![]() Crabbe, of course, was most famous for his “Flash Gordon” movie serials - staples for young movie mavens in the 40’s and 50’s. Truly, the best western I’ve ever seen.Ī side note: I met Buster Crabbe back in the 80’s. Hart to Clint Eastwood – whose inner demons prevent him from finding any happiness except a solitary life on the range. ![]() Wayne’s Tom Doniphon was the cumulative western hero – from William S. Duke Wayne gave the finest performance of his career as the bitter, racist and lonely hard case. Probably the best western, in my opinion, was John Ford’s “The Searchers” (’56/WB). As mentioned, John Ford teamed Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne the same year, 1962, for “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance’, certainly an elegy for the old westerns we loved as kids. The teaming of Scott and Joel McCrea for “Ride The High Country” was inspirational and, probably, Sam “the Wild Bunch” Peckinpah’s finest film. Pa Cartwright was a slimy bad guy in a Scott western. Gordon and even Lorne Greene in a pre “Bonanza” screen appearance. The supporting cast always had wonderful villains like Claude Akins, Lee Marvin, James Best, Leo V. Budd Boeticher was Scott’s director for films like “Ride Lonesome, “The Tall T”, “Comanche Station” and “Buchanan Rides Alone”. Randolph “The Gentleman From Virginia” Scott (Bio title)– did a number of classic westerns in the 50’s. Marlene Dietrich was the love interest – for both guys? A man never talks about a lady in saloons, Pilgrim. Scott and Wayne team up for the excellent ’41 version of “The Spoilers” that has that epic 11 minute fist fight at the end. Scott probably is better than Wayne would’ve been in this film. Scott actually did several westerns for Wayne’s production company (BATJAC) when Duke was busy acting in other films. I agree Scott was a blend of Wayne and Stewart. “What?”, he asked, “What picture did Duke say that line?” Eyes locked for long minutes before I slowly responded, “I never hurry a man who wants to die.” The politician’s broad smile became quizzical. He was so sure of himself as we locked eyes. He arched his eyebrows: “John Wayne, right?” One of those smarmy smiles, like he was going to clean me out in a game of 3 card monte at the local saloon with all the boys looking on from the bar, beer foam over their grins. The politician stared at me with a smile. But I knew the politician was just trying to win me over just like they tried to ingratiate themselves with the townspeople in so many westerns. I leaned back in my chair – just like Henry Fonda’s Wyatt Earp slowly leaned back in his chair outside the saloon in “My Darling Clementine.”Īctually, it was a good question. “So, who is your favorite cowboy hero?” the candidate asked, clearly trying to curry a reporter’s favor. You don’t use cowboys as currency for political favor. As a lifelong fan of movie cowboy heroes, I was privately incensed. As a reporter, I was objective and clear-headed. He wore a white Stetson and a gold string tie over his flowered cowboy shirt. “Lock n’ load” was the political slogan of a presidential candidate I was covering in the ’80’s.
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