Ward Bond

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  • I'm watching Dakota right now. Bond was a great bad guy. He was really good in Tall in the Saddle too. I think he is/was a very underrated actor.

  • Even though he never got an Oscar, I don't think he was underrated, even at his times. If you look at those films between the 30s and 50s, sometimes I think there wasn't an important picture where Ward didn't show up - even in the non-Wayne-films, for different directors and producers, like for Selznick, Capra, John Huston, Hawks. Check out Johnny Guitar, for instance. Then, at the peek of his career, he got his "own" TV series, the starring role in "Wagon Train". So they kept him pretty busy. Copies of his Last Will were for sale once, and even though I know that's morbid, I got me one - and interesting enough, there was the paragraph in which he bequethed (sorry, as Martin Pawley, I don't know how to spell that) his favorite gun to Wayne - the one with which that famous shooting accident happened and Wayne actually wounded Bond.

  • Hi Araner.
    Ward Bond was reputed to have never turned down a picture and was one of Hollywood's hardest working actores, appearing in 260 pictures.
    Although he only appeared in 21 films with John Wayne he worked far more for John ford and was in every one of that director's most memorable films.


    That fact is even more strange when you read of the exploits Bond used to get up to and even though they were drinking buddies I should imagine that Ford's patience and liking for the actors was often stretched to the limit.


    Some instances that immediately spring to mind are the time while making Fort Apache when Ford was giving John Agar, then in his first picture a hard time, Bond flew into the location and for 'beat up' the set and ruined a take in the process. Wayne took Agar to one side and said it'll be alright Ford has a new whipping boy now.


    On another occasion during the Searchers when Ford was filming the dramatic scene with Harry Carey, Geoffrey Hunter and John Wayne which ended with Waynes "D'ya want me to draw ya a picture".
    In the middle of the scene Ward Bond wanted a shave and taking a plug out of a socket plugged his electric razor in it.


    at the end of the take the cameraman realised that Bond had unplugged the camera and most of the scene had been lost. They never told Ford.


    An finally for me the funniest story:
    When Bond bet Wayne that he could not knock him off a sheet of newspaper. On accepting the wager Bond put the paper in the door way of a hotel room and closed the door on Wayne. Duke responded by putting his fist through the door and won the bet.


    On the debit side if possible Bond's anti communist stance in the late forties and early fifties were even more radical than Waynes and as this damaged the duke later on, so it probably did for Bond.

    Walk Tall - Talk Low

  • I also think Bond was a good actor, I know him and big John were good friends but I'm interested in what things each of them said about each other.


    :agent:

    Regards
    Robbie

  • Is there a biography on Ward Bond? I know he wasn't a major actor, but "What A Wonderful Life", he had (by the way, did you know he was with 'Jimmy Stewart' in that movie.


    Cheers, Hondo B)



    Quote

    "When you come slam bang up against trouble, it never looks half as bad if you face up to it"

    - John Wayne quote

  • Some other fairly well known movies he was in would be -


    The Maltese Falcon (1941) - Det. Tom Polhaus


    The Santa Fe Trail (1940) - Townley (abolitionist)


    Gone with the Wind (1939) - Tom (Yankee captain)


    Bringing Up Baby (1938) - (uncredited) Motorcycle Cop at jail


    Topper (1937) - (uncredited) Taxi Cab Driver


    Now we'll have to watch some of those to look for Ward Bond :rolleyes: .


    Chester :newyear: and the Mrs. :angel1:

  • Hi Hondo


    As far as I am aware I have never seen a bio or auto-bio on Ward Bond. But that doesn't mean there isn't one, and if anyone knows different could they please let me know as I'd love to read it.



