Part Two Of Co-Stars To This Legend
PART TWO OF CO-STARS
Jean Arthur, real name Gladys Georgianna Greene Born on 17 October 1900 in Plattsburgh, New York, USA Following her screen debut in a bit part in John Ford's "Cameo Kirby" 1923, Miss Arthur spent several years portraying unremarkable roles as ingénue or leading lady in comedy shorts and cheapie westerns. With the arrival of sound she was able to appear in films whose quality was but slightly improved over that of her past silents. She had to contend, for example, with the consummately evil likes of Dr. Fu Manchu portrayed by that future "Charlie Chan", Warner Oland. Her career bloomed with her appearance in Ford's "The Whole Town's Talking" 1935, in which she played opposite 'Edward G. Robinson', the latter in a dual role as notorious gangster and his look-alike, a befuddled, well-meaning clerk. Here is where her wholesomeness and her flair for farcical comedy began making themselves plain. The real turning point in her screen career came when she was chosen by Frank Capra to star with Gary Cooper in the now-classic 1936 social comedy, "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town". Here, she rescues the hero - thus herself becoming heroine! - from rapacious human vultures who are scheming to separate him from his wealth. She starred with Alan Ladd and Van Heflin in George Steven's 1953 western, "Shane", where she portrays the wife of a besieged settler (Heflin) who accepts help from a nomadic gunman (Ladd) in the settler's effort to protect his farm. She starred with John in A Lady Takes a Chance 1943 sadly Jean died on 19 June 1991 Carmel, California, USA. she is greatly missed.
Born Ella Wallace Raubes on 6 August 1920 in Snoqualmie Falls, Washington State, USA. The daughter of an engineer, Ella Raines completed her education at the University of Washington. After stage experience, Raines was signed for films by a production company headed by Charles Boyer and Howard Hawks. When this enterprise failed to yield fruit, Raines went with Universal Studios in 1943, where she received her best screen role: the inquisitive, extremely adaptable heroine in the 1943 film noir Phantom Lady. Impressed by this performance, Paramount producer/director Preston Sturges borrowed Raines from Universal to co-star with Eddie Bracken in Hail the Conquering Hero 1944. She appeared in one film with John which was Tall in the Saddle 1944, She retired in 1956 after filming The Man in the Road, 1957. Ella died on 30 May 1988 at Sherman Oaks, California, USA.
Born Denver Dell Pyle on 11 May 1920 in Bethune, Colorado, USA, Had he been born a decade earlier, American actor Denver Pyle might well have joined the ranks of western-movie comedy sidekicks. Instead, Pyle, a Colorado farm boy, opted for studying law, working his way through school by playing drums in a dance band. Suddenly one day, Pyle became disenchanted with law and returned to his family farm, with nary an idea what he wanted to do with his life. Working in the oil fields of Oklahoma, he moved on to the shrimp boats of Galveston, Texas. A short stint as a page at NBC radio studios in 1940 didn't immediately lead to a showbiz career, as it has for so many others; instead, Pyle was inspired to perform by a mute oilfield coworker who was able to convey his thought with body language. Studying under such masters as Michael Chekhov and Maria Ouspenskaya, Pyle was able to achieve small movie and TV roles. He worked frequently on the western series of Roy Rogers and Gene Autry; not yet bearded and grizzled, Pyle was often seen as deputies, farmers and cattle rustlers. When his hair turned prematurely gray in his early '30s, Pyle graduated to banker, sheriff and judge roles in theatrical westerns -- though never of the comic variety. He also was a regular on two TV series, Code 3 1956 and Tammy 1966. But his real breakthrough role didn't happen until 1967, when Pyle was cast as the taciturn sheriff in Bonnie and Clyde who is kidnapped and humiliated by the robbers -- and then shows up at the end of the film to supervise the bloody machine-gun deaths of B&C. He appeared in four films with John, Jet Pilot 1957, The Horse Soldiers 1959, The Alamo 1960 and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 1962. Picture from the Alamo, Sadly Denver died on 25 December 1997 in Burbank, California, USA. and is greatly missed.
