traveling of some sort? It's been like ever since I joined up in here. I never said anything before, but nosey me feels like she's missing something. It happens on allot of threads. HELP!!!!!!!

Dixie
I went through the links in my post from 2006 and fixed any that were "broken" and removed at least one since it was no longer any good. Thanks for letting me know, and as Keith pointed out, don't hesitate to let the person who posted the link know if it's 'gone bad' so they have an opportunity to fix or remove it.

Mrs. C :angel1:

Thank you all so much for your information. I appreciate you taking the time to explain it to me.

Dixie

Thank you all so much for your information. I appreciate you taking the time to explain it to me.

Dixie

No problem, just enjoy yourself here

Basically, I would just be reiterating what everyone has already said about this wonderful guy, so I'll just leave it at this: I watch every Ben Johnson movie I can get my hands on - and can even point him out in Oklahoma! on the train platform. And in Naughty Nineties as the cab driver. :D

Also, for anyone who is interested, I had to search a long time, but I finally laid my hands on a copy of "Ben Johnson: Third Cowboy on the Right", a documentary about Ben with interviews from Charlton Heston, Harry Carey, Jr., James Coburn, and Ben himself. I found it very interesting - learned some things I never knew about him, such as he and Marlon Brando re-worked all the dialogue for "One-Eyed Jacks", and he re-wrote his dialogue in "The Last Picture Show". If anyone is interested, copies are available at Video Editing Services, Inc in Kentucky - they're the ones who put the documentary together, and actually have the master - I paid $15 + shipping, and for about 1 1/2 hours of Ben Johnson clips and stories, it was well worth it! Their number is 859-255-9049.

I may check in on that westrnfan, ben johnson was always one of my favorite actors. Partly cause I always percieved him as being the same man in real life. He was a genuine cowboy to boot, so westerns just fit him like a glove. I liked him in all his roles i have ever seen as much in the dukes movies as in others.

It's definitely worth a look for any Ben Johnson fan, FarmerSteve. My only beef with it was that there were way too many long clips from his films (most of which I have!) and not enough (for me, anyway!) interviews with Ben himself. :D

There is no Dought
Ben Johnson
Chilibill
:cowboy:

I was reading a new bio of Warren Oates by Susan Compo. He worked with Ben several times. It said "Ben Johnson was the only guy that Warren didn't want to know he got high". Ben is quoted quite a bit in the book.

In the acknowledgments Campo says, "Kathryn Jones, Ben Johnson's biographer, spurred me on".

I didn't know there was a Ben bio, so I started hunting. I didn't find one. There isn't one yet.

One thing I found in 1999 said Walker was working on the book.

Walker posted this at IMDB in July of 2007

Hi, I'm a professional writer in Texas who has been working on a biography of Ben Johnson for several years. I have a contract from a university press that plans to publish it as part of a series about Hollywood legends. I'm looking for people from the film, rodeo, and ranching worlds and anyone else who worked with Ben or knew him when he lived in Oklahoma, California or Arizona. Have already interviewed his family, friends (Dobe Carey, etc.) and visited the Motion Picture Academy Library, USC Doheny Library, Cowboy Hall of Fame, and many others for info and photos. Please respond ASAP.

Thanks for your help.

Kathryn Jones


This is from an interview with Campo from July of this year,

Greg: You mentioned that Ben Johnson is the subject of his own biography?
Susan: Yes, it's being written by Kathryn Jones and it's still in the works. She should be done with it, I hope, this year so it should be out soon and we would like to go on the road and do some readings together when it's out. I can't wait, it should definitely be fun.


I don't see any sign of it coming out this year but hopefully it will be out some time in the not to distant future. I want to read it.

I hope that the book is released on him. He is one of my favorites as you see why I use one of his characters for my signon.

Ben is one of my all time favorite, genuine, natural actors. I used to go to see any movie that I knew he was in. I recall being more interested in Hang 'em High because he, Bruce Dern and L. Q. Jones were in it, not Clint Eastwood.
There is a magnificent novel by Claire Huffaker called The Cowboys and the Cossacks that takes a Texas cattle drive crew into Russia that was Ben's dream. He optioned the novel but could never get funding to make it. I've read it seven or eight times over the years and can only picture Ben in the lead role.
I can always recognize Ben riding a horse, even in the background, with his distinctive "elbows out" posture.
He participated in a Peckinpah documentary and commented on the wine vat scene with him, Oates and a couple of real Mexican ladies in The Wild Bunch. He said Sam gave him and Warren a fifth of booze in the morning and told them he's be filming that scene in the afternoon. He ended the story by saying that his wife wouldn't allow him back in Mexico unescorted.


We deal in lead, friend.

Ethan thanks for the info I didn't know about the problem with John Ford. Ben was always a favorite of mine. He and the Duke seemed to be so comfortable with each other in a scene it is very easy to believe that they would be good friends offscreen as well.:agent:

I haven't gotten a hold of this yet but there is a Ben Johnson bio out,

The Nicest Fella - The Life of Ben Johnson: The world champion rodeo cowboy who became an Oscar-winning movie star by Richard D. Jensen. It was published 01/19/2010.

The ISBN is 9781440196782.

