Friday, June 7, 2019

REEL INFATUATION BLOGATHON: Audie Murphy as Tom Destry, 1954


Maedez of Font and Frock and Ruth of Silver Screenings are once again hosting their popular Reel Infatuation Blogathon on June 7th - 9th. It's all about those oh-so-crushable characters who have made their way into our hearts.

Reel Infatuation:  Day 1   Day 2   Day 3


Audie Murphy

The hubby strolled into the room while I was watching Destry. "What are you watching?" (Audie Murphy walks into the frame.) "Oh! Never mind."


Thomas Mitchell, Lori Nelson, Audie Murphy

Tom: "You know, I don't hold too much for first impressions. The way I figure it, the last impression is important."

The criminal element of the town of Restful has eliminated the latest meddlesome sheriff and appointed in his stead the town drunk. Rags Barnaby played by Thomas Mitchell is said drunk, a former lawman whose glory days were as deputy to the legendary lawman Tom Destry. Once again with a badge, Rags determines to quit drinking and get Destry's son to be his deputy. After all, young Tom cleaned up Silver Creek; Restful should be no problem.

Destry the Younger played by Audie Murphy is not who Rags was expecting. Instead of a six-footer with a six-shooter, the current Tom Destry is a youthful looking man of slight build who doesn't believe in guns. This discovery delights the crooks who run the town, led by Decker played by Lyle Bettger. (I once saw Bettger play a good guy. Honest!) They see no danger in this peace-loving, stickler for the rule of law. 


Mari Blanchard

Tom sets about quietly winning over old Rags and the decent people of Restful. (He had my heart the second he stepped off the stage.) The charm offensive works easily enough with Doc and Bessie Mae played by Wallace Ford and Mary Wickes, proves tougher with Martha Phillips played by Lori Nelson, and unexpectedly easy with saloon singer Brandy played by Mari Blanchard.

Tom: "You make an exception in one case, you may as well not have the law."

Danger, suspense, laughter, music, love, and loss are the elements of this successful western. It is a loss that forces Tom to turn to his skill with guns to defeat the evil that holds Restful in its grip.


Lyle Bettger, Richard Reeves, George Wallace, Audie Murphy

Murphy's attractiveness, his audience appeal and the character of Tom Destry were made for each other. In this script, Tom's deceptive naivety, his intelligence, understated bravery, and determination come together to create a captivating character who easily wins admiration. Ah, be still my heart!

Add George Marshall to your list of directors who revisit an earlier success. The Max Brand story that was adapted by Felix Jackson to emerge as the 1939 classic Destry Rides Again starring James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich gave Audie Murphy one of his most perfect screen roles.

"Audie is a grassroots actor because of the many qualities which overlap between his real life and his reel life."
- George Marshall

The Medal of Honor recipient came to Hollywood in 1945 at the behest of Cagney Productions. At Universal Pictures from 1950, Murphy appeared in mainly mid-budget westerns, and over the years became a natural and adept performer. 


Lori Nelson, Audie Murphy

Could you resist a law-abiding, peace-loving, dogged detective determined to do the right thing, with that face? I certainly have no resolve against such a movie character crush.

Tom: "Which reminds me of a book I read once. It was all about a fellow and a girl. They had the doggonedest time getting together. Oh, it wasn't her fault. It wasn't exactly his fault either. It was just a whole lot of mix-ups kept 'em apart. One day this fella ..." 

Martha: "You know something. You read too many books!"

Tom: "Yeah. But there comes a time when a fella just has to stop readin' so much."

Destry is the second film in as many years to star this Universal Studios duo, following Tumbleweed in 1953. Lori also made a guest appearance on Murphy's 1961 television series Whispering Smith.


Differences between Destry Rides Again, 1939 and Destry, 1954 spotted by a fan.
No prize for guessing which fan.

Destry Rides Again: Black and White cinematography by Hal Mohr.
Destry: Technicolor cinematography by George Robinson.

Destry Rides Again: They are investigating if the sheriff died.
Destry: They are investigating how the sheriff died.

