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SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON – Richard Hageman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
After the massive commercial success of his prior film Fort Apache, director John Ford decided to embark on a second film of what has come to be known as his famous “Cavalry Trilogy”. On conceiving the film, Ford decided to draw upon two short stories he read from the Saturday Evening Post, “The Big Sky” and “War Party”. Ford’s Argosy Pictures production company would fund the film with a $1.6 million budget, he would direct, and Frank S. Nugent and Laurence Stallings were tasked with writing the screenplay. For his cast, he was initially opposed to casting John Wayne in the lead, as the lead character Captain Nathan Brittles at 61 was 20 years older than Wayne, and he did not believe Wayne had the acting ability to provide the gravitas the role demanded. However, after watching his outstanding performance in Red River, he changed his mind. Joining him would be Joanne Dru as Olivia Dandridge, John Agar as Lieutenant Flint Cohill, Ben Johnson as Sergeant Tyree and Harry Carey Jr. as Lieutenant Ross Pennell. Read more…
FORT APACHE – Richard Hageman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Director John Ford believed the Saturday Evening Post story “Massacre” by James Warner Bellah told a story he believed needed to be brought to the big screen. This film would be the first of Ford’s renowned “Cavalry Trilogy”, followed by “She Wore A Yellow Ribbon” in 1949, and “Rio Grande” in 1950, which all starred John Wayne. Ford’s production company Argosy Pictures purchased the film rights, with he and Merian C. Cooper overseeing production with a $2.1 million budget. Ford would also direct and Frank S. Nugent would write the screenplay. Ford assembled an impressive cast, which included John Wayne as Captain Kirby York, Henry Fonda as Lieutenant Colonel Owen Thursday, Shirley Temple as Miss Philadelphia Thursday, John Agar as Second Lieutenant Michael Shannon “Mickey” O’Rourke, and Pedro Armendáriz as Sergeant Beaufort. Read more…
STAGECOACH – Richard Hageman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
Director John Ford came upon a short story, “The Stage to Lordsburg” by Dudley Nichols, which inspired him for his next film project, and whose film rights he purchased for $2,500. Yet he had difficulty securing financial backing as the studios believed “A” western pictures were out of vogue, and they had no confidence that John Wayne could carry the film. Ford was insistent on retaining Wayne and eventually hammered out a deal with independent producer Walter Wanger who would manage production with a $531,374 budget. Ford would direct and Dudley Nichols was hired to write the screenplay. A fine cast was assembled, including Claire Trevor as Dallas, John Wayne as Ringo Kid, Andy Devine as Buck, John Carridine as Hatfield, Thomas Mitchell as Doc Boone, Louise Platt as Lucy Mallory, George Bancroft as Marshall Curley Wilcox, Donald Meek as Samuel Peacock, Berton Churchill as Henry Gatewood, and Time Holt as Lieutenant Blanchard. Read more…
IF I WERE KING – Richard Hageman
GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Original Review by Craig Lysy
In 1937 Paramount Pictures studio executives were seeking a period piece as a vehicle to showcase studio star Ronald Coleman. They found their story with the 1901 biographical novel and play titled “If I Were King” by Justin Huntly McCarthy. Frank Lloyd was placed in charge of production with a $1 million budget, would also direct, and Preston Sturges was hired to write the screenplay. Ronald Coleman would star as Francois Villon, joined by Basil Rathborne as King Louis XI, Frances Dee as Katherine DeVaucelles, Ellen Drew as Huguette, Bruce Lester as Noel le Jolys, and C. V. France as Father Villon. Read more…
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