I liked Ben since I was a child in the 50's and saw Mighty Joe Young on tv. He just always seemed likable in most of the roles he played. Cut to about '82, in Memphis, at a western film festival he and Dobie attended. Met him as he was coming into the large room it was held and of course I was nervous but managed to tell him how much I enjoyed his work with Duke. Always remember what he said and the way he said it! "Son, I held John Wayne's horse for 20 years." LOL. Later my wife and I got him cornered for some pictures and more talk and I can't recall much of what he said, but I do remember him saying, talking about some of the directors of the day, " I don't work for no dopers." Can't you just here him saying that? What a guy..sure miss him.

I haven't gotten a hold of this yet but there is a Ben Johnson bio out,

The Nicest Fella - The Life of Ben Johnson: The world champion rodeo cowboy who became an Oscar-winning movie star by Richard D. Jensen. It was published 01/19/2010.

The ISBN is 9781440196782.
The book is a little over 500 pages, and is available at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Nicest-Fella-Johnson-champion-Oscar-winning/dp/1440196788).

Thanks for bringing it to our attention,may2!

The book is a little over 500 pages, and is available at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Nicest-Fella-Johnson-champion-Oscar-winning/dp/1440196788).

Thanks for bringing it to our attention,may2!

Thanks for the information,
I have now added this to
Books By Pals Of The Saddle (http://www.dukewayne.com/showthread.php?t=4651)

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/61VpyN4LblL_SL500_AA300_.jpg

This is the amazing story of Ben Johnson, the cowboy who grew up in the tall grass prairie of Oklahoma, rode to Hollywood in a boxcar full of horses and became an Oscar-winning actor. Johnson co-starred in some of Hollywood's greatest Western movies of all time, alongside John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Steve McQueen, Marlon Brando, Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, Burt Reynolds, Alan Ladd, and many more.

Known as "Son" to his family and friends, Johnson was the son of a three-time world champion rodeo cowboy also named Ben Johnson. Dividing his time between the world of movies and the world of rodeo, "Son" Johnson became one of the greatest rodeo cowboys of all time, winning the 1953 RCA World Championship for team roping.

A man of principle who believed in the value of "honesty, realism and respect," Johnson managed to forge a successful career in the film industry without becoming a part of the excesses of Hollywood. He often paid dearly for his integrity, enduring a blacklist by famed Western director John Ford for refusing to allow Ford to verbally abuse him.

Johnson's career lasted more than 50 years, with many highs and lows, but through it all he always stayed true to the cowboy code.

When he won his Oscar for The Last Picture Show in 1972, Johnson took the stage and, in his typical "aw shucks" way, said, "This couldn't have happened to a nicer fella." The Nicest Fella is a must read for fans of Ben Johnson, rodeo fans, Western movie buffs, Hollywood fanatics, and anyone who still believes in the American dream! With 30 pages of never-before-seen photographs from the Johnson family collection and a complete filmography.

Thanks for the updates. I just ordered a copy through Amazon and will let you know my opinion, whether you want to hear it or not.


We deal in lead, friend.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/chuckhayward_johnwayne.jpg

Ethan that is a great picture. Where is it from?:shades_smile:

As threatened, I said I'd review "The Nicest Fella" - the Life of Ben Johnson.
It was disappointing in that it was mainly a glorified entry on IMDB. It listed every one of his movies and tv appearances in order and who was in it with him. The few anecdotal stories were all from other familiar sources Although the author met Ben himself, he didn't interview any of Johnson's contemporaries - probably because most have passed. He does mention one time in a restaurant when Ben's presence caused a stir. Their waitress asked if he were famous and Ben said "Naw, I just hold John Wayne's horse a lot".
There are a few family stills and about a 175 page filmography which repeats most everything gone over already.
Nice try, but I can't recommend it.


We deal in lead, friend.

Thanks for the review, Gorch, now I can feel slightly better about the fact that I wasn't all over this when it was published. :)

Hi, everyone, I just joined! I LOVE John Wayne, John Ford, westerns (well, all movies but that definitely includes westerns), Anthony Mann and... etc. ;) My two most favorite western stars after the Duke are William S. Hart and Ben Johnson. In fact, I love Ben Johnson so much I made a webpage for him and I hope you all visit. It's at http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com. I plan to hang out at the Pals of the Saddle forum for Ben but also looking forward to contributing to the other threads here too.

Howdy, Paula. Great Ben Johnson page....he's one of my favorites too. He wasn't just playing a cowboy, he was the real deal.

Hi, Maverick and everyone. Great to be here! It was a pleasure reading over the entire discussion on Ben. Yes, he sure was the real deal. ;)

I'd like to stick up a bit for the Richard Jensen bio. Yes, a lot of it is taken from previously published articles and interviews, and other books (like Harry Carey Jr.'s Company of Heroes) and a great big chunk of the bio is a reprint of Ben's IMDB listing. It's not a work of great scholarship. But... I like having the IMDB listing in hardcopy like that; it's convenient for checking on things while watching movies. Also, the section on Ben's Oklahoma roots, and his family, especially his rodeo champion and ranch manager father Ben Sr., is fascinating reading. I haven't seen a detailed description of Ben's childhood and early youth like that anywhere else, plus I love the family photos. And Jensen has a pithy way of summing up a movie or an event quickly, and describing a person's faults (like Sam Peckinpah's) while also acknowledging his talents and good qualities. The section on Ben's years as a stuntman has been helpful to me for identifying some of Ben's stuntwork so I could screencap it for my website. The bio is in serious need of a good line editor though. Typos abound.

As an initial biography of Ben, Jensen's book is a decent enough start. There is another bio out there waiting to be written, probably by an academic or historian who also would have a readable writing style, and I hope it's published while I'm still around to read it. :)

Screencap, anyone? From my current project, One-Eyed Jacks. :) It's sad that the last movie filmed in Vistavision is represented so poorly on DVD, but a fellow at Home Theater Forum looked at all *19* DVD versions and determined that the (now out of print) one from Front Row Entertainment was the best. Which isn't saying much. But that's the one I am using for screencaps.

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Jacks737.jpg

Screencap, anyone? From my current project, One-Eyed Jacks. :) It's sad that the last movie filmed in Vistavision is represented so poorly on DVD, but a fellow at Home Theater Forum looked at all *19* DVD versions and determined that the (now out of print) one from Front Row Entertainment was the best. Which isn't saying much. But that's the one I am using for screencaps.

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Jacks737.jpg

Is that a widescreen DVD? All the versions of One-Eyed Jacks I've seen have all been lousy Pan & Scan garbage copies.

Hi! Yes, indeed, my DVD of One-Eyed Jacks is widescreen. That is to say, it's non-anamorphic widescreen, i.e., not enhanced for widescreen televisions. It actually looks... not entirely awful on my television. The one you want is from Front Row Features. If it doesn't have this cover, it's not the one you want.

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/one-eyed-jacks.jpg

Here is a link to the Home Theater Forum thread where Richard reported on his comparison of all the versions out there:

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/forum/thread/303390/the-best-dvd-of-one-eyed-jacks-1961

I'm almost done with my screencapping of Ben's scenes and I may even have them posted to my website today.

That went more quickly than expected. The One-Eyed Jacks screencaps (all 1,175 of them) are now up at http://benjohnscreencaps.shutterfly.com. Just click on the "Movies" section and you'll see my write-up after which you'll find the screencaps. I always welcome corrections to any mistakes you find on my webpage and all screencaps are available for -- well, doing whatever you'd like with them. I love Bob Amory -- he's such a deliciously nasty snake!

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Jacks670.jpg

Thanks Paula. I visited your Ben Johnson site. What a great job you did. Welcome to this site.

Thanks, Oliver, I'm glad you liked the page. I'm working on Breakheart Pass right now.

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Breakheart7.jpg

After that I'm going to do the Have Gun, Will Travel episode "A Head of Hair," in which Ben made the first of his three guest appearances on that show. I decided to do that episode after reading Steve Bowie's wonderful description of it in his most recent post to his Classic TV History Blog. Bowie wrote this about Ben:

"Johnson delivers what may be his finest performance prior to the Oscar-winning turn in The Last Picture Show: understated, unadorned, just barely hinting at a deep well of sadness and self-loathing. Imagine that line – 'maybe even me, seven, eight years ago' – in Johnson’s voice and then picture the flicker of a weary smile that goes with it."

Here's the link to Bowie's blog in case anyone didn't see it at my website:

http://classictvhistory.wordpress.com/

Hello! I have now posted my screencaps of Ben's scenes from Breakheart Pass. Very enjoyable movie and it has a great Jerry Goldsmith score.

The screencaps do have spoilers though so SPOILER WARNING in case you haven't seen the movie, which is a murder mystery set on a train headed towards a U.S. cavalry fort.

Go here: http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com/

and click on the "Movies" section to get to the screencaps.

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Breakheart845.jpg

ben johnson is one of my favourite actors.he was great in all john wayne westerns.he was also great in shane as the bad guy turned good.he had a good presents on screen.tough as nail's.you sure do learn a lot on this board about all the actors and their films and their lives.

I just posted this on my webpage but I'll post it here too:


Western Heritage Weekend takes place in Dewey, Oklahoma on September 18 and 19. Co-grand marshals for the Tom Mix Festival Parade will be Gordon Hill, Tom Mix’s grandson and Helen Christenson, the daughter of Ben Johnson (Sr.) who made his first appearance in the Dewey Roundup in 1920.

Helen and her husband, Dale Christenson, will be at the Tom Mix museum during the festival. Richard Jensen, actor, author, lawyer and cowboy will also be at the museum and signing his books “The Nicest Fellow” (a biography of Ben Johnson, Jr.) and “The Amazing Tom Mix.” The 101 Ranch Old Timers Association from Ponca City will have a display and items for sale in the museum.

More information at http://www.examiner-enterprise.com/articles/2010/09/11/news/dewey/dewey01.txt

and here: http://www.cityofdewey.com/About_Dewey/Latest_News_and_Articles/ID/38/Western_Heritage_Weekend_is_fast_approaching.aspx

Excellent work Paula. I appreciate the opportunity to see Ben without hearing Brando in Jacks (I just vented about Brando in another post).
Any chance in the future of screencaps of Ben in "The Wild Bunch" or "Dillinger"?


We deal in lead, friend.

Hi, Gorch! Yes, I read your comments about Brando earlier today. :) Poor Marlon, no love for him here at dukewayne.com. To be honest, I don't like his acting either. My fave guy when it comes to 50s Methods types is Montgomery Clift -- now there's a wonderful actor.

However, I'll always have a soft (if small) spot in my heart for the big lug if only because he made One-Eyed Jacks with Ben Johnson and directed Ben in what is one of his best performances IMHO. From what I've read, Ben got along fine with Brando and they worked very hard together on their scenes and wrote or improvised a lot of the dialogue. Karl Malden, Katy Jurado and Miriam Colon are great too, the cinematography is gorgeous and it has a terrific score (and that 1,200 Kritzerland pressing of the score sold out in a twinkling!)

As for Dillinger and The Wild Bunch -- and Mighty Joe Young and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and The Last Picture Show, and so much more -- they're ALL on the "to do" list. It's going to take a long long time to get around to everything but eventually it will happen. I'm not sure how I'm going to handle The Wild Bunch, though. The editing of that is so precise, so split-second, that screencapping the entire thing seems kind of ridiculous. But to do only Ben's scenes seems equally ridiculous. So I'll just stew over that one for a while.

I read somewhere that when Brando and/or Kubrick were interviewing actors to hire, Ben was an early candidate. Brando was looking for authenticity and was determined to avoid movie cliches. I think they were talking about Shane because Ben was featured in it. Brando asked Ben what he would have done differently in that movie. Ben replied to the effect that he sure wouldn't have pulled gloves on before a gunfight (referring to Wilson). Brando said to put Ben on the payroll.

Can't recall where I picked that up. If anyone can assist an old man with a fading memory, I'll take all the help I can get.

Paula, Clift was the best of that bunch. Keep up the great work.

We deal in lead, friend.

There's an overall sense of realness to EVERYTHING Ben Johnson did that made you just appreciate him more and more each time you see him.

Not Ward Bond, Paul Fix, Harry Worden,etc.
but Ben Johnson who is Duke's most revered 'Pal'!

Here is Ben doubling Duke in Angel and the Badman. :)

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Angel55.jpg

Hello everyone! I just updated my Ben Johnson page with the following:

1. Screencaps from Smoky

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Smoky458.jpg

and 2. A new memorabilia section. I finally found time to scan in some of my Ben Johnson collection. More to come but why wait with what I already managed to scan in? :)

http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/4604/wildstallionsmaller.jpg

Just go to http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com and click on the Stunts and Memorabilia sections respectively. I hope you enjoy!

Hello again! Added more goodies to my Ben Johnson page. First, a complete screencapping of the Have Gun Will Travel episode, "A Head of Hair" in which Ben gives an unforgettable performance playing one of the most despairing characters he ever portrayed.

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/HGWT-11049.jpg

Plus a lobby card from the 1951 movie Fort Defiance. :)

It's all at http://www.benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com

Just added screencaps of Ben's scenes in a cute 1957 movie-biz comedy, Slim Carter. Jock Mahoney plays a country singer who is discovered and turned into a Westerns star by producer Julie Adams. Jock, a former horse breeder and stuntman in real life, does all his own stunts and singing -- it even says so in the credits! :) (The real credits, not movie within a movie credits.)

Ben has a supporting role as Jock's stunt double. He doesn't actually do any stunts but he has a scene that all Ben fans will love, when he shows off his roping skills roping a chair. Not as difficult as a calf, I expect, :) but still done with consummate grace.

All at http://www.benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Slim195.jpg

That little boy watching Ben is Tim Hovey, who grew up to be a road manager for The Grateful Dead and also an audio engineer. Sadly, he died at age 44 from a drug overdose, possibly a suicide. :(

Just added screencaps of Ben's scenes in a cute 1957 movie-biz comedy, Slim Carter. Jock Mahoney plays a country singer who is discovered and turned into a Westerns star by producer Julie Adams. Jock, a former horse breeder and stuntman in real life, does all his own stunts and singing -- it even says so in the credits! :) (The real credits, not movie within a movie credits.)

Ben has a supporting role as Jock's stunt double. He doesn't actually do any stunts but he has a scene that all Ben fans will love, when he shows off his roping skills roping a chair. Not as difficult as a calf, I expect, :) but still done with consummate grace.

All at http://www.benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Slim195.jpg

That little boy watching Ben is Tim Hovey, who grew up to be a road manager for The Grateful Dead and also an audio engineer. Sadly, he died at age 44 from a drug overdose, possibly a suicide. :(

I remember Tim Hovey. He co-starred in a movie with Charlton Heston called The Private War Of Major Benson back in the early 50's.

That's right... that is probably the movie Tim Hovey is most well known for.

Just posted screencaps from Tall in the Saddle. Ben Johnson doubled for John Wayne in the stagecoach scene and also got to play one of the townsmen rushing into Wayne's room after that big fight with Ward Bond. He actually was prominently featured as an extra and got to exchange a glance with one of the main supporting actors, Elisabeth Risdon. Also couldn't resist screencapping some shots from my favorite non-Ben scenes -- Duke whopping a bad guy on the head with his pistol, baking biscuits, and of course kissing Ella Raines. ;) And Risdon breaking a vase over Ward Bond's head. ;)

The Tall in the Saddle screencaps are at http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com in the Stunts section

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is the first shot ever of John Wayne and Ben Johnson together on screen. You can see Ben behind Gabby Hayes.
http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Tall35.jpg

Elisabeth Risdon and Ben
http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Tall71.jpg

Great work Paula.
I am so pleased to see our thread
being so enjoyed, and added to

Thanks, Keith! By the way, that's Ward Bond under the toppled bookcase, so I guess that is also the first time that Ben and Ward Bond appeared together on screen. :)

Ward has a close enounter with Elisabeth Risdon near the end of the movie. :)
http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Tall143.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Tall144.jpg

Ben Johnson was a great addition to any movie. Too bad Ford was so spiteful. He would have been great in "The Searchers"

I Wonder what role Ben coulda played? The only one I could see him in is possibly Hunter's part, but I don't know if Ford would have thought he was a good enough actor for that large a part.