Destry Rides Again: The good girl is the sister of an impetuous cattleman.
Destry: The good girl is the niece of a swindled rancher.

Destry Rides Again: Comic subplot with a feisty landlady and Russian husband (Merkle and Auer).
Destry: Comic subplot with a feisty landlady and Doctor husband (Wickes and Ford).

Destry Rides Again: The final shootout is a free-for-all involving the entire town.
DestryThe final shootout involves only the bad guys, Brandy and Tom Destry in the saloon.

Destry Rides Again: Tom whittles.
Destry: Tom whiles away the time with a piece of string.

Destry Rides Again: Tom has a habit of relating a story he heard somewhere.
Destry: Tom has a habit of relating something he read in a book.

Destry Rides AgainTom gabs away at the pretty girl over the closing credits.
Destry: Tom kisses the pretty girl!

Trivia:

Tom Destry and Tom Destry

The stars of Destry Rides Again, 1939 and Destry, 1954, decorated veterans James Stewart and Audie Murphy co-starred as brothers in Night Passage, 1957.





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60 comments:

  1. Great writeup of a favorite. I'm a big Audie fan too and this is a good one. Actually I have to admit that I like this version better than the Stewart one. Gasp! Mari Blanchard is better than Dietrich, but then though I like her I've never been her biggest fan.

    I admit though that my favorite Murphy role is in No Name on the Bullet. I like my boys bad. :)

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    1. I keep meaning to write about No Name on the Bullet and maybe I'll get around to it one of these days. Although it won't be for the Reel Infatuation blogathon. It's not that I don't appreciate intensity, but John Gant just may be too much for me.

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  2. I’m glad you mentioned that Hollywood wanted Murphy. I knew he was a war hero, but I never understood why his post-war career turned to acting as opposed to, say, politics or business. How did the studios know he had any acting ability? Or was that not the point?

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    1. Cagney had an instinct when he saw Murphy's picture and heard him speak. The offer was presented in a "what have you got to lose by checking it out" way, and here we are.

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  3. I would say those are very astute observations, between the two Destry films, made by that Anonymous Fan. I wonder if they write a classic movie blog...? Ha ha

    Now, this version with Audie Murphy sounds fab enough, but you're saying the cast includes Thomas Mitchell, Wallace Ford, and Mary Wickes?! That's a dream supporting cast.

    When you asked if anyone could resist an honest and determined detective who looks like Audie Murphy, the answer is No. He would also be Smart, with a capital "S", because if you're not carrying a gun, you've got to be the smartest person in town.

    I loved your review of this film. You're not afraid to share your love of classic film, a love that isn't just idle gushing. (Not that there's anything wrong with that – I do it all the time!) Your admiration comes from a knowledge and an appreciation of the craft of filmmaking. You always encourage me to learn more.

    Thanks for joining us!

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    1. I will be resting on my laurels for the rest of the weekend, and I will have the grace to blush. Thanks a lot. I remember you were considering an Audie Murphy character, and I look forward to that sometime.

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  4. LORI NELSON, born DIXIE KAY NELSON, is 85. I saw her in the movie BEND OF THE RIVER. It starred JIMMY STEWART, the earlier DESTRY, but Lori was paired up with ROCK HUDSON. The movie had ARTHUR KENNEDY and JULIE ADAMS. Lori played the younger sister to Julie. This movie came out in 1952-two years before DESTRY. Lori was in the TV series HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE with BARBARA EDEN & MERRY ANDERS. (It was on in the late 50s). It sounds like a cute fun show. Lori left after one season and was replaced by LISA GAYE, the sister of DEBRA PAGET. Lisa played a new character and the show ended after that season. By the way DEBRA is still with us, born in 1933-like Lori. Lisa Gaye is still living also.

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    1. My first association with Lori Nelson is in the Ma and Pa Kettle movies. I enjoyed them very much as a kid, and still get a kick out of them today. All I Desire is a fine show case for Lori as Barbara Stanwyck's daughter. Bend of the River is the movie I always pop in when I feel a cold coming on. It comforts me.