Born Angeline Brown on 30 September 1931 Kulm, North Dakota, USA, Angie Dickinson was born in Kulm - 1931, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Brown. Mr. Brown was the publisher of The Kulm Messenger. The family left North Dakota in 1942 when Angie was 11 years old, moving to Burbank, CA. In December of 1946, when Angie was a senior at Bellamarine Jefferson High School in Burbank she won the Sixth Annual Bill of Rights Contest in that community. Two years later her sister Janet did likewise. Being the daughter of a printer, Angie at first had visions of becoming a writer but gave this up after winning her first beauty contest. After finishing college she worked as a secretary for Burbank Airplane parts Factory for 3 1/2 years. In 1953, she entered the local Miss America contest one day before the deadline and took 2nd. In August of the same year she was one of five winners in a beauty contest sponsored by NBC and appeared in several TV variety shows. She got her first bit part in a Warner Brothers movie in 1954 and gained television fame in the millionaire series in 1956. Her success then spiraled until she became one of the nation's top movie stars. She snagged the female lead in Howard Hawks' Rio Bravo 1959 her first major movie.
Born Vera Helena Hruba on 12 June 1921 Prague, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic, After achieving modest fame as an ice skater, Vera Hruba was brought to America by Republic Pictures head Herbert Yates who hoped to turn her into the next Sonja Henie. After featuring her in several Ice escape movies, he added Ralston to her name making it Vera Ralston and tried to pass her off as a leading lady. Hruba's English was so limited she was forced to learn her lines phonetically. Her English improved, and directors said she tried hard to learn her craft, but bad acting and a thick accent left her hard for audiences to accept. She appeared with John Wayne in Dakota 1945 and The Fighting Kentuckian,1949 Vera died on 9 February 2003 in Santa Barbara, California, USA.
Born Franz Eberhard August Kruger on 12 April 1928 Berlin, Germany. Tall, blonde, handsome German actor Hardy Kruger was 16 when he appeared in his first film, Junge Adler 1943. His early ascendancy to stardom planted the seed of the widespread belief that Kruger had "favored" status with Goebbels as a member of the Hitler Youth. Whatever the case, his film career didn't really sprout wings until after the war, with the 1952 feature Illusion in Moll. Extremely popular in his own country, Kruger was also seen to good advantage in British films The One That Got Away 1957 Swanwick POW camp for German Officers was a mere 11 miles away from Hucknall airfield, at The Hayes, a large country house which had been in use as a conference centre during much of the previous thirty years. During both wars it was requisitioned as a prison camp for German officers. Oberleutnant von Werra was taken there after being recaptured in the lake district where he had earlier escaped from the Camp at Grizedale hall. Set in the early days of WW II, this is the true story of Franz von Werra (Hardy Kruger), a German Luftwaffe pilot who was captured by the British during the Battle of Britain and made a prisoner of war. Self-assured and confident, the brash flyer brags to his captors that he'll escape within six months. The wooden huts where the POW'S where housed were only demolished last year 2003 because they were becoming a fire hazard, I know this for a fact as my wife worked there. He also made Flight of the Phoenix 1966. and Hatari 1962. During the '70s and '80s, Kruger directed a number of European television documentaries. Hardy Kruger is the father of actress Christiane Kruger.