I do think Ben could have played Ethan very well except for one thing -- that role absolutely and utterly belongs to John Wayne, whose monumental, iconic presence is unique, and I can't imagine anyone but Wayne in that role. Ben was probably too young for Ethan, anyway.

And he would have been about ten years too old to play Martin.

Perhaps Ward Bond's role but then we'd be missing Ward Bond.

IMHO there's some other great movie that simply didn't get made because John Ford decided he wouldn't make up with Ben Johnson, the one person who wouldn't stand for his insults. (Just to make clear, I *love* Ford's movies.)

Harry Carey Jr. relates in his book Company of Heroes that Ford was softening towards using Ben again -- he wanted him for The Sun Shines Bright -- but somehow Ben's agent got Ford on the phone and demanded a big sum of money that Ford (who hated agents) refused to pay and that put the kibosh on any plans to cast Ben again, until Cheyenne Autumn. And then it was a minor role.

Ben did star in a 1977 movie that was kind of a Searchers re-do, called Greyeagle. The kidnapped girl this time was played by Lana Wood, Natalie's sister.

A last minute reminder (in case you didn't see the news at my Ben Johnson page) -- TCM is running Fort Defiance at 4:30 p.m. EST today. This is a hard to find movie and I'm really looking forward to finally seeing it. The co-stars are Dane Clark and Peter Graves.

I added some stuff to the Memorabilia section at my Ben Johnson page. First, a publicity photo from Fort Defiance, and second, a real treasure, a photo-essay from the May 1949 issue of Night and Day magazine that lets us see 28 year old new star Ben Johnson in action, demonstrating his riding and roping skills. The scans of this Night and Day article were contributed to the webpage by a longtime fan, "JackFavell." This is one of my favorite pieces of memorabilia and I'm so grateful to JackFavell for agreeing to let me post it to the webpage. http://www.benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/5943/ndmay498r.jpg


(P.S. I hope I'm not annoying anyone by flogging my site a lot... I really only want to share and let you know what's new.)

No problem at all-I really enjoy all the rare shots of Ben.

Just uploaded screencaps from an episode of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, called "Top Gun."

http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com

This is a hilarious episode in which Ozzie finds himself in a quick-draw contest with TV star "Tex Barton" at a local supermarket opening. Tex of course is played by Ben Johnson. It's little more than an extended cameo -- Ben is first seen on the Nelsons' TV and then for a couple of minutes at the supermarket, but he wears a fancier cowboy outfit than his usual style of western costume and even performs a couple of seconds of gun twirling before he holsters his weapon. Actually the whole episode is a delight, with everyone using classic lines from Western movies and a flashback to Ozzie's famous gunslinging ancestor, "Six Gun Nelson." A dangerous character, that Six Gun. He orders shots of MILK when he goes into a saloon! ;)

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Ozzie4.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Ozzie11.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/TopGun55.jpg

I am glad I connected with this site as it is very informative. Not only am I learning more about the Duke but about others he has worked with.

Hello, I have just posted screencaps of Ben's scenes in a first-season episode of The Virginian. The episode is "Duel at Shiloh." The main guest star was Brian Keith.

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Virginian/Shiloh23rr.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Virginian/Shiloh502.jpg

I also posted to the Memorabilia section of the webpage a handwritten note from Ben.
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/4418/bjautographsmall.jpg


It's all at http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com

Watch Ben Johnson Trailers:-

Ben's Video Gallery (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0424565/videogallery)

Keith, thanks for the great link. Several of the available videos are for entire films, not just trailers. Especially worth checking out is the link for the 1976 film Grayeagle, which has not been released on DVD (except for a now out of print Spanish DVD which I haven't seen; the old VHS release is also at Amazon or ebay).

That IMDB page links to Hulu where you can watch it in its original Panavision widescreen (2:35:1) aspect ratio. Unfortunately it "expires" on Hulu in 16 days so I guess it will only be available temporarily. Hopefully the MGM-HD cable channel will schedule it for a broadcast.

If anyone is going to this, please post a report!

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/BJDFliersmall.jpg

Also, just added to the website nearly 1400 screencaps from Grayeagle, which I was able to do thanks to its temporary availability on Hulu.

http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com

Here's a small sampling.

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Grayeagle/Grayeagle370small.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Grayeagle/Grayeagle39.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Grayeagle/Grayeagle78.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Grayeagle/Grayeagle800.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Grayeagle/Grayeagle1068.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Grayeagle/Grayeagle1095.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Grayeagle/Grayeagle1322.jpg

Recent additions to the Ben Johnson page:

Screencaps from Ben's guest appearance on an episode of Navy Log, and, just for Hallowe'en, his scenes from the really-pretty-good Canadian slasher flick Terror Train.

Scroll down to October 30 for Terror Train and then down to October 27 for Navy Log.

I also wrote a little tribute to James MacArthur (October 28 entry.)

http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com.

(For horror fans who may be interested, I also screencapped Frankenstein for Halloween, that's at http://paulasmoviepage.shutterfly.com)

Just added screencaps of Ben Johnson's scenes from Hang 'Em High. I also screencapped James MacArthur's one scene as the preacher. This movie is an major exercise in frustration for Ben's fans. He gives such a great performance, they build the character up with lots of close-ups and a couple of big scenes for him, and then suddenly, he's not in the movie anymore. ARRRGHHH.

http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Hang%20Em%20High/High445.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Hang%20Em%20High/High552.jpg

Thank you Paula the postings are great!