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  5. Lori was paired up with TAB HUNTER for publicity dates-to be in the fan magazines. Earlier Tab had been paired up with DEBBIE REYNOLDS then she got engaged to EDDIE FISHER. (After Lori, Tab was paired up with NATALIE WOOD.) Lori did two eps of THE TAB HUNTER SHOW. She married JOHNNY MANN in 1961. They had two daughters and divorced in 1971. Then she resumed her acting career. Lori did an ep of FAMILY AFFAIR in 1971. She married police officer JOSEPH REINER in 1983 so they have been married for 36 years.

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    1. I wish Lori Nelson good health and good friends in her senior years. She is an actress I wish TCM would spotlight and perhaps interview.

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  6. Your hubby is a most understanding fellow! Wonderful to read about Audie this special weekend.

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    1. Yes, the hubby is understanding. Perhaps I should be a wee bit more tolerant about his thing for Linda Darnell!

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  7. I don’t like it as well as DESTRY RIDES AGAIN, but it’s still a good version. As you wrote, it’s an ideal role for Audie Murphy and I like both of the two female leads.

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    1. There is magic in Destry Rides Again which is an undeniable classic. The magic in Destry is the magic of the perfect actor and role coming together. I hope it was as fun and pleasant a shoot as it is to watch.

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  8. I was mistaken when I said LISA GAYE was still living. She died on JULY 14,2016 at the age of 81. Also speaking of TAB HUNTER do you know his movies very well? He was in at least two westerns-THE BURNING HILLS with NATALIE WOOD and GUNMANS WALK with VAN HEFLIN, JAMES DARREN & KATHRYN GRANT. He was in THE PLEASURE OF HIS COMPANY with DEBBIE REYNOLDS and FRED ASTAIRE.

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    1. Fortunately, Debra Paget, Lisa's sister, is still with us today.

      My fave Tab Hunter performances are in Gunman's Walk and Damn Yankees!.

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  9. Lori Nelson worked with some of the top names in show business including DEAN MARTIN & JERRY LEWIS in PARDNERS(1956). She was in SINCERELY YOURS(1955) with LIBERACE, JOANNE DRU & DOROTHY MALONE. DOROTHY is probably best known for the TV prime-time soap PEYTON PLACE. (Earlier she won an OSCAR for supporting actress in WRITTEN ON THE WIND where her character was trying to get involved with the character played by ROCK HUDSON. She later worked with Rock again in THE LAST SUNSET. So Dorothy got to work with Rock like I stated earlier that Lori worked with him.) Regarding PEYTON PLACE when Dorothy was seriously ill LOLA ALBRIGHT temporarily took over as CONSTANCE. Do you know the work very well of DOROTHY & LOLA? Did you like Dorothy as Constance? I know later Constance was paired up on the show with TIM OCONNOR, a very good actor.

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    1. I always associate Lola Albright with the TV series Peter Gunn. I enjoy her performances as singer Edie Hart.

      One of my fave performances from Dorothy is as Amy in One Sunday Afternoon, a musical remake of The Strawberry Blonde. She is every bit as wonderful as Olivia de Havilland in the earlier movie.

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  10. I remember you said you watched some of PEYTON PLACE. Did you have any favorite actors? What about DOROTHY MALONE? Also did CONSTANCE have any romances when you watched it or was her story about being the mother of Allison? BARBARA RUSH, GENA ROWLANDS, BARBARA PARKINS, LEE GRANT, MARIETTE HARTLEY. What a cast! The five ladies I just mentioned are still with us. Ive read about PEYTON PLACE quite a bit.

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    1. I have seen the first season only of Peyton Place but was very impressed with the entire story. I particularly liked the Andersons played by Kasey Rogers, Barbara Parkins and Henry Beckman.