    Best Regards


    Arthur

    Walk Tall - Talk Low

  • Here is a list of his films and a link to his bio.[url=http://www.starpulse.com/Actors/Bond,_Ward/Filmography/]Ward Bond Bio Info[/url]


    Ward Bond
    Alias Jesse James (1959) ... Maj. Seth Adams


    Rio Bravo (1959) ... Pat Wheeler


    China Doll (1958) ... Father Cairns


    Wings of Eagles, The (1957) ... John Dodge


    Halliday Brand, The (1957) ... Big Dan


    Pillars of the Sky (1956) ... Dr. Joseph Holden


    Dakota Incident (1956) ... Sen. Blakely


    Searchers, The (1956) ... Capt. Rev. Samuel Clayton


    Long Gray Line, The (1955) ... Capt. Herman J. Koehler


    Man Alone, A (1955) ... Gil Corrigan


    Mister Roberts (1955) ... C.P.O. Dowdy


    Johnny Guitar (1954) ... John McIvers


    Bob Mathias Story, The (1954) ... Coach Jackson


    Gypsy Colt (1954) ... Frank MacWade


    Hondo (1953) ... Buffalo


    Moonlighter, The (1953) ... Cole


    Blowing Wild (1953) ... Dutch


    Quiet Man, The (1952) ... Fr. Peter Lonergan


    Thunderbirds (1952) ... Sgt. Logan


    Hellgate (1952) ... Lt. Tod Vorhees


    On Dangerous Ground (1951) ... Walter Brent


    Only the Valiant (1951) ... Cpl. Timothy Gilchrist


    Operation Pacific (1951) ... "Pop" Perry


    Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950) ... Inspector Weber


    Riding High (1950) ... Lee


    Singing Guns (1950) ... Cardac


    Wagonmaster (1950) ... Elder Wiggs


    Great Missouri Raid, The (1950) ... Major Trowbridge


    Joan of Arc (1948) ... La Hire


    Tap Roots (1948) ... Hoab Dabney


    Three Godfathers, The (1948) ... Perley "Buck" Sweet


    Time of Your Life, The (1948) ... McCarthy


    Fort Apache (1948) ... Sgt. Maj. Michael O'Rourke


    Unconquered (1947) ... John Fraser


    Fugitive, The (1947) ... El Gringo


    It's a Wonderful Life (1946) ... Bert


    My Darling Clementine (1946) ... Morgan Earp


    Canyon Passage (1946) ... Honey Bragg


    Dakota (1945) ... Jim Bender


    They Were Expendable (1945) ... "Boots" Mulcahey


    Home in Indiana (1944) ... Jed Bruce


    Tall in the Saddle (1944) ... "Judge" Garvey


    Guy Named Joe, A (1944) ... Al Yackey


    Sullivans, The (1944) ... Lieutenant


    Slightly Dangerous (1943) ... Jimmy


    They Came to Blow Up America (1943) ... Craig


    Hello, Frisco, Hello (1943) ... Sharkey


    Hitler--Dead or Alive (1942) ... Steve Maschik


    In This Our Life (1942) ...


    Falcon Takes Over, The (1942) ... Moose Malloy


    Sin Town (1942) ... Rock Delaney


    Ten Gentlemen From West Point (1942) ... Scully


    Wild Bill Hickok Rides (1942) ... Sheriff Edmunds


    Gentleman Jim (1942) ... John L. Sullivan


    Maltese Falcon, The (1941) ... Detective Tom Polhaus


    Man Betrayed, A (1941) ... Floyd


    Manpower (1941) ... Eddie Adams


    Doctors Don't Tell (1941) ...


    Sergeant York (1941) ... Ike Botkin


    Swamp Water (1941) ... Tim Dorson


    Tobacco Road (1941) ... Lov Bensey


    Shepherd of the Hills, The (1941) ... Wash Gibbs


    Kit Carson (1940) ... Ape Eaton


    Little Old New York (1940) ... Regan


    Long Voyage Home, The (1940) ... Yank


    Mortal Storm, The (1940) ... Franz


    Sailor's Lady (1940) ... Shore Patrolman


    Santa Fe Trail (1940) ... Townley


    Buck Benny Rides Again (1940) ... Outlaw


    Virginia City (1940) ... Sgt. Sam McDaniel


    Grapes of Wrath, The (1940) ... Policeman


    Kid From Kokomo, The (1939) ... Klewicke


    Made for Each Other (1939) ... Jim Hatton


    Mr. Moto in Danger Island (1939) ... Sailor Sam, the Wrestler


    Oklahoma Kid, The (1939) ... Wes Handley


    Pardon Our Nerve (1939) ... Kid Ramsey


    Young Mr. Lincoln (1939) ... John Palmer Cass


    Cisco Kid And the Lady, The (1939) ... Walton


    Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939) ... American Legionnaire


    Dodge City (1939) ... Bud Taylor, Surrett's Henchman


    Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) ... Adam Hartman


    Dust Be My Destiny (1939) ... Drifter


    Return of the Cisco Kid, The (1939) ... Tough


    Son of Frankenstein (1939) ...


    They Made Me a Criminal (1939) ... Lenihan


    Trouble in Sundown (1939) ... Dusty


    Waterfront (1939) ... Mart Hendler


    Frontier Marshal (1939) ... Town Marshal


    Girl From Mexico, The (1939) ... Mexican Pete


    Gone With the Wind (1939) ... Yankee Captain Tom


    Heaven With a Barbed Wire Fence (1939) ... Hunk


    Law West of Tombstone, The (1938) ... Mulligan


    Mr. Moto's Gamble (1938) ... Biff Moran


    Of Human Hearts (1938) ... Lout


    Over the Wall (1938) ... Eddie Edwards


    Penitentiary (1938) ... Prison Barber


    Adventures of Marco Polo, The (1938) ... Mongol Guard


    Prison Break (1938) ... Red Kincaid


    You Can't Take It With You (1938) ... Detective


    Amazing Doctor Clitterhouse, The (1938) ... Tug


    Professor Beware (1938) ... Motorcycle Officer


    Reformatory (1938) ... Mac Grady


    Born to Be Wild (1938) ... Bill Purvis


    Submarine Patrol (1938) ... Olaf Swanson


    Bringing Up Baby (1938) ... Motorcycle Cop


    Going Places (1938) ... Cop


    Gun Law (1938) ... Pecos


    Hawaii Calls (1938) ... Muller


    Mountain Music (1937) ... G-Man


    Night Key (1937) ... Finger Man


    Park Avenue Logger (1937) ... Paul Sanger


    You Only Live Once (1937) ... Guard


    Conflict (1937) ... Carrigan


    Dead End (1937) ... Doorman


    Devil's Playground (1937) ... Sidecar Wilson


    Escape by Night (1937) ... Spudsy


    Fight for Your Lady (1937) ... Russell, Wrestler


    Fight to the Finish, A (1937) ... Eddie Hawkins


    Singing Marine, The (1937) ... First Sergeant


    23 1/2 Hours' Leave (1937) ... Top Kick


    Wildcatter, The (1937) ... Johnson


    Go-Getter, The (1937) ... Logger


    Music for Madame (1937) ... Violet, the Henchman


    Avenging Waters (1936) ...


    Leathernecks Have Landed, The (1936) ... Tex


    Legion of Terror (1936) ... Don Foster


    Big Game, The (1936) ... Football Game Bettor


    Pride of the Marines (1936) ... Gunner Brady


    Case Against Mrs. Ames, The (1936) ... Newspaper Buyer


    Cattle Thief, The (1936) ... Ranse


    Colleen (1936) ... Cop


    Crash Donovan (1936) ... The Drill Master


    Fatal Lady (1936) ... American Stage Manager


    Second Wife (1936) ...


    Bride Walks Out, The (1936) ... Taxi Driver


    They Met in a Taxi (1936) ... Policeman


    We're Only Human (1936) ... Henchman


    Without Orders (1936) ... Tim Casey


    Fury (1936) ... Objector


    Gorgeous Hussy, The (1936) ... Officer


    Man Who Lived Twice, The (1936) ... Gloves Baker


    Muss 'em Up (1936) ... Gangster


    His Night Out (1935) ...


    Justice of the Range (1935) ... Bob Brennan


    Last Days of Pompeii, The (1935) ...


    Little Big Shot (1935) ...


    Black Fury (1935) ... Mac


    Crimson Trail, The (1935) ... Luke Long


    Devil Dogs of the Air (1935) ... Instructor


    Fighting Shadows (1935) ...


    Too Tough to Kill (1935) ... Danny


    Waterfront Lady (1935) ...