I have to agree. The site is really informative

Thanks, I'm so glad you all like the page! In fact, I think I'll have a glass of champagne to celebrate. ;)

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Dillinger/Dillinger1.jpg

Have one for me Paula

*slurp* Thanks, exsoldier, I just did! ;) Hope you keep checking back as stuff keeps getting added. Last week in addition to the She Wore a Yellow Ribbon screencaps I posted more memorabilia, including a fabulous article from the October 22, 1949 issue of Collier's and links about the upcoming Criterion set that includes a new transfer of The Last Picture Show, plus a link to a story about a new movie that's filming in Ben's hometown of Pawhuska, OK.

I'll have screencaps of Ben's scenes from Dillinger (from which that champagne pic above was taken) posted in a day or two at the most.

Gotta love Dillinger. I don't think there's any other movie where he wears a cravat while eating a popsicle. :) "A popsicle sure is refreshing."

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Dillinger/Dillinger15.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Dillinger/Dillinger13.jpg

Screencaps from Dillinger now posted. http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com

The two sides of Ben's Melvin Purvis.

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Dillinger/Dillinger362.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Dillinger/Dillinger808s.jpg

Happy pre-Thanksgiving Sunday to everyone! Been busy screencapping and screencaps of Ben's scenes from The Getaway and the 1946 western Badman's Territory are now posted to http://www.benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com

The Getaway
http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Getaway/Getaway224.jpg

Badman's Territory
http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Badmans%20Territory/Badman53s.jpg

Also added a really nice article from the October 1995 issue of American Cowboy, in the Memorabilia section.

The thing about both ben johnson and john wayne is they made the most out of the simplist scenes and made it work Paula

Exsoldier, this is a note written by Ben that I managed to get from ebay. I would say that his philosophy of keeping it honest and real applies to John Wayne as well and that's why their performances are always so natural and true, whatever character they're playing -- and why they made such a great screen team.

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/940/bjautographtiny.jpg

P.S. I just posted some caps of Ben's scenes from Sam Peckinpah's Noon Wine -- my copy is a very poor quality black and white dub of the original color videotape, but for the moment, it's better than nothing. You can view Noon Wine at the Paley Center for Media in NY and LA. I wish it were out on DVD -- you'd think it would be given the interest in Peckinpah.

Paula thanks again for the posts.

Just added screencaps for Ben's second Have Gun Will Travel episode, "The Race." The second half is action-packed, with a horse race (so who else to cast but Ben Johnson), all sorts of stunts and a tremendous fistfight -- but exciting though the action is, the real story has to do with the motivations for the race and what it means for all the characters. A really fine episode.

http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/HGWT-The%20Race/Race845.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/HGWT-The%20Race/Race893.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/HGWT-The%20Race/Race-2300.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/HGWT-The%20Race/Race-2195.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/HGWT-The%20Race/Race-2411.jpg

Among other things (including magazine articles, like a long interview with Ben in Filmfax magazine), recent additions to my Ben Johnson page are screencaps from Ben's scenes in Will Penny

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Will%20Penny/Penny77.jpg

and The Train Robbers (which means a good chunk of the movie) ;)

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Train%20Robbers/Robbers862.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Train%20Robbers/Robbers-21150.jpg

I did a mini-comparison of some shots from She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and The Train Robbers. I don't know if Burt Kennedy was deliberately "quoting" SWAYR or not -- they're just shots of two men on horseback -- but still... the resemblance is eerie! And very nostalgic. Go to the page, click on the Movies section, and you'll see what I mean. :)

http://www.benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com

Did another quickie -- Ben's scenes from Red Dawn. http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Red%20Dawn/Dawn115.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Red%20Dawn/Dawn334.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Red%20Dawn/Dawn386.jpg

An update on recently added items to my Ben Johnson page... some memorabilia, a double-feature of screencaps of killer bee movies (The Savage Bees; The Swarm), and just added yesterday, screencaps of the entire movie of Mighty Joe Young -- which is a mighty fine movie if you ask me. :)

http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Mighty%20Joe%20Young/Mighty-2262.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Mighty%20Joe%20Young/Mighty-275.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Mighty%20Joe%20Young/Mighty-2633.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Mighty%20Joe%20Young/Mighty-3908.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Mighty%20Joe%20Young/Mighty-4218.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Mighty%20Joe%20Young/Mighty-5297.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Mighty%20Joe%20Young/Mighty-5892.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Mighty%20Joe%20Young/Mighty-6524.jpg

That was a great movie, Paula. Thank you for sharing the pictures.

As Jay said, many thanks Paula.
Nice to see Jack Pennick as well,
6th.photo down.

Very informative as usual

EthanEdwards -- I made sure to include that screencap of Jack Pennick since he's a Ford Stock Company member. ;)

Thank you, Ex-soldier. :)

The most recent additions are screencaps of Ben's scenes from...