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  11. DOROTHY MALONE at one time was married to JACQUES BERGERAC who had earlier been married to GINGER ROGERS. Dorothy and Jacques had two daughters and later divorced. The divorce was in 1964 so that was the year PEYTON PLACE came on. There was a bitter custody battle and Dorothy got custody of their daughters. She did a lot of westerns. Do you know very many of them? (By the way MISS MALONE was born MARY DOROTHY MALONEY.) Do you remember if you say her as a blonde or brunette first?

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  12. Of course I meant do you remember if you saw her as a blonde or brunette first? As a blonde she certainly was one of the sultriest actresses of her time.

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    1. I can recall the first time I saw Dorothy Malone. She was a brunette in the western South of St. Louis. I also saw Tall Man Riding, Young at Heart, and Artists and Models around the same time. That collection of movies made me a fan.

      A couple of weeks ago I watched The Falcon and the Co-Eds recorded from TCM. It was such a treat to see 19-year-old Dorothy Malone in an uncredited role that I mentioned it on Twitter. The tweet received 65 "likes." Dorothy obviously has a lot of fans.

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  13. AUDIE MURPHY was a talented actor-very natural. SUSAN KOHNER worked with him in TO HELL AND BACK where he played himself-about his early life and military career. Susan later did IMITATION OF LIFE(MARCH 1959) with SANDRA DEE and THEN Sandra did THE WILD AND THE INNOCENT(MAY 1959) with Audie. THE BIG VALLEY connection-PETER BRECK was in THE WILD AND THE INNOCENT. This was 6 years before THE BIG VALLEY came on where he played the hotheaded NICK BARKLEY. On AMERICAN CLASSIC MOVIES host BOB DORIAN said the wig that Sandra wore in this movie had earlier been worn by BARBARA STANWYCK who, of course, later played VICTORIA BARKLEY, the mother of Nick.

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    1. I am starting to notice the repeating of dresses in certain old movies and now I'll have to start looking for wigs!

      The Wild and the Innocent is a favourite of mine and my daughter enjoyed it when I shared it with her a few years ago.

      I read To Hell and Back a couple of times but have only seen the movie once. I think it is time to re-appreciate it.

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  14. I remember a scene in THE WILD AND THE INNOCENT where SANDRA DEES character is noticed by JOANNE DRU & GILBERT ROLANDS characters. Gilbert says something about Sandra being pretty and Joanne cant believe it because she didn't notice probably because the girl had messy hair that didn't look very good. I remember Gilbert from CHEYENNE AUTUMN with two of my favorites RICHARD WIDMARK & CARROLL BAKER. I really like THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL where Jonathan Shields(KIRK DOUGLAS) gets movie star GAUCHO(Gilbert) to have an affair with Rosemary(OSCAR winner GLORIA GRAHAME) so her husband wont be distracted by her so he can work on his screenplay! The husband was played by DICK POWELL. The movie also had LANA TURNER and BARRY SULLIVAN.

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    1. The Bad and the Beautiful is an interesting and fun movie to watch as we try to guess who are the real personalties behind the characters portrayed.

      The first time I saw Gilbert Roland was in Bullfighter and the Lady. I thought he was marvelous!

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  15. JOANNE DRU was in two movies with JOHN WAYNE-RED RIVER and SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON(I liked the second one best). She was in SYLVIA with CARROLL BAKER and GEORGE MAHARIS. She was in the last MR. BELVEDERE movie with CLIFTON WEBB-MR. BELVEDERE RINGS THE BELL. In that movie she reminded me of DOROTHY MCGUIRE. Joanne was the sister of game show host PETER MARSHALL. She was married and divorced from DICK HAYMES and JOHN IRELAND. I thought John was quite striking and was a good actor including in one of our favorite kind-WESTERNS.

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    1. My daughter enjoyed Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell when we watched it when she was younger. I had forgotten Joanne was in that movie. She was in many movies I consider favourites such as Wagon Master, My Pal Gus, The Light in the Forest, and Hell on Frisco Bay. Some of them may not be great movies, favourites nonetheless. She was also in Thunder Bay with Gilbert Roland who came into our conversation.