Born Mary Wayne Marsh Born on 9 November 1895 in Madrid, New Mexico Territory [now state of New Mexico], USA. Mae's father was an auditor for the railroad who died when Mae was four. Mae moved to San Francisco where her stepfather was killed in the 1906 Earthquake. Her great aunt then took Mae and her sister to Los Angeles. With her show business background, Mae's aunt took them to the various movie studios for work as extra's. Mae was a little freckled face girl, who came to work one day as an extra at Biograph, to substitute for her sick sister. She had blue eyes and her hair color was indeterminate, but she had screen presence. She began her film career working for Mack Sennett and D. W. Griffith. Her first leading role was as the bare legged prehistoric girl in 'Man's Genesis 1912. By 1913, Mae was being groomed as the successor to Mary Pickford. Most of her film roles were dramatic or tragic or a combination of both. She appeared in Griffith's 'The Birth of a Nation 1915 and 'Intolerance 1916, she retired on the eve of her marriage in 1918. During the 20's, Mae did a few movies in Hollywood and in England, but stayed retired for the most part. It was not until the 1929 Wall Street Crash wiped out most of her funds that she would return full time to the screen. After her financial situation improved, she returned to films sporadically usually out of boredom. She was a favorite of Director John Ford and worked on a number of his big budget westerns over the years. The Grapes of Wrath 1940, How Green Was My Valley 1941, My Darling Clementine 1946, A Star Is Born 1954. The films she appeared in with John Wayne are That's My Boy 1932, 3 Godfathers 1948, Fort Apache 1948, The Fighting Kentuckian 1949, The Quiet Man 1952, The Searchers 1956, The Wings of Eagles 1957, Donovan's Reef 1963. Mae died on 13 February 1968 Hermosa Beach, California, USA. and was greatly missed.
Birth name Michail Mazuruski born on 25 December 1907 in Tarnopol, Austria. now in Ukraine. Mike Mazurki this massively built 6' 6", craggy-featured ex-wrestler was both ideally cast and remarkably effective as the dull-witted thug Moose Malloy "I want you should find my Velma" in the classic whodunit, Murder, My Sweet 1944. It was the high point of his lengthy (if somewhat one-note) acting career. Mazurki often played dumbbell hoods, but he also inherited Victor McLaglen's place in John Ford's stock company, and appeared in many costume dramas and swashbucklers as well. He had enough of a sense of humor to kid his own tough guy image in many feature-film and TV appearances, including a 1986 Rod Stewart music video. He appeared in three films with John Wayne Dakota 1945, Blood Alley 1955, Donovan's Reef 1963, Mike died on 9 December 1990 in Glendale, California, USA.
Born Strother Martin Jr. 26 March 1919 Kokomo, Indiana, USA, Grew up in Indianapolis IN. Excelled at swimming and diving. At 17 won the National Junior Springboard Diving Championship. Attended University of Michigan as diving team member. Navy service as swimming instructor in World War II. Nicknamed "T-Bone" Martin, his 3rd place finish in the adult National Springboard Diving Championships cost him a place on the 1948 Olympic team. Moved to California to become an actor, but worked in odd jobs and as a swimming instructor to Marion Davies and the children of Charles Chaplin Worked as a swimming extra in several films and as a leprechaun on a local children's TV show, Mabel's Fables. Bit parts came his way, leading to television work with Sam Peckinpah which led to a lifelong relationship. He also found memorable roles with John Ford and by the 1960's was a familiar face in American movies. With Cool Hand Luke 1967 in 1967 came new acclaim and a place among the busiest character actors in Hollywood. He appeared in six films with JohnWayne The Horse Soldiers 1959, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 1962, McLintock 1963, The Sons of Katie Elder 1965, True Grit 1969, Rooster Cogburn 1975, Picture from True Grit, Strother died on 1 August 1980 in Thousand Oaks, California, USA.