Ruckus (1981) (With Richard Farnsworth)
http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Ruckus/Ruckus530.jpg

Nevada (1944 -- doubling for Robert Mitchum plus extra work in one scene)
http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Nevada/Nevada84.jpg

Ruby Jean and Joe (1996) (With Tom Selleck)
http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Ruby%20Jean%20and%20Joe/Ruby300.jpg

A wonderful article from the August 1989 issue of Western Horseman that has a beautiful cover painting of Ben by Dwayne Brech.
http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/WHAug1989-CoverS.jpg

Also, a special treat, a photo of Ben and his wife Carol at home, in the early 1990s. This picture was taken by Carol's cousin Harry O'Neal. His son Doug kindly sent it to me with permission to upload it to my Ben page, so you'll have to go there to see it. :)

http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com

New book on Ben released 18 January

http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000143654

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nicest-Fella-Johnson-Champion-Oscar-winning/dp/1440196788/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295213882&sr=1-1

New book on Ben released 18 January

http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000143654

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nicest-Fella-Johnson-Champion-Oscar-winning/dp/1440196788/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295213882&sr=1-1
Thanks for the info Mike,
the book in fact was published, January/February 2010


https://asiimages.s3.amazonaws.com/173110_l.gif
Large cover (https://asiimages.s3.amazonaws.com/173110_xl.gif)

The Nicest Fella - The Life of Ben Johnson

The world champion rodeo cowboy who became an Oscar-winning movie star

By Richard D. Jensen

* Also available as:
E-Book
* Published: February, 2010
* Format: Perfect Bound Softcover(B/W)
* Pages: 516
*
Size: 5x8
* ISBN: 9781440196782

Jensen's book The Nicest Fella is a very good introduction to Ben Johnson and his family. Jensen interviewed Ben's sister Helen and also had access to interviews with other family members. He also includes a biography of Ben's father Ben Sr., a legendary roper, rodeo champion and ranch foreman with all sorts of fascinating family details. There is information in it that I haven't been able to find anywhere else. At times it relys heavily on Harry Carey Jr.'s book Company of Heroes and some second source material, but everything is footnooted, for which I am grateful. A lot of bios come out these days without footnotes.

On the downside, the book has a lot of typos and I have found a number of minor factual errors. But for the most part it gets things right.

The books and some other books of interest to Ben Johnson fans are on my webpage in the Books section.

Just a short note to say I've posted a lot of stuff to my Ben Johnson page lately, including an interview in the January 11, 1948 edition of The Los Angeles Times (surely one of Ben's earliest interviews), photos (including one from Yellow Ribbon and one from Rio Grande), lobby cards and magazine articles, and some links to blogs that mention Ben. I haven't done any screencapping of his movies lately because I was screencapping a film noir for the upcoming For Love of Film Noir Blogathon (http://selfstyledsiren.blogspot.com/2010/11/announcing-for-love-of-film-noir.html) to raise money for the Film Noir Foundation but I'm finished with that now and it's back to Ben's movies. (The film noir I did was On Dangerous Ground which has some Ben connections: Leading man Robert Ryan was in The Wild Bunch; Olive Carey and Ward Bond play a married couple whose daughter is murdered; the character "Pops" is played by Charles Kemper, who was so memorable as eeee-vil Shiloh Clegg in Wagon Master, and the small role of Hazel is played by Joan Taylor, who played Mexican-Indian Riva in War Drums.

http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com

One of the lobby cards I posted (much bigger version at the webpage), with Joan Taylor as Riva:
http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Ben%20Pics/WarDrumsLCS.jpg

A life magazine article on One-Eyed Jacks with a photo of Ben hanging upside down by one foot (OUCH). Apparently Bob Emory was supposed to come to a slightly different end than the one in the film released into theaters.
http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Ben%20Pics/LIfeApril41960-6S-1.jpg

Wishes for the sweetest of Valentine's Days for everyone at dukewayne.com

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Ben%20Pics/WagonMaster-1S.jpg

Lasbugas' wonderful scans have inspired me to post here the most recent scans I have added to my Ben Johnson webpage (http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com). I've got lots of new stuff there so come on over if you haven't visited in a while.


Don't know what this was for but it's one of several photos I got from the Allentown, PA newspaper The Morning Call, which apparently is selling off its photo archives.
http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Ben%20Pics/MorningCall-1982M.jpg

Mighty Joe Young
http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Ben%20Pics/MightyJoeYoung-2M.jpg

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Ben%20Pics/SWAYR-M.jpg

Wagon Master
http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Ben%20Pics/WagonMaster-4M.jpg

Hello. Today, April 8, is the 15th anniversary of Ben Johnson's death. As a tribute I have posted to my webpage a wonderful poem about Ben written by cowboy poet and entertainer Larry Maurice. If you'd like to read it, come on over to http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com.

Also, there will be a one-day Ben Johnson Film Festival in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, on June 11. They're going to show (John Wayne alert!) Chisum and Bite the Bullet. Some of Ben's family members will be in attendance at the two screenings and there will also be a large display of memorabilia. I will have more information on this hopefully within a few days and will post again about how to get a ticket, etc.

I don't know if it's been mentioned here before but two Ben Johnson films, Fort Bowie (http://www.amazon.com/Fort-Bowie-Ben-Johnson/dp/B004ULEF74/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1304125390&sr=1-1) (1958) and Fort Defiance (http://www.amazon.com/Fort-Defiance-Dane-Clark/dp/B004ULEF3S/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1304125440&sr=1-1) (1951) have recently been released on DVD as part of the MGM Limited Edition Collection.

I reviewed those two DVDs on my website.