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  16. I didn't see either of these movies but Joanne was in 3 RING CIRCUS with MARTIN & LEWIS and she was in THE PRIDE OF ST. LOUIS with DAN DAILEY, one of your favorite musical stars. Dan played baseball player DIZZY DEAN and Joanne played his wife. Speaking of Dailey, what are your favorite musicals he did?

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    1. Dan teamed with Betty Grable makes me very happy. Dan on TV in The Governor and J.J., as well.

      I think baseball and movies were made for each other. The Spirit of St. Louis is most enjoyable.

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  17. I was looking up the credits of JOHN IRELAND and found out something that I find interesting and unusual. In 1949 he was in I SHOT JESSE JAMES where he played BOB FORD, one of Jesses men and the one who killed Jesse(played by REED HADLEY). Just a year later he was in THE RETURN OF JESSE JAMES as Johnny Callum, a dead-ringer for the late Jesse James. Johnny and his bunch are going around robbing banks and he is using Jesses name. Jesses brother FRANK is not at all happy about this(of course). The part of Frank was played by .....REED HADLEY! Both movies were produced by LIPPERT PICTURES.

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    1. John Ireland is another Canadian, and a talented fellow. In another movie coincidence to go along with "Jesse James", Ireland is one of those "Tombstone" fellows having played Billy Clanton in My Darling Clementine and Johnny Ringo in Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

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  18. JOHN IRELAND was in THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS with DOROTHY MALONE. It is a black and white movie from 1955. John was the co-director. It was produced by ROGER CORMAN and the story was by Roger also. In the movie John is a guy wrongly charged with murder. He makes Dorothy drive him so he can get away. Her character is named CONNIE which may remind people about CONSTANCE that she played on PEYTON PLACE beginning in 1964(nine years later).

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    1. I remember that movie. Esther Howard worked the lunch counter just as she did in Detour.

      My daughter and her friends are fans of the current franchise called Fast and Furious.

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  19. DOROTHY MALONE played the love interest of JOHN IRELAND in the western THE BUSHWACKERS in 1952. The cast also includes LAWRENCE TIERNEY, JACK ELAM, and LON, CHANEY, JR. Speaking of a love interest-only this time off-screen-John attracted controversy when he dated TUESDAY WELD who was 17 and John was 45! P.S. It goes back to PEYTON PLACE again. Tuesday was in the movie RETURN TO PEYTON PLACE as SELENA CROSS and Dorothy was on the show as Constance. Selena was the best friend of Allison, the daughter of Constance. The TV show did not include Selena or her family.

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    1. All roads lead to Peyton Place!

      Thanks for the fun trivia.

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  20. Oh, I know that stop-the-world feeling when a favorite actor comes on in a film! And I enjoyed the compare/contrast between the 2 films; I got a sense of how the role was configured for each actor in the title role (Stewart relates stories he heard, Murphy of stories he read; Stewart whittles, Murphy twists string). You've also piqued by interest: in just WHICH movie did Lyle Bettger play a good guy?

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    1. It was an episode of Wagon Train starring Vanessa Brown called The Sally Potter Story. Lyle Bettger was one of the travelers. Aha! There was no doubt in my mind that he would turn out to be a dirty double-dealing sidewinder. Right up until the very last minutes of the episode I was waiting for Bettger to show his true colours! As the credits began rolling, I sat stunned. It simply couldn't be! What had just happened? I've never been so shocked in my life! (As attested to by my use of exclamation points.)

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  21. More PEYTON PLACE trivia-PATRICIA MORROW who played RITA JACKS, the girlfriend of NORMAN HARRINGTON(TV show), married CARL BRISSON, the son of ROSALIND RUSSELL. They married in 1975 and divorced in 1982. (Rosalind died in 1976.) Miss Morrow later played Rita again in the show when it came back in 1972 and was in the reunion movie in 1985. Also you may remember her from a GUNSMOKE ep titled THE GUN with KEVIN COUGHLIN and also L.Q. JONES as a reporter wanting to play up a story. She did a PERRY MASON ep that Perry wasn't in. This one had MIKE CONNORS.

