Ben Johnson

[JackFavell]

Hey, at least he's not wearing one of those shiny disco shirts with huge cuffs and collar that made you sweat.

[pvitari]

Hey, at least he's not wearing one of those shiny disco shirts with huge cuffs and collar that made you sweat.

Polyester...[singing melody from Gigi] Ah yes, I remember it well.

Well, since we can't see Ben in a shiny disco shirt, how about him in his Major Dundee costume, playing cards with stuntman Carl Pitt and studiously ignoring the lovely lady in the bikini right next to them? ;) A UPI photo dated October 22, 1964. ;)

[Sue Sue Applegate]

What a cute photo, Paula!

[JackFavell]

Oh my gosh, that is SOOOOOO funny! Carol ought to have been proud! I hope he showed her this one every day afterwards. That just makes me smile, how hilarious!

[pvitari]

Here's a publicity photo for the Disney movie Ten Who Dared (a flop). Plus a clipping from the newspaper it was published in -- this probably came from a newspaper photo morgue but don't know which one. The date on the photo is September 26, 1960.

[pvitari]

I've got something special over at the Ben Johnson webpage today (http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com)

I just posted an article that Johnny Western -- yes, the singer/songwriter/actor/writer/radio broadcaster who wrote and performed "The Ballad of Paladin" for Have Gun Will Travel -- wrote and published in the January 1958 issue of Western Horseman magazine about his friend Ben Johnson. It has some really fascinating info in it -- I loved reading about Ben's horses and his rodeo activities -- but the part that really made my inner entertainment historian go "pop" was the revelation that he and Ben and a director named William Hole had formed a production company with the idea of doing a TV series called Cowpoke starring Ben and Johnny.

Well, I just had to know more about THAT, so with a little digging and asking around, I was able to find a way to contact Johnny Western. And he sent me the most marvelous response with more information about Cowpoke and about his friendship with Ben.

Really, you have to read this, and read the article too. OK, I'll post the article here but PLEASE go to my webpage to read Johnny Western's message. It's beautiful. You might even want to bring a hanky.

[pvitari]

I'm getting all patriotic this week. ;)

[Sue Sue Applegate]

Wonderful story about Johnny Western. I encourage everybody to visit your wonderful website!

[pvitari]

Thanks, Sue Sue, glad you liked the Johnny Western story!

Moving on... Just posted screencaps of Ben's scenes in The Undefeated. One of the big set pieces in this film takes place on July 4, so I thought this would be the perfect film to post screencaps for today. :) The scene in question is the party one, where the Yankee cowboys join the Rebels for some music and grub to celebrate the holiday in post-Civil War harmony. That is, until the fists start flying. All in good fun, of course -- nothing helps the bonding like letting off steam. Right? Right.

Anyway, here are quite a few batches of screencaps -- lots more at the Ben webpage. By the way, if you like watching horses, this is THE movie for horse watching. There are 3000 of them! At least that's the amount John Wayne says they have, I don't know how many they actually used, but it sure looks like 3000. :) Ben also gets to show off his roping and riding skills. He's just amazing to watch.

Batch one.



That's Ben on Blackie jumping the fence.






Ben chews and spits tobacco throughout this film. All I can say is... YUCK.






Harry Carey Jr. doesn't have much dialogue in this movie but he sure is cute. The tall cowboy standing up is Don Collier, another crush of mine. The man was tall, slim, with a resonant deep voice and piercing light blue eyes. I should say the man IS because he's still around and has his own website. ;)








Ben roping a wild horse.












The director of cinematography was William H. Clothier, who did a lot of work for Ford and also went on to do a lot of John Wayne's later films. Some really beautiful shots in this movie.




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[pvitari]

Batch two.











Ben, as Short Grub, in suspicious "I have John Wayne's back" mode. I would not want to be on the receiving end of that blue-eyed thousand yard stare. :)






















Dub Taylor as the irascible trail cook McCartney.


Short Grub tells McCartney he sees something moving in his food. LOL






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[pvitari]

Batch three.











That's Ben in the background


Bruce Cabot is the sergeant Confederate Colonel Rock Hudson sends to invite Yankee John Wayne and his boys to a Fourth of July party








The man sitting down is Robert Donner, who was a very busy character actor -- but he'll always be Exidor on Mork and Mindy to me. :)




So the Yanks and the Rebs are having at it up on the hill, and Short Grub and the Rebel guy decide to have their own private little side party.




Ben does this AMAZING backwards tumble into the river -- it's really him, not a stuntman. He really goes flying.




The man with the long hair is famous football quarterback Roman Gabriel, who tried to start an acting career. He's really cute, but when you see him in this movie, you'll understand why the acting career didn't go anywhere. :)


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[pvitari]

Batch four.























If Capra had directed a cowboy movie, I bet he'd have done a shot like this. ;)
















What a line-up! Harry Carey Jr., Ben Johnson, John Wayne, Rock Hudson, Don Collier.


--->

[pvitari]

Batch five. A few last photos.





Future webpage banner photo.

[pvitari]

Fort Defiance publicity picture. I also have the lobby card with this photo, which I posted about a year and a half ago -- you can see the lobby card here: http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly. ... abilia/122

[MissGoddess]

Producer/songwriter Clyde Lucas has created a lovely tribute video to Harry and Ben...it's in my video widget on my "News" page and here at YouTube: