Posts by Hawkswill

Darn computer....the video wouldn't load. But, my laptop should be back soon, and I will try it soon. Don't have too many favorite female actors, but she is certainly one. What spunk! Have you seen the new pictures of her posted today on the ....I think it is White O the Morn Irish site?
She and Duke had a very special friendship as she did with Pappy Ford. KP KEITH Thanks for posting it.

Thanks to DukeFanI and Gorch. Well, you taught me something. Didn't know exactly why Pappy gave Roberson the name...thanks!

Anybody know how to keep the other posts on the same page as the one your are commenting on. Sure would be easier to answer everything that way. Also, anyway of just clicking on the new posts and going right to them?

Changed my profile pic because none of the others seem to keep working. I have an album open to the public. Any of yall have albums? Do many people "friend" others or is this a pretty closed group? No one has checked my profile...don't think anyway.

Did yall post on Bogdonovich's blog on The Searchers. Don't know why he doesn't get many comments. Oh, I sent him a separate note to correct a glaring error in his post.....hope he got it and has. If not, you will realize what it is right away. Anyway, think folks should comment for him. He has done a lot for Ford and all Western fans. Well, thanks again. You may be sorry that you encouraged me, LOL! KPKEITH

Pappy Ford was filming, I think, Two Rode Together. He stopped the film and took his plane with Ken Curtis and Dobe Carey to Dallas to pick up the coffin and Ward's wife, Maisie. Pappy didn't talk for days. Ken and Dobe both sang at the funeral. And it was a military funeral with flag drapped coffin and all, (Ward could not serve because of his epilepsy, but I believe he was an Air Raid Warden or something of the sort). Duke choked out a short eulogy. On the way to the enterment, the hearse carrying Ward passed the others up on the expressway. Duke made a comment something to the effect that it was just like Ward to have to be in the lead. Duke learned of Ward's death from Terry Wilson, who was a long time friend. He said, "Hold on......Ward just dropped dead". It is said that the two men cried together as many would in the days to come. If you didn't hate Ward you really loved him, and he returned the emotion. KPKEITH

Well, I watched Secretariat and thought it was great. And, because Ward was in it, (turned out not much, but a very different part than he usually plays), the remake of Riding High with all the same people in it. Bing Crosby was the star and the owner of Broadway Bill. Nice movie and lots of good horse action as was Secretariat. Secretariat has some really good extras on the DVD I got from Netflix. Has the original footage of all the Triple Crown races including the unbelievable Belmont, the longest and most ardurous of the TC races. And this horse finished something like 33 lengths ahead of a horse that was supposed to have great stamina. I believe, any other year, that horse would have won the TC. His and his owner's bad luck that Penny Chennery was able to keep her horse running....she is the original woman who raised him and fought against tremendous odds to keep him. All the rest of mine have been Westerns!
Oh, Forgot They Were Expendable. That is the movie Ford wrote a special part into for Ward because he still couldn't walk without a crutch and he needed money badly. Most of the movie, he does his parts just standing. Then, he is wounded in the leg allowing him to lead the men off with a crutch at the end of the movie. Duke was his usually great self! KPKEITH

Dang Gorch, just wrote you a long post and went back to see yours and this one disappeared when I came back. Is there any way to keep the other on the same page? Anyway, researching for a book I am writing and trying to get credit for stunt folks and character actors who never received it properly while alive. No good for them, but it will be for their families!
Frank is sometimes hard to find, but his size helps. Once you find out what he is wearing, you can usually find him in more places. Of course, Terry is huge and has had his white hair for a LONG time. So, if I find him, I search for Frank. Usually, at some time, they end up standing together, as they did at the door in The Searchers when Pat Wayne appeared for the first time. They got a kick out of him as did Ward and Duke as they helped to raise him.
I read that, once, Duke told Pat if he couldn't ride a horse better than he was, he wouldn't let him play in any westerns. Some of the stunt men got together and gave him lessons....I know Terry and Frank had to be in there but haven't found proof yet. Kind of like Yakima, Harey Carey, Sr. and some of the other stuntmen teaching Duke when he was a kid. Did you pay close attention to his work when shoeing the horses and making the shoes in Hondo. Have you ever seen a farrier, (blacksmith) work or done any of your own? I had a forge and used to make lots of my AMM equipment. Boy, Duke got the details right down to holding one hand with a hammer against the outside of the hoof when hammering....I was surprised at that. But I HAD read that the guys who taught him didn't just teach him to ride. Shoot, in the Cowboys, he even told Mr. Nightlinger, (Roscoe Lee Brown), first off that he was getting down off the wagon improperly. He said it would work, but that isn't the way a cowboy would do it. So Roscoe asked him to show him how. Duke did, and Roscoe did it that way throughout the film. Got off track there, sorry! I tend to be a bit verbose as I live alone and work in my shop alone, LOL. I will probably have to have someone good to severely "trim down" my book.
As for Roberson's book, I hope to get it and a lot of others when I can afford them. I especially want Dobe's, but it is very expensive even used and in bad shape! I DID hear that Bad Chuck's book was full of great stories. Think I should get his first? I need someone who has read them all to tell me which will have the most of what I am looking for. Does it have a lot of backlot stuff and explain how the stunt guys had to prepare, etc.? I knew that Roberson and Terry were really good friends. I saw somewhere on here someone asking how Good and Bad got their names and believe a wrong answer was given. Probably was corrected....I am still having trouble looking up stuff like that on here. Anyway, it was Pappy Ford who started it. Because Bad was such a troublemaker and womanizer, and Good was rather shy. Speaking of shy, did yall find the place in Horse Soldiers where Fred Kennedy died? If not, I will tell you. Phew, sorry again for my verbosity. Have a good one, KPKEITH......do it that way to keep from being confused with Ethan!

Re: Duke's Productions- China Doll (1958) Might have spoiler
I posted this under China Doll...then, thought I might should have posted it here so that people who might want to watch it would see it. OK, where should I have put it? I plan to be active here and want to make sure I do all right, although I admit I am still confused about some things. Anybody give out their phone number? If so......I will call, LOL.
I never realized this was a Batjac production.....must have seen it on the screen fifty times! Everyone know where Batjac came from?

I loved Ward Bond in this movie. Just shows another part, (he could play just about all), at which he excelled.

As I said somewhere else in this, (I lose my posts still), Ward had broken a bone in his hip. Yet he did a whole day of dialogue so that Vic Mature would not miss his plane for what I believe was the start of another movie the next day. Can't find where I read it, so it might be on the DVD commentary. It actually states how many pages of dialogue. But, if you go frame by frame when Bond sits down or gets up a few times....you will see the agony on his face and how he has to put his fists on the chair just to lower himself down. Yet, without the frame by frame, you would NEVER see it.........Dang, he was good!

This movie, through the years has moved up through the ranks much like The Searchers, but not to that extent. It was received pretty well when it first came out. It ended rather badly, and I cried like a baby throughout it, LOL! Then, after calming all down, the young girl came down the airline steps and held out the dog tags she had around her neck, and the water works began again. If you cry in movies, you will in this one!

Batjac made good choices in almost every part of this movie....see who the cameraman was?

Anyway, I really liked it, and I did not like Vic Mature ONE BIT before I saw it. Now, I look for his movies. OK Yall, where did "Batjac" come from?

KP KEITH

I never realized this was a Batjac production.....must have seen it on the screen fifty times! Everyone know where Batjac came from?

I loved Ward Bond in this movie. Just shows another part, (he could play just about all), at which he excelled.

As I said somewhere else in this, (I lose my posts still), Ward had broken a bone in his hip. Yet he did a whole day of dialogue so that Vic Mature would not miss his plane for what I believe was the start of another movie the next day. Can't find where I read it, so it might be on the DVD commentary. It actually states how many pages of dialogue. But, if you go frame by frame when Bond sits down or gets up a few times....you will see the agony on his face and how he has to put his fists on the chair just to lower himself down. Yet, without the frame by frame, you would NEVER see it.........Dang, he was good!

This movie, through the years has moved up through the ranks much like The Searchers, but not to that extent. It was received pretty well when it first came out. It ended rather badly, and I cried like a baby throughout it, LOL! Then, after calming all down, the young girl came down the airline steps and held out the dog tags she had around her neck, and the water works began again. If you cry in movies, you will in this one!

Batjac made good choices in almost every part of this movie....see who the cameraman was?

Anyway, I really liked it, and I did not like Vic Mature ONE BIT before I saw it. Now, I look for his movies. OK Yall, where did "Batjac" come from?

KP KEITH

Hi Hondo,
Detail comes from a many hours of observation and knowledge of the "bit"
players. Frank was one of the best horsemen ever, though due to his diminutive size, didn't usually get the BIG players double. And, even I missed Frank's being outside in the Searchers until today after 100s of viewings....your eyes are always taken to the action! Terry also was an excellent horseman as can be seen in quite a few Wagon Train episodes....once, he did the "walk" down the "SIX UP" pulling a stagecoach driven by Ward who had dropped the reins after being shot. If you ever see Wagon Train, look for the episode "The Jonas Murdock Story" with Noah Berry, Jr. After watching their prolonged fight scene, (Terry had no double, LOL), you will see a very definite knife fighting style of Terry's. Then, go watch Hondo again. Watch Wayne fight Silva and tell me what you see. Also, notice, Frank is a bit actor in this one, but he is also the one shot off the rock by Duke!
Yes, Pappy Ford LOVED to use his stunt men in the actual movie....too bad it wasn't the day for CREDITING them, LOL. Frank and Terry probably did some horse falls and drags also....maybe why I didn't see them in the Rangers other than at the house.? Well,got my profile pic up,I think. Now, IS THERE ANY WAY TO FIND NEW POSTS except by going to the top an clicking on them and then going all through the movie to find them? Thanks, KP KEITH

Thanks to Ethan, Irish Duke, Hondo, and Duke Fan 1 for my Welcome. It is always a bit nerve wracking when joining a new online group to share and ask about the older Westerns. I realize some of what I may write about has been written before, but I try to search to see if I find it first. Hope I am searching the right places, LOL! Still having profile pic troubles, and can't seem to find out how to answer folks who post to my post.Thanks again Yall, KP KEITH

I am new, and I didn't read back through all the pages, but after over a hundred times watching The Searchers, sometimes with Peter Bogdonovich's commentary, I found a great many more places where Terry Wilson and Frank McGrath were seen. First, as I believe was said before, at the beginning of the dance, Terry was the second in the line, (Roberson was the first). Frank can be seen along the wall in various places. Also, in the "wedding prep room", Good and Bad Chuck are in the forefront with Ward. In the back are Ken Curtis, (to be groom), I believe, John Qualen, (Laurie's father), Frank McGrath in scene back left, and Terry Wilson in scene right. They all went out and were in the wedding party behind Ward.
When everyone went outside for the "fisticuffs", Frank went Screen left with most of the Rangers and Terry right to stand with Duke and Roberson. After a brief interlude in the fight, it began again against the left wall. Frank and the violin player were knocked down and in danger of being injured by the fight. Roberson helped Frank up, (pretty positive this is accurate but done by numerous "still shots" by that wonderful DVD scene stopper, LOL!). Positive that Terry bodily picked up the violin player by his belt and shirt and moved him horizontally and at least three feet off the ground out of danger. Terry Wilson was tremendously strong as I noticed in multitudes of watching the first four year episodes of Wagon Train. Then when the boys were tuckered out, Frank and about 4 Rangers, including Ward and Roberson, picked up Ken Curtis.....Roberson then helped him stay up. Marty was left lying in the dirt whereas just Terry slipped his hands under Marty's arms and hauled him to his feet. Both fighters were "limp as dish rags", but Terry continued holding Marty up.
After everyone left and only a few were in the house, Frank was sitting at the back wall and Terry at the door. By the time Terry was holding the door open for young Pat Wayne, Frank was by his side....his favorite place, LOL. When Ward is talking with Pat Wayne, you can see Frank and Terry behind his shoulder. They also were putting on their guns as were the rest of the Rangers. Last but not least that I saw was Frank,(as a Union Corporal and the bugler that came back with Pat Wayne before the charge. You could see him throughout that and also saw him jump a post on horseback. Then, he was behind Ward and next to Pat Wayne while Ward's rear was being patched up. Of course, I am sure you know that Cliff Lyons played Colonel Greenhill who rode up when Ward was getting his pants back on. Can't miss that voice of his! He hated to do dialogue because of it, but Ford usually gave him some.

Well,it was right above me after I posted. Hmmmm. KP KEITH

On the first page of the Ward Bond Pals page, there is a newspaper like post that says Ward was born April 9, 1905. Later, he says he died at 47 years old. He was born April 9, 1903. He died in 1960 and was 57.

Thanks for corrections about Linda and Jane in my post. I always get them confused for some reason or other. Will try to find where I can post right after you. I get the posts and answers in my email, but when I try to go to where they are, I haven't figured out yet how to post back to folks, LOL. Thanks again. Yes, Ward looked great next to Duke. But, I think part of that is knowing how very close they were in real life. I suppose you know about the shotgun incident when Duke asked if he could have the shotgun and Ward said, "Over my dead body". And.....he kept his word...left it to Duke in his will. Bet that brought some tears! KP KEITH

He was excellent in China Doll, (not a JW). He broke a bone in his hip and did a whole day's dialogue so that Vic Mature would not miss his plane. If you do scene by scene, when he sits or stands, you can see the pain in his face and how he had to brace himself just to get down to the chair.

Duke rode a few horses in The Searchers. Was about to post something about Duke's horses in The Searchers after viewing it and Peter's commentary on it over a hundred times, when I saw something that I had missed all those times. Scar was sitting on the horse Duke rode in a good bit of the movie. Boy, that scrambled my theory a bit. I do believe though that the horse Duke was riding when Marty tried to stop him from going after Debbie, was one that was a Movie horse stable, "light spooker" whenever someone threw up his arms or caused a disturbance in front of him. Duke was able to stay on him and look good although he had to physically rein the horse with both hands and shift his weight to keep him from turning into and possible really hurting Marty. On the other horse he rode so much, the one with the wide blaze with the spot on it and two front white stockings and the right back leg, you never saw the reins tighten, and he used one hand to hold them. He was very comfortable on this horse as is easy to see. He used body language and neck reining with that horse. Going into Scar's lodge, he was moving too fast so had to pull him around to the left....loose reins, weight shift and neck rein. Once he was straight to the lodge, Duke lifted his legs until almost perpendicular and then gave the horse a real NUDGE and they both went straight into the lodge. This is the same horse that Duke rode in the shot running through the village at lightning speed. Now, If I could just find out what the horse's name was. Anyone know? Thanks and glad to be here, KP

Hi Gorch, Thanks...wow, an answer, LOL. I am a Ward Bond freak. He had many surgeries and a lot of physical therapy to allow him to continue his career. I looked many times at that scene and used to be an RN. Can only tell of an inconsistency above the knee. Good docs. Also, if you watch him in the Grand March in Fort Apache, you will see how he lifts the left knee very slightly higher. I don't believe they ever quite got his foot reflex exactly right. I have never been able to find anything specific....just had to get it on my own. Couldn't believe it when I saw the dog rip open THAT pant leg. Harry Carey opens it up but while fighting and not on purpose. Linda did it very much purposefully. Just look at her face when she realizes she is going to get to see what Ward's leg looks like....imagine she was disappointed, LOL. He wore a heavy brace on it for years....why his pants legs are so wide. KP KEITH

Hi Gorch, Thanks...wow, an answer, LOL. I am a Ward Bond freak. He had many surgeries and a lot of physical therapy to allow him to continue his career. I looked many times at that scene and used to be an RN. Can only tell of an inconsistency above the knee. Good docs. Also, if you watch him in the Grand March in Fort Apache, you will see how he lifts the left knee very slightly higher. I don't believe they ever quite got his foot reflex exactly right. I have never been able to find anything specific....just had to get it on my own. Couldn't believe it when I saw the dog rip open THAT pant leg. Harry Carey opens it up but while fighting and not on purpose. Linda did it very much purposefully. Just look at her face when she realizes she is going to get to see what Ward's leg looks like....imagine she was disappointed, LOL. He wore a heavy brace on it for years....why his pants legs are so wide. KP KEITH