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    1. Pat Morrow had a nice understated presence on screen. You have given me an idea for my next Perry Mason marathon. I'll watch all the "Perrys" without Perry.

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  22. JOHN IRELAND was the older half-brother of TOMMY NOONAN. Tommy was paired up with MARILYN MONROE in GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES which also starred JANE RUSSELL. He was also in HOW TO BE VERY, VERY POPULAR which starred BETTY GRABLE (in her last movie) and SHEREE NORTH. He also did a PERRY MASON ep as a comedian on trial. It also had JACKIE COOGAN who way back had been married to.....BETTY GRABLE.

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    1. I did not know that about Ireland and Noonan. John Ireland had a fictional brother in another Canadian, Lorne Greene. He played Ben Cartwright's brother called Amos in Bonanza: The Next Generation. The idea never took off but I would have watched it.

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  23. JOHN IRELAND was in RED RIVER with JOHN WAYNE and MONTGOMERY CLIFT. (CBS had a remake in 1988-with JAMES ARNESS. BRUCE BOXLEITNER did the part that CLIFT had played and GREGORY HARRISON did the part that Ireland had played.) By the way, model/actress KATHY IRELAND is not related to movie star John Ireland but her dad who is not in show business, is named John Ireland.

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  24. JOHN WAYNE died JUNE 11, 1979-so its been 40 years now that hes been gone. What can be said about the DUKE that hasn't already been said? However, I want to say that he was a fair man, an honest man, a proud AMERICAN and a good actor. My two favorite movies of his are THE SONS OF KATIE ELDER and THE SEARCHERS. He lives on in millions of peoples memories and hearts. He was definitely one-of-a-kind. Heres to the DUKE!

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    1. Watching John Wayne makes me very happy. I have felt that way since I was a kid and saw Donovan's Reef at the movies, and then watching all the classic John Ford films on television. I will certainly raise a toast to Duke.

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  25. Paddy Lee, what a joy it is to read your wonderful write-up on Audie Murphy in DESTRY(1954). I've been a fan of Audie ever since I was a youngster watching his Western movies on good old Channel 3 WREC-TV Memphis, Tennessee EARLY MOVIE. NO NAME ON THE BULLET(1959) is my favorite Audie movie, but I like DESTRY just fine. I always liked Audie because his characters, much like himself, were quiet spoken and deadly serious. That said, I think Audie was good in the comedies that he got a chance to do. Check out the good service comedy JOE BUTTERFLY(1957). I think Audie had a knack for comedy, as did Charles McGraw, believe it, or not.

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    1. As familiar with I am with Audie's westerns (some might say overly familiar), I don't recall having seen Joe Butterfly, and I'm a gal who loves a Service comedy. My dad gets the credit for that sharing "Bilko" with his girls.

      I have no doubt McGraw had some comedy chops. I believe those tough guys need their sense of humour.

      Always grand speaking with you, Walter. Have a great day.

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  26. Speaking of comedy we were talking one time about ROBERT MITCHUM being in the movie SHE COULDNT SAY NO with JEAN SIMMONS. We didn't agree with a critic that Mitchum was miscast as a small-town doctor. One movie I really like him in is HOLIDAY AFFAIR with JANET LEIGH and WENDELL COREY.(Some people called Mitchum Bob and also Mitch so I will call him Bob.) I remember Bob played Steve Mason, Janet played Connie Ennis(I believe) and Wendell Corey played Carl Davis. I believe the name of Connies son was Davey. Like you said Bob could play all kinds of roles. There was a remake of that movie in 1996 for USA. It starred DAVID JAMES ELLIOTT and CYNTHIA GIBB. I am a fan of Cynthia. Ive seen her in TV-movies. I first knew her on SEARCH FOR TOMORROW as the niece of Joanne Vincente-that was Jos name when I started watching it. P.S. Bob Mitchum did a movie with John Wayne-EL DORALDO(not sure of the spelling). Also did you see RACHEL AND THE STRANGER with Bob? It also had WILLIAM HOLDEN & LORETTA YOUNG.