    Western Courage (1935) ... LaCrosse


    G-Men (1935) ... Machine Gunner


    Go Into Your Dance (1935) ... Herman Leahy


    Guard That Girl (1935) ... Budge


    Headline Woman, The (1935) ... Johnson


    She Gets Her Man (1935) ... Chick


    Murder in the Fleet (1935) ... "Heavy" Johnson


    Here Comes the Groom (1934) ...


    Human Side, The (1934) ... Cop


    It Happened One Night (1934) ... Bus Driver


    Man's Game, A (1934) ... Dave


    Men of the Night (1934) ... Connors


    Most Precious Thing in Life (1934) ...


    Poor Rich, The (1934) ...


    Chained (1934) ... Sailor


    Crime of Helen Stanley, The (1934) ...


    Fighting Code, The (1934) ...


    Fighting Ranger, The (1934) ... Dave


    Straightaway (1934) ...


    Voice in the Night (1934) ... Bob


    Whirlpool (1934) ... Farley


    Against the Law (1934) ...


    Frontier Marshal (1934) ... Ben Murchison


    Girl in Danger (1934) ...


    Heroes for Sale (1933) ... Red


    Lucky Devils (1933) ...


    Obey the Law (1933) ... Kid Paris


    Police Car 17 (1933) ... Bumps O'Neill


    College Coach (1933) ...


    Sundown Rider, The (1933) ... Gabe Powers


    Unknown Valley (1933) ... Snead


    Wild Boys of the Road (1933) ... Red


    Wrecker, The (1933) ... Cramer


    When Strangers Marry (1933) ... Billy McGuire


    High Speed (1932) ...


    Lost Squadron, The (1932) ... Soldier


    Flesh (1932) ...


    Rackety Rax (1932) ... Brick Gilligan


    Trial of Vivienne Ware, The (1932) ... John's Assistant


    Virtue (1932) ... Frank


    White Eagle (1932) ...


    Hello Trouble (1932) ...


    Quick Millions (1931) ... Cop in Montage


    Big Trail, The (1930) ... Sid Bascom


    Born Reckless (1930) ... Soldier


    Salute (1929) ... Football Player


    Words And Music (1929) ... Ward

  • Araner,


    Thanks for the list. :P I took advantage of your list and bolded the movies that Duke was in. :rolleyes: He made 19 movies with Duke. They were very close friends, and it really upset Duke to find out that Ward died.


    He had a heart attack, and it wasn't expected. Duke was on location shooting a film when it his friend died.


    Cheers, Hondo B)



    Quote

    "When you come slam bang up against trouble, it never looks half as bad if you face up to it"

    - John Wayne quote

  • Nothing much to add, just that I always love to see Ward Bond in a film. Like a lot of girls, one of the first classic movies I ever watched was Gone With the Wind and I'll always remember my dad commenting on how much he liked Ward Bond (as the Yankee captain). I think that in many ways being a character actor might be harder than being a leading man because you have less to work with in order to make an impact - you have to be economical and powerful all at once.


    One of my favorite WB roles is the "Bus Driver" in It Happened One Night. He and Clark Gable get into a verbal spat. Gable beats him handily, but Bond is awfully funny as the tongue tied dolt who seems to be utterly incapable of witty repartee.

  • Ward Bond at least to me, was and is, still one of the most underated actors. His finally making it to the promised land ( his own starring role in WAGON TRAIN), with all it's added responsibility's, would be the device which would bring his untimely end!!!!
    On WAGON TRAIN he was not only the star- but he was also very active in production which put a great strain on him, and more likely than anything else brought on his heart attack in Dallas!!!!
    I never saw a performance by Ward, that was not believable, he always looked so natural in whatever role he was playing.
    To see a very good portayal of villiany, you only need to see " THE FALCON TAKES OVER". Bond delivers a frightening portayal of villiany as the murderous "MOOSE MALLOY", a characterization not portrayed very often by Ward, watch it and see if you don't agree!!!
    Finally I just wanted to add that when my wife(oops that would be EX-wife) and I had our restaurant in Colorado, we had names for all of the sandwiches on our menu- one of our sandwiches was called " THE WAGONMASTER", I named it in honor of WARD, just a small homage to someone I greatly admired!!!!!