Fort Bowie is widescreen, thank goodness (Encore Westerns runs it only in pan and scan) and the source print used is in excellent shape, but the transfer has TERRIBLE artifacting problems, with ghosting lines afflicting everything. It's a mess.

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Fort%20Bowie/Bowie6S.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Fort%20Bowie/Bowie3S.jpg

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Fort%20Bowie/Bowie4S.jpg

Fort Defiance is free of the ghosting but has a rash of white specks splashed across the top of the frame, especially on the left side, noticeable mostly against shots of the blue sky. They look like something that also crept in during the transfer, rather than something on the print. TCM ran this a few months ago and there were no white specks, it was a crystalline print.

It's a big disappointment; I was really looking forward to these DVDs.

Sorry I was gone so long! But I went to Oklahoma for a whole week to attend the Ben Johnson Film Festival on June 11 in Pawhuska and then travel around Osage County and the area. I wrote up a report on the festival and the rest of the trip at my Ben Johnson website.

Festival souvenirs
http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Ben%20Johnson%20Festival/Tee-shirts.jpg

I took LOTS of photos and everything is posted at http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com/festivals if you want to take a look. Osage County is pretty as a picture -- well, hundreds of pictures actually, that's how many I took -- and I had a great time. The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is really beautiful.

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Ben%20Johnson%20Festival/Tallgrass.jpg

We even got a tour of the Chapman Barnard ranch bunkhouse (the ranch where Ben Sr. was foreman and Ben Jr. cowboyed until fate took him to Hollywood -- the bunkhouse is now the Prairie Preserve HQ) by Ann Miller Whitehorn, Ben Jr.'s niece.


Also, I'm delighted to report that Fort Bowie has been reissued and it looks great now. There was a problem with the equipment that did the transfer and that's why the original DVD looked so awful. Here's a frame grab from the new and improved Fort Bowie:
http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Fort%20Bowie/FB4-S.jpg

Phew! Coming up for air after spending a couple of weeks screencapping Fort Bowie. The re-pressed DVD looks super good. ;) If you're interested in seeing the screencaps, come on over to http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com.

Here are a few samples.

The young fellow over on the right is the great singer/songwriter/actor/radio host Johnny Western. Probably his most famous recording is the theme song for Have Gun, Will Travel.
http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/8981/bowie1551.jpg=

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4205/bowie2714.jpg

http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/9071/bowie3536.jpg

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A great Oklahoman!

TCM is devoting an entire day to Ben Johnson films on August 11.
And about time too.






We deal in lead, friend.

Yes, the Ben Johnson fans have been asking TCM for some time to devote one of the annual August "Summer Under the Stars" festival days to Ben and this year we finally got our wish.

Go here:

http://www.tcm.com/summer/index.html

For TCM's fabulous SUTS website. Click "11" on the speedometer and you'll get the page for Ben, with a bio and a wealth of information and photos for each film. It's the same for every day in August. This is just an amazing site!

Ben Johnson day today on TCM. I'm having a party over at my website. :) Open bar -- Champagne and sarsaparilla are on the house! (http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com)

A graphic made by my fellow Ben Johnson fan JackFavell:

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Ben%20Pics/BenJohnsonSUTSdaytribute-1.jpg

More at the webpage. :)

Hello everyone, just wanted to let you know about the latest post at my Ben Johnson webpage. It's actually an article (written by yours truly) about a TV pilot that Ben filmed about a year before he died. He was going to serve as host and narrator for a show that was to be called Lost Mines and Buried Treasures, kind of an Unsolved Mysteries about the old West. The first episode explored the famous mystery of the Lost Dutchman Mine. They filmed scenes with Ben in his living room and in the Superstition Mountains (where the Lost Dutchman Mine supposedly was... or is) as well as re-enactments of some of the stories about the mine.

Link to the website: http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com

I interviewed Rick Simpson of Skeleton Creek Productions in Enid, Oklahoma, who told me all about his family's friendship with Ben and how the show came about. He also kindly sent me some pictures from his personal collection.

Unfortunately Ben died before the show was picked up for a series and that was the end of it, except that Skeleton Creek does sell copies of the pilot on DVD. All the info is at my website... so I hope you all stop by for a visit, and enjoy the articles and pictures.

Rick told me a lot of great anecdotes about Ben and I couldn't get them all into this article, so there will be a follow-up piece eventually with the rest of the stories!

Here's one of the pictures Rick sent me.

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Lost%20Dutchman/Dutchman-1S-2.jpg

Hi all, I did another interview which I hope you will enjoy on my webpage http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com. The interview is with Cheryl Laymon, who founded and published Oak Tree Express magazine for six years in the 1990s, about the lives and activities of everyone's favorite movie cowboys and cowgirls as well as the folks -- directors, writers, etc. -- behind the camera. She also used to work for the Motion Picture and Television Fund and helped organize the Golden Boot Awards for several years.

Cheryl sent me this amazing photograph which was printed in the magazine's very first issue, taken at the opening ceremonies of Universal Studio Florida's "Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show" in July 1991 (the show was closed down in 2003)

Left to right: James Drury, Patrick Wayne, Doug McClure, Chuck Connors, Universal Studios Florida president Tom Williams, Denver Pyle, Robert Fuller, Hal Needham, Ben Johnson and Harry Carey, Jr.

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/pvitari/Ben%20Pics/CowboysUniversalStudiosFlorida.jpg

Great post and photo Paula,
so interesting, thanks

Awesome photo. I would have liked to hear some of the stories these great Western stars could tell!