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    1. Ha-ha. Around here, we call him "Big Bob". My sister saw him in the lineup at a Toronto store when he was working here and he really stood out.

      I adore Holiday Affair. Isobel Lennart is one of my favourite screenwriters. I didn't know about the remake. Rachel and the Stranger is another favourite. I like it more each time I see it.

      I do remember Cynthia Gibb as Suzi on Search for Tomorrow but I believe I've only seen her in a couple of things since that time. For someone who thinks she watches too much TV, it would seem that I miss out on an awful lot of TV!

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  27. Nice post! Audie Murphy has a heavenly look. I wonder why his films aren't shown in our weekly western night, every Monday, on cable TV here. I think I'll start a petition! LOL
    Thansk for the kind comment!
    Kisses!

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  28. Being this page is about infatuation it made me think of shows that only had men(except one later added women). These shows would have quite a few crush-worthy fellows. WAGON TRAIN including FLINT MCCULLOUGH, COOPER SMITH & DUKE SHANNON. BONANZA-there were the four Cartwrights and later CANDY. MY THREE SONS including STEVE DOUGLAS and MIKE, ROBBIE & CHIP. MAGNUM, P.I. including THOMAS MAGNUM and RICK WRIGHT whose first name was really Orville. Then there are shows that don't have young men at first then add them like PETTICOAT JUNCTION with STEVE ELLIOTT who later married BETTY JO BRADLEY.

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    1. Wagon Train had such interesting episodes and fascinating guest stars, and when you add all of their handsome, heroic regulars, it is practically the perfect television series.

      I adore My Three Sons, all of it, but particularly the early season with its combination of heart and quirky humour.

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  29. I think that PATRICK WAYNE, the son of JOHN WAYNE, was very attractive. Like you mentioned one time Patrick was on the MURDER, SHE WROTE ep that had CONSTANCE TOWERS (who was married to a most attractive man JOHN GAVIN). I like Patrick and the entire cast in the movie SHENENDOAH with JIMMY STEWART. I didn't watch the show but ETHAN WAYNE, the son of the DUKE and the half-brother of PATRICK, was earlier on the soap THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL and at that time so was CARRIE MITCHUM, the granddaughter of ROBERT MITCHUM. She is the daughter of CHRISTOPHER, the niece of JAMES and the sister of BENTLEY C. MITCHUM. Her ex-husband is CASPER VAN DIEN. He played JAMES DEAN once and Bob Mitchum was in it as GEORGE STEVENS. It came out in 1997-the year Carrie & Casper divorced.

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    1. I've never gotten into the Bell soaps, but I might have to check out Ethan and Carrie.

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  30. Do you know the work of CHRISTOPHER & JAMES MITCHUM? What about BENTLEY? Also one time one of those papers that some people call throwaway papers made an odd mistake. It said ROBERT MITCHUM IS A GRANDPA. Mitchum had been a grandpa for a long time. The mistake was it said CARRIE MITCHUM, the DAUGHTER of ROBERT MITCHUM has her first child.

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    1. I've seen both actors a few times Chris more than Jim.

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  31. I noticed that THOMAS MITCHELL was in both of the movies on your two most recent pages-DESTRY and CRAIGS WIFE. He was in a lot of big well-known movies. GONE WITH THE WIND(as the father of SCARLETT), ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE (as UNCLE BILLY), STAGECOACH(1939), and MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON. Do you know him from very many movies?

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    1. Indeed, I adore Thomas Mitchell from his many movies and some very interesting television guest spots. I wish I could have seen him on stage. His many Broadway plays included a Tony Award for a musical.

      Thomas Mitchell played Levinson and Link's Lt. Columbo on stage in Prescription Murder with Agnes Moorehead and Joseph Cotten. Sadly, he became ill during the tour.

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