Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Wagon Master

John Ford 
Oljato-Monument Valley 
San Juan County Utah 1950 
starring Ben Johnson (13 June 1918 - 8 April 1996)




Today being (the great horseman and actor) Ben Johnson’s 99th birthday, it seemed best to put up some frames showing him in his best role, or at least his biggest, in what John Ford believed was one of his own best works, Wagon Master.  It’s worth noting that Johnson began working for Ford as a stunt rider and that he was of Irish and Cherokee ancestry, which is something that Ford was bound to appreciate and admire.  Ford was never one to shy away from a good looking young man who knew how to handle a horse and I’m glad for it, because I happen to agree with him in this matter.  Wagon Master really is one of his masterpieces and Ben Johnson has more than a little to do with its beauty.










No comments:

Post a Comment