Born John Nicholas Foran 18 June 1910 Flemington, New Jersey, USA, Dick Foran 6' 2¼" was the matinee idol of the B movies. He started as a band singer and then sang on the radio. He was hired by Warner Brothers as a supporting actor who could croon a tune when called upon. His good looks and good natured personality made him a natural choice for the supporting cast. His first starring role was in the western Treachery Rides the Range 1936 which was Warner Brothers answer to Gene Autry. In the westerns that followed, Song of the Saddle 1936 California Mail 1936, his character name may be different, but 'The Singing Cowboy' tag was always the same. While at Warner's he also played straight dramatic roles, supporting the star. In 1940, Dick headed for Universal where he was, again, in the supporting cast. He worked in serials, Rangers of Fortune 1940 horror, The Mummy's Hand, 1940 to comedy, Ride 'Em Cowboy 1942 His signature theme "I'll Remember April" was introduced in Ride 'Em Cowboy 1942. After that, roles were sporadic. He made a half dozen films in the late fifties and did some Television. His last film role was in Donovan's Reef 1963 with his longtime friend John Wayne, he alos appeared in Fort Apache 1948. Dick died on 10 August 1979 in Panorama City, California, USA.
Born Maria Magdalena Dietrich 27 December 1901 Schöneberg, Germany, Born in a small town outside Berlin, her father was a police lieutenant and imbued in her a military attitude to life. Marlene was known in school for 'bedroom eyes' and her first affairs were at this stage in her life - a professor at the school was terminated. She entered the cabaret scene in 1920s Germany, first as a spectator then as a cabaret singer. In 1924 she married, and although she and Rudy lived together only 5 years they remained married until his death. She was in over a dozen silent films in increasingly important roles. In 1929 she was seen in a Berlin cabaret by Josef von Sternberg and after a screen test captured the role of the cabaret singer in Blaue Engel, Der 1930 and became von Sternberg's lover. With the success of this film, von Sternberg immediately took her to Hollywood, introducing her to the world in Morocco 1930. In 1939 an offer came to star with James Stewart in a western, and after initial hesitation she accepted. The film was Destry Rides Again 1939 the siren of film could also be a comedienne and a remarkable comeback was reality. She toured extensively for the allied effort in WW II she had become a United States citizen. Marlene appeared in four films with John Wayne Seven Sinners 1940, The Spoilers, 1942, Pittsburgh 1942, That's Action 1977, Marlene died on 6 May 1992 Paris, France.
Born George Randolph Scott on 23 January 1898 Orange County, Virginia, USA, This handsome 6ft 2" leading man who developed into one of Hollywood's greatest most popular Western stars. Born to George and Lucy Crane Scott during a visit to Virginia, Scott was raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. He attended Georgia Institute of Technology, but after being injured playing football, he transferred to the University of North Carolina, from which he graduated with a degree in textile engineering and manufacturing. He discovered acting and went to California, where he met Howard Hughes, who got him extra work in films. He had a screen test for the lead in 'Cecil B. DeMille's' Dynamite 1929, a role which went instead to Joel McCrea. He was offered a contract with Paramount, he moved rapidly into leading roles at Paramount, but it was not until he began focusing on Westerns in the late Forties that he reached his greatest stardom. He became one of the top box-office stars of the Fifties and, in the Westerns of Budd Boetticher especially, a critically important figure in the Western. Randolph appeared with John Wayne in The Black Watch 1929, Pittsburgh 1942,The Spoilers 1942, Randolph died on 2 March 1987 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.
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Born Patsy Louise Neal born on 20 January 1926, in Packard, Kentucky, USA. Even in her youth, growing up in Knoxville, Tennessee, she recognized her interest in acting and frequently recited monologues at church and other gatherings. As a Christmas present from her parents, she was given acting lessons when she was 12. Her teacher was Emily Mahan Faust of Knoxville. Following graduation from high school, she enrolled in speech and drama at Northwestern University. After two years, she joined her drama coach, Alvina Krause, for summer theatre in Eaglesmere, Pennsylvania. At the summer's end, she packed a suitcase, caught a train, and headed for New York. Now calling herself Patricia instead of Patsy Louise, she was cast by the Theatre Guild in the summer theatre production of Devil Take the Whistler, where she was seen by Lillian Hellman. Miss Hellman offered her a part in Another Part of the Forest, for which she received several awards; among them the Tony (Antoinette Perry) and the Drama Critics Award for Best New Actress. She had become a star, and she was not yet 20. She appeared in two films with John Operation Pacific 1951, In Harm's Way 1965. On February 17, 1965, when she was three months pregnant, she suffered a series of strokes which left her partially paralyzed. Undaunted, Miss Neal began a successful struggle through years of rehabilitation. Her fifth child, Lucy was born healthy. Her two other daughters, Tessa and Ophelia, along with Theo and Lucy are grown now and living in the U.S. and England. Patricia passed away on August 8, 2010 in Edgartown, Massachusetts, USA.