    Don't Believe In Surrenders!!!!!

  • Hi


    Some of the titbits on Ward Bond are amazing.


    As everyone knows one of the last things he did was make the 'Colter Craven' Episode for Wagon Train.


    As a gag he had John Ford direct the episode and had John Wayne play a cameo role as General Sherman, reprising his role in 'How The West Was Won'


    John Wayne appeared in dark light you never saw his face but his frame was obvious. He was billed as Michael Morris. He is reported to have said "I was in and out of the scene so quickly that people would be left wondering if it was me or not."


    Despite the fact that it was an hour long story Ford deliberately shot more than he needed and it was suggested that the story be made into a two part episode, but rather than increase the story it was subsequently edited down to one hour.


    By the time the episode had come round to be screened Bond was dead and a get together between Ford, Wayne and Bond to view the film over a few drinks was abandoned. Ford apparently was distraught, coming as it did close on Grant Withers suicide both Ford and Wayne began to realise that they were beginning to lose close and old friends..

    Walk Tall - Talk Low

  • Arthur,


    Help me a little bit on the time line.


    Ward Bond died on a massive heart attack in 1960. How the West was Won was shot in the early 60's. How could Bond have Ford direct Duke and reprise his role as Sherman for the Civil War scene?


    Cheers, Hondo B)



    Quote

    "When you come slam bang up against trouble, it never looks half as bad if you face up to it"

    - John Wayne quote

  • Hi Hondo,


    I hold my hands up to that one. My choice of words instead of reprising perhaps should have been a fortaste or something, for once my English beats me.


    But Ford always wanted to do a massive Civil War Movie, The Horse Soldiers was his second stab after the Wagon Train episode and ended unsatisfactory and HTWWW gave him his final chance.


    Does that let me off the hook?



    Regards
    Arthur

    Walk Tall - Talk Low

  • Arthur, What do you mean by The Horse Soldiers ended unsatifactory? Not commercially successful or not a good movie? I personally liked the movie and it was one of the first DVD's I bought.

    Life is hard, its even harder when your stupid!!
    -John Wayne

  • Hi SXViper


    We have an expression that if tour digging yourself into a hole its best to stop digging. But at the expense of digging myself deeper. here goes.


    What I meant by The Horse Soldiers unsatisfactory ending was The unfortunate death of the stunt man Fred Kennedy after which Ford Lost all interest in the picture and instead of the upbeat triumphal arrival of Marlowe's brigade in New Orleans, Ford cut the picture at the bridge.


    On a personnal note I enjoyed the picture but was unfortunate to have read Sinclairs book beforehand. I think that if Ford had stuck exactly to the novel It would have been a very difficult film to make mainly because very early on on the book Marlowe splits his command and every other chapter follows each halves exploits.


    There was no love interest in that Hannah features briefly in the book and is insane. And the doctor plays a very insignificant role If I remember correctly when instead of disobeying orders and delivering the baby he obeys Marlowes command, and assumingly leaves the women to fend for herself.


    Also in the book there is a fantastic train crash where they drive the train over a high bridge.


    I think now is the time for me to stop digging.


    Regards
    Arthur

    Walk Tall - Talk Low

  • Arthur,


    Don't worry about that, I've dug myself in a hole on this board, and many other places. And no one has buried me yet. :lol: I just wanted clarifiaction on some of what you said. I didn't think HTWWW would have been in production for 4 or 5 years with that many actors involved. And the word, "repirsed" confused me. But ask some on the board, I get confused all the time, and very easily too. :rolleyes:


    Cheers, Hondo B)



    Quote

    "When you come slam bang up against trouble, it never looks half as bad if you face up to it"

    - John Wayne quote

  • Arthur, you were not digging yourself in a hole. In fact, you explained yourself very well and now I understand what you meant. I didn't know that a stunt man had died filming The Horse Soldiers, and I would say that the ending does leave alittle to be desired. Keep the info coming, you obviously have alot to give so keep it coming. Thanks again.

    Life is hard, its even harder when your stupid!!
    -John Wayne