Ben Johnson

[pvitari]

Here's a German movie program for Mighty Joe Young. Alas, a former owner punched holes in it but otherwise it's in perfect condition. Bigger size scans at the webpage! ;) The German text is just a description of the plot, so I didn't feel a need to get it translated.

[pvitari]

Another German movie program, this time for Wagon Master.

[JackFavell]

Gosh, I'm loving the stills in that Wagon Master article! Different ones than what turn up here. The titles of both movies are interestingly translated too.

[pvitari]

I know what you mean -- I'm sitting here frustrated looking at the couple of ones with Ben that I don't have in my collection! ;)

Speaking of pictures...this just went up on the Screen Archives Entertainment page as the cover for the War Drums DVD:



What the -- ? You'd think that supporting actor Larry Chance is the star of this movie! And where are Ben and Joan Taylor, and why aren't the stars names listed! GRRRRR I sure hope this is just a placeholder and not the final artwork.

[JackFavell]

The film in the photo is about two noble native brothers who want to live in peace. Or a gay film? Sorry. I can't help seeing it.

Sheesh. You'd think they'd have actually glanced at the film when getting ready to market it. Joan Taylor is ostensibly the star of the film, plotwise.

[pvitari]

Just typical MGM sloppiness.... this is the company that can't even be bothered to remaster their titles for the correct aspect ratios (unlike WAC and Sony, which do wonderful remasters). They just slap onto the disc whatever old master they have sitting around, and then put a disclaimer at the beginning stating that they used the best materials available. *rolls eyes* I still don't know what miracle occurred to get Fort Bowie released in the correct 1:85 aspect ratio but basically, most of their 50s widescreen titles are released open matte (that's 4:3 fullframe, in other words). C.f. Rebel in Town and this upcoming War Drums as examples but there are a lot more.

There was another title (I forget which one) in which they FORGOT TO PUT THE NAME OF THE STAR on the artwork! They had the supporting actors but not the star -- even though he was in the picture they used! Fortunately a friend of mine spotted it and he e-mailed me and then I e-mailed the guy I know at Allied Vaughn (the company that manufactures all the DVDs for the various MOD programs) and he got it fixed in time for the release. This morning I shot off an e-mail to the Allied Vaughn guy whining about the War Drums cover. I even sent him a scan of War Drums lobby card in my collection that has a pic with Lex Barker, Joan Taylor and Ben, suggesting they use it instead. :)

UPDATE: Allied Vaughn guy replied saying a lot of what they do is restricted by legal rules but he will check it out.

[pvitari]

Shane on Saturday.

[MissGoddess]

What a brilliant photo from Shane!

[JackFavell]

I've never seen that angle before in a still! It's a beauty. I've seen the closeup one with Ben hinching up his pants, or others with just him and Ladd, but not that one that includes the barkeep.

[RedRiver]

Johnson's character in SHANE is my favorite. Calloway? It's a well written role.

[pvitari]

That great photo of Ben, John Ford, John Wayne, Harry Carey Jr and the governor of Nevada at the Silver Spur Award and all the info and newspaper article and ad I posted with it have been collected into one album in the Memorabilia section on my Ben page for easy reference, if you ever want to find it (I just deleted it from my front page).

Also added another Wagon Master photo. You can spot Ben way over on the right hand side.

[pvitari]

This is the week from aitch-ee-double hockey sticks for me both at work and home (busy busy busy) but by this weekend things will be back to normal. I posted something today about an exhibit opening in May at the Oklahoma Historical Center called Oklahoma @ The Movies -- sound very interesting. Y'all should take a look. ;)

As soon as I can get back to the webpage in a few days -- I have something extra special I think you will all like. :) Plus... more screencaps. :)

[JackFavell]

That's quite a group of people from Oklahoma! When I was a kid, the only celevrity we knew of was Anita Bryant.

Just reading Tim Blake Nelson's name gives me the giggles. ("We thought you was a frog.")

[pvitari]

That is one of the greatest comedies ever made, IMHO. :)

War Drums is now available for shipping. This is, by far, the BEST place to order it (cheapest and quickest):

http://www.classicmoviesnow.com/product ... drums.html

[Mary-Kate]

Some more real nice pictures have gone up, since last I looked.


I saw part of a "Wild Bill" Elliot b-western the other day, and I actually got some good glimpses of Bill's regular stuntman (you-know-who) during the climatic fight. Some of the screen-grabs are below, in various stages of fuzziness. (There was a "climb aboard a moving stage" scene earlier that I'm sure Ben doubled for too, but there was too much dust to see well.)