Born Jeanette Helen Morrison born on 6 July 1927 in Merced, California, USA, Janet was an only child of a couple who often moved from town to town. Living in apartments, Janet was a bright child who skipped several grades and finished high school when she was 15. As a lonely child, she would spend much of her time at movie theaters. She was a student, studying music and psychology, at the University of the Pacific until she was "discovered" visiting her parents in Northern California. Her father was working the desk at a ski resort where her mother worked as a maid. Retired MGM actress Norma Shearer saw a picture of Janet on the front desk and asked if she could borrow it. This led to a screen test at MGM and a starring role in 'The Romance of Rosy Ridge 1947'. MGM was looking for a young naive country girl and Janet Leigh filled the bill perfectly. She would play the young ingenue in a number of films and work with the leading stars, including, Errol Flynn, Gary Cooper, James Stewart, Orson Welles and Judy Garland. Her career would include a number of successful movies including 'Little Women 1949, Angels in the Outfield 1951, Scaramouche 1952, Houdini 1953, 'The Black Shield of Falworth 1954 and many others, Janet starred in Jet Pilot 1957 with John Wayne. Picture from Jet Pilot. Janet passed away on 3 October 2004, Beverly Hills, California, United States.
Born Stuart Maxwell Whitman on 1 February 1926 in San Francisco, California, USA, The son of a realtor, he graduated from high school in Los Angeles and spent three post-war years with the Army Corps of Engineers. In the army he won 32 fights as a light-heavyweight boxer. Upon his discharge from service, he attended Los Angeles City College, where his interest in acting emerged. He studied at the Los Angeles Academy of Dramatic Art and with Michael Chekhov and Ben Bard. He toured the U.S. in a stage company of "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" and began to get small roles in television and film. Eventually his athleticism, his handsome features, and his talent for portraying either tough or vulnerable characters led him to a level of stardom. He won an Academy Award nomination for his leading role of a child molester in The Mark 1961, and starred in the television series "Cimarron Strip" 1967. He appeared in two films with John Wayne The Comancheros 1961, and The Longest Day 1962.
Born Elsa Tia on 13 January 1935 in Grosseto, Italy The official story was that Italian actress Elsa Martinelli was discovered for movies when Kirk Douglas spotted her on a 1954 magazine cover. Actually, Martinelli had been playing bit parts in Italian films since 1950, and had been a professional model since her early teens. Her first and only screen appearance while under contract to Douglas' Bryna Productions was The Indian Fighter 1955. The film should have made her a star, but (at least according to Douglas) Martinelli exercised nothing but bad judgment thereafter, taking parts that exploited her physical attributes but allowed her acting skills to atrophy. Finally, Douglas threw in the towel, telling Martinelli that she'd have to pay him to work for Bryna again. With such notable exceptions as Orson Welles The Trial 1962. Martinelli never had a part as good as her Native American heroine in The Indian Fighter She retired from film making in the mid-1980s, making an unheralded return appearance in the inconsequential all-star comedy Once Upon a Crime 1992 Elsa Martinelli is the mother of actress Cristiana Mancinelli. She only appeared in one film with John Wayne Hatari! 1962. Elsa passed away on 8 July 2017, Rome, Italy.
