Ward Bond

My favorite movie is a film called The Searchers.

It's a 1956 Western, and it starred John Wayne and Jeff Hunter, Natalie Wood, Ward Bond.

And actually, there is a story that Buddy Holly and the Crickets went to see that in Lubbock in Texas.

And when they left, they went home and one of John Wayne's sayings all throughout the film was, that'll be the day.

Well, you

know, here is an actor who wins his first Academy Award, reaches the pinnacle of Hollywood success, and then he puts his career on hold to serve his country during World War II, flying 20 combat missions.

So when you consider his extraordinary journey, what did you discover about the man behind the movie star, and how did that understanding influence your performance?

Well, it had a big influence on my character because I just saw the man fall apart.

That's what the director said, just give him hell.

Well,

you know, you do portray Lionel Barrymore, an extraordinary actor whose portrayal of Mr. Potter and, of course, Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life, which gave cinema one of its most unforgettable antagonists.

But stepping into the shoes of an actor of Barrymore's stature must carry its own responsibility.

Yeah.

The other thing as well, one of the coppers that comes in, or one of the FBI agents, I think, is a guy called Ward Bond.

Yes.

Who is one of my favourite supporting actors of all time.

But also, again, Western history, he was a big close friend of John Wayne and appeared in loads of Westerns with John Wayne and a superb actor that never really got any recognition that he deserved and never made it to the A-list.

He was always just... a supporting character.

And Ward Bond is a fantastic actor, always worth looking

at.

I had not seen it until now.

That being said, this movie stars not only Henry Fonda, but Victor Mature, Kathy Downs, Linda Darnell, Walter Brennan, Tim Holt, Ward Bond, and Jane Darwell.

In the middle of a long cattle drive, Wyatt Earp, played by Henry Fonda, and his brothers stop off for the night at the town of Tombstone.

The next morning, they find that their cattle stolen, and one of the brothers is dead.

Earp suspects the Clanton family, owners of the O.K. Corral, but wants his revenge to be legal.

He becomes sheriff of Tombstone, and forges a rough peace with the with an alcoholic gambler doc holiday played by victor mature erp also takes a liking to holiday's former girlfriend clementine played by kathy downs so why this isn't the first time this story has been told it is one of the earlier ones i myself am more aware of the later day versions of this the kurt russell tombstone and the kevin costner wyatt erp movies but it's interesting to see yet another take on this particular story now in this version we are having wyatt and his brothers becoming like sheriff and deputies of this town It's kind of neat.

I have to point out that this would probably be on this list of movies, probably the seventh or eighth movie that has had Ward Bond in it and for him to be.

Morgan Earp is kind of cool to have seen as he's shown up in several different professions throughout the different movies that I've seen him in.

That would be Ben Johnson.

But the head of the guy heading up the Mormon side of it is Ward Bond.

What's his character's name? Elder.

Is it just Elder? Elder Wiggs.

Okay.

I cheated.

But yeah, it's Elder Wiggs and Ward Bond.

This might be, of all the many movies, because Ford and Ward Bond were very close.

Ida Lupino and Robert Ryan.

And Ward Bond, who's just in like every John Ford movie.

Number six, Where the Sidewalk Ends.

Number five, Leave Her to Heaven.

Uh, John Wayne's obviously one.

Um, Ward Bond is, is one.

Um, Those are some of the main ones.

Victor McLaughlin, who I really love, is also one.

But I'd never gotten around to seeing it, and this would be obviously a first-time viewing for me.

And like I'd already mentioned, not only does this movie star Gary Cooper, but it also stars Walter Brennan, Joan Leslie, Stanley Ridges, Margaret Wycherly, Dickie Moore, Ward Bond, and Noah Beery Jr. Prize-winning Tennessee marksman Alvin York, played by Gary Cooper, a recent convert to Christianity, finds himself torn between his non-violent beliefs and his desire to serve his country when recruited to fight in World War I. Kindly Major Buckson, played by Stanley Ridges, convinces York to engage in battle, where the pacifist's prowess with a rifle earns him honors as he continues to struggle with his decision to kill.

So this movie is a biographical drama that is based on the memoirs of Alvin York, Sergeant York, as he's come to be known for this movie, and it is a, as far as I know, a close to truth as possible for this type of film to be.

Obviously, with a little bit of extra little Hollywood sprinkled in there, but still nonetheless as true to reality as one can get.

He's that guy in that show, that guy in that show

This week's that guy in that show is Ward Bond.

Professor, can you enlighten us about the talented Ward Bond?

Yes, I can.

Wardell Edwin Bond, what a name, was born on April 9, 1903, in Benkelman, Nebraska, USA.

It was a football movie directed by John Ford, whom he would work with many, many times.

Now, there's an interesting piece of trivia I saw.

On AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies list, and there were a couple of times that they did this, and both times Ward Bond appears in the cast more than any other actor.