WOW, these were posted a long time ago. But, I feel that Ford was searching for someone who could fill in the roles Duke played for so long and thought that Ben might be it. After all, Ward Bond had the majority of the lead, and Dobe Carey stated that Ward carried the picture,(not the exact wording). Also, Ward was paid more than any of the others. In the DVD where Peter Bogdonovich and Dobe Carey were commentating, Dobe keeps saying Ward's horse was too small....of course Ford wouldn't have wanted Ward to be taller than Ben on horseback. Also, Dobe gives that the reason for Ward's fall. However, in frame by frame, you can see how Ben's horse Steel was mired up to his fetlocks and struggling to get out of the mud or quicksand...whatever it was. Ward and Ben did a good job of "winging" it. Actually, Ford sent Duke a telegram telling him that Ward had fallen on his bad leg but seemed to be OK. Dobe said that Ford Loved this little picture and was happy go lucky throughout the whole filming. Oh, and when Ward realized his pants were torn and Linda Darnell actually opened the pant leg up to the camera.....I believe she was trying to get a look at that leg of Ward's that was so mangled and which he almost lost. Frame by frame,you can see that Ward is quite angry with Linda, and she looks more than a little nervous about the whole thing. They got over it quickly though. She played in some excellent Wagon Train episodes....especially the one called The Andrew Hale Story. Love Ward Bond, KP

WOW, these were posted a long time ago. But, I feel that Ford was searching for someone who could fill in the roles Duke played for so long and thought that Ben might be it. After all, Ward Bond had the majority of the lead, and Dobe Carey stated that Ward carried the picture,(not the exact wording). Also, Ward was paid more than any of the others. In the DVD where Peter Bogdonovich and Dobe Carey were commentating, Dobe keeps saying Ward's horse was too small....of course Ford wouldn't have wanted Ward to be taller than Ben on horseback. Also, Dobe gives that the reason for Ward's fall. However, in frame by frame, you can see how Ben's horse Steel was mired up to his fetlocks and struggling to get out of the mud or quicksand...whatever it was. Ward and Ben did a good job of "winging" it. Actually, Ford sent Duke a telegram telling him that Ward had fallen on his bad leg but seemed to be OK. Dobe said that Ford Loved this little picture and was happy go lucky throughout the whole filming. Oh, and when Ward realized his pants were torn and Linda Darnell actually opened the pant leg up to the camera.....I believe she was trying to get a look at that leg of Ward's that was so mangled and which he almost lost. Frame by frame,you can see that Ward is quite angry with Linda, and she looks more than a little nervous about the whole thing. They got over it quickly though. She played in some excellent Wagon Train episodes....especially the one called The Andrew Hale Story. Love Ward Bond, KP

Quote from Hondo Duke Lane

Congratualations, Keith on your 9000th Post. You are so fast that we almost missed your milestone again. Better slow down. Well, maybe not. We'll just have to keep up with you. See you at your next milestone. Congrats again.

Cheers Mike aka Hondo Duke Lane

Yes, congrats, my but that is a lot of posts! So,am I correct in thinking the KEITH is Ethan Edwards? My first name is Keith, and I am a 62 year old woman. I have traveled all over and have never met another woman with a first name of Keith. I have had GREAT fun with this name....and proud of it as it was my grandfather's name, Will Keith Hawks. Anyone who sees my website name should be able to figure that out. Anyway, contratulations again. I am new and trying to get to know folks, so I hope I didn't get into something I am not supposed to be in, LOL. Just let me know why if you kick me out!

Hi Arthur, I am new here,so please forgive any faux paus!

I would like to see more of your stuntmen posts....are there any? Only found one and a piece. I am researching the ones around the John Ford EARLY Stock Troupe for a book about them and character actors who MADE our heroes. Oops, think I see something to click on above. Anyway, let me know, and thanks, KP