Born on 17 September 1930 in Vinton, Virginia, USA. King-sized American character David Huddleston spent four years in the Air Force before receiving his acting training at the AADA. Huddleston made his first fleeting screen appearance in All the Way Home 1963, and began his stage career in 1965. His breakthrough film assignment was as the corpulent outlaw leader in the sleeper Bad Company 1972 . Later roles include Mayor Olson Johnson in Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles 1974 and the title role in Santa Claus the Movie 1990. He played recurring parts in the weekly TV series Tenafly and Petrocelli, and was starred in The Kallikaks 1977 and Hizzoner 1979. David Huddleston is the father of actor Michael Huddleston. He appeared in two films with the Duke Rio Lobo 1970, McQ 1974. Picture from Rio Lobo, David passed away on 2 August 2016, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States.
Born Joanne Letitia LaCock 31 January 1922 Logan, West Virginia, USA, The daughter of a West Virginia druggist, Joanne Dru came to New York in 1940. In New York, she worked as a model and was cast by Al Jolson, as one of the showgirls in his broadway play "Hold Onto Your Hats". When the show closed in 1941, Joanne married popular singer Dick Haymes and went with him to Hollywood. Discovered by a talent scout while working in the theater, Joanne made her screen debut in a film called 'Abie's Irish Rose (1946)', and that picture almost ended her career. Two years later, she would become well known with her role of Tess in the classic Western 'Red River (1948)'. She followed that with another Western titled 'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)', again playing opposite John Wayne. With two of the best Westerns directed by Ford and Hawks, the scripts submitted to her were predominately Western and she became typecast. This was from a woman who said "I simply hated horses...". In 1950, she was cast in another Western called 'Wagon Master (1950)' which became the basis for the Ward Bond Television Series called "Wagon Train (1957)". Even though she did other roles besides Westerns, those roles were not what she is remembered for. Joanne died on 10 September 1996 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA. Picture from Red River.
Born Isaac Johnny John, to the Onondaga Nation, he was the proud warrior-chief who posed for the James Fraser portrait on the Buffalo nickel. Beginning in 1915, Chief John Big Tree performed in more than 100 western movies. His first appearance was in John Ford's epic film, The Iron Horse 1924 Fox Film Corp. From there, he moved on to M-G-M and supported Tim McCoy in his Westerns of the late 1920s. For many years he was the dean of Hollywood's Indian colony but he never accepted a role that reflected badly on his race. During the sound era, he appeared in The Big Trail 1930 directed by Raoul Walsh and starring John Wayne. John Ford called upon Chief Big Tree once again to grace two more Westerns that would become classics - Stagecoach 1939 United Artists, and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon 1949 RKO, both starring John Wayne. Chief John Big Tree died on 6 July 1967 on the Onondaga Indian Reservation, New York, USA. Picture from She Wore A Yellow Ribbon.
Born Julia Jean Mildred Frances Turner on 8 February 1921 Wallace, Idaho, USA there is some discrepancy as to whether her birth date is February 8, 1920 or 1921. Lana herself said in her autobiography that she was one year younger 1921 than the records showed, but then this was a time where women, especially actresses, tended to "fib" a bit about their age. Most sources agree that 1920 is the correct year of birth. In 1929, her father was murdered and it was shortly thereafter her mother moved her and the family to California where jobs were "plentiful". Once she matured into a beautiful young woman, she sought after something that would last forever. Stardom. She wasn't found at a drug store counter like some would have you believe, but the legend persists. She pounded the pavement that other would be actors and actresses have done in search of movie roles. In 1937, Lana entered the movie world, at 17 years old, with small parts in They Won't Forget, The Great Garrick, and A Star Is Born. The films didn't bring Lana a lot of notoriety, but it was a start. In 1938, Lana had another small part in Love Finds Andy Hardy starring Mickey Rooney. By the 1940's Lana was firmly entrenched in the film colony. Good roles found her in such films as Johnny Eager 1941, Somewhere I'll Find You 1942, and Weekend At The Waldorf 1945. She appeared in John Wayne's film The Sea Chase 1955. Sadly Lana died on 29 June 1995 in Century City, California, USA, and is sadly missed.