VILLAINS and HEROES! Richard Widmark, Audie Murphy & more with William Wellman, Jr.
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- čas přidán 16. 09. 2023
- More exclusive on-location memories from Bill Wellman about spending his youth with his father, director William Wellman, on location.
William Wellman, Jr went on location with his film director father as often as possible.
He learned that movie villains, sometimes, were the nicest while filming "Yellow Sky" (1948) in Lone Pine, CA.
As an actor, Bill worked with American WWII hero, Audie Murphy in GUNFIGHT AT COMANCHE CREEK, one of Murph’s popular series of color westerns.
His father was the director known as “Wild” Bill Wellman because…he was a hell raiser! Director Wellman’s WINGS won the very first Academy Award for Best Picture and he went on to a career of making films that are now classics like PUBLIC ENEMY, the original A STAR IS BORN, THE OX-BOW INCIDENT, and THE HIGH AND THE MIGHTY. Growing up during the Golden Age of Hollywood, young Bill, Jr., went with his father when he could. He especially liked joining his father for westerns because of the diverse locations and scenery, like Lone Pine, California, during the filming of YELLOW SKY starring Gregory Peck, Anne Baxter, and Richard Widmark. William Wellman, Jr. talks about his father's advice to Anne Baxter on a scene with Gregory Peck. "Beat the shit out of him!"
In addition to his acting and producing, Bill has written several books about his father, including the acclaimed best seller biography, “WILD BILL”.
Enjoy more memories from Bill about his youthful observations in this conversation with producer/host Rob Word in the Café at The Autry Museum, recorded 9/17/14.
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/ awow - Zábava
The legacy interviews are fantastic. Westerns were what I grew up on and hearing the tales of those that grew up IN Westerns just brings it all home.
Best hero actor playing a villain..Audio Murphy in No Name on the Bullet.
One of my all time favorite westerns.
By some accounts, that film was the closest to the "real" Audie. It is, imho, his best film. He had others that were good. But that was the best. lol and it had the lost art of hammer throwing. Which was actually a big deal from the beginning of blacksmith times.
I might pick Henry Fonda in Once Upon A Time In The West. But Murphy was great in No Name Pn The Bullet.
@@davidbrown386
Oh that’s a great choice.
Richard Widmark had and still is, my favorite actor since I was 6 years old, not knowing what a crush was, I realize now, that'swhat i had.! I'm 75 now, but Richard will always be my first love ❤
... I love hearing these behind-the-scenes stories from the good westerns and about their stars 👍👍 2 Thumbs up
William Wellman Jr had a great childhood hanging around all those movie sets with the stars. Audie Murphy is one of my favorites. I've heard he was shy...except when it came to war. He was a true hero. I always liked Richard Widmark, too. Great interview, Rob!
Proving Bill's point, one of the nicest most down to earth actors during the heyday of Westerns on film TV and radio was Claude Akins. Who was all over those mediums with that rough looking exterior, menacing smile and deep booming voice, appearing nearly exclusively as the bad guy.
i read a quote from a kid who was visiting bonanza and felt awful,because pernell roberts was crabbing about visitors and akins took him over to the table and made sure he was fed and was very nice to him.
@@MsBenlane Yeah, that was an entire article written by the kid himself who later became a writer. He said that not only Akins, but Dan Blocker and Michael Landon made a special effort to make the kid and his family feel welcome on the Bonanza set, largely to compensate for Roberts's petulant rudeness. Pernell being a genuine first class jerk by all accounts.
Akins was well known for that sorta kindness. A true good guy who made his living playing bad ones.
Great interview! Thank you Rob! Loved the movie Yellow Sky and really loved hearing Mr Wellman tell the behind the scenes stories! What a lucky guy to have been on those western sets!
Absolutely fabulous show , Yellow Sky was and still is one of my favorites. Wow great image and visual of sitting on Anne Baxter’s lap - HUBBA HUBBA!❤️
I’m always jealous of these great experiences from the kids of the these famous directors and actors! Thanks
Our pleasure, john. Thanks.
South Korean Director Park Chan-wook(director of Oldboy) said that Yellow Sky is one of his favorite movies in a Letterboxd interview recently. Just goes to show how much William Wellman's influence still resonates today, all over. What a fantastic filmmaker. Gregory Peck, Anne Baxter and Richard Widmark were all fantastic in Yellow Sky.
One thing I like about these interviews, I look up these movies when I get a chance...
Good for you, richard. Thanks and enjoy!
I first noticed Wm Jr in 'Born Losers ', as 'Child'. Have always loved everything about that film!
WILLIAM WELLMAN JR. had a very hard act to follow with his father being such a legendary director, but he handled it very well and found his own way in the business and still honored the memory of his tough Dad by writing several books on him.
With his mother being Dorothy Coonan of WILD BOYS OF THE ROAD, and being one of seven children, you figure what a childhood he must have had being on the set of so many classics and meeting stars like Gregory Peck and Richard Widmark... and then growing up in HOLLYWOOD during the years when it really had some class left!
Great stories as usual. I am so glad I got to take the Yellow Sky guided tour last year. During the western film festival. Where I found a couple of 3-1 Gun shell's half buried right under the rock where Ann Baxter was standing. When she was shooting at Gregory Peck. This year I'm taking the 4hr hour riding tour through the Alabama hills. 🤠👍 Thanks again Mr. Word your movie wisdom is invaluable.
Thanks, dan.
Great Interview. Always wondered why I haven't seen more movies of Bill Wellman (sp) but understand now it's because he worked behind the camera as well.
On Audie, one of my many favorite movies of his is the one he did with Gia Scalia.
Gonna state the obvious - she was stunning. When a woman can distract from a beauty like Joanna Moore, that's a visual presence.
As a long time landscape photographer the Lone Pine - Alabama Hills provide the perfect scenery backdrop for zillions of wonderful photographs. An outstanding interview here with Bill Jr.
Gregory Peck & Richard Widmark, always the best in performances. I can still see the smile on Tommy Udo's face. I read where the poor stunt person had to do a retake on the airborne wheelchair scene as the first take failed.....OUCH !
Bill Wellman is well situated to talk both TV and Movies I am however surprised two of my favorite Wellman films were not mentioned "Island in the Sky and The High and the Mighty" thanks Rob for this look back and hearing stories I never knew before.
Bill Wellman has a unique perspective on film and TV from a youth to an actor to a producer. He knows how to set up and tell a story. Funnily enough I remember him from an acting role on Star Trek. However, when you showed the stills I go I remember him in that role. Enjoyable as always.
I remember Bill in Lafayette Escadrille and several other films. Very interesting keep them coming Rob.
I love WILD BOYS and it should be at the Smithsonian! - :)
.... Nice Show, Rob ;) as always! - m.
Great oral history. Thank you.
That video went by way too fast. Time just flew by. So many thoughts to unpack.
My father was an unpaid extra in a fair amount of movies. He started in the US Army in a Tank Destroyer Battalion, but after the war he joined the Army Air Corp. Thanks to the TD training, he was EOD/Broken Arrow etc in the USAF for the next 20 years. So any time a movie was filmed on an air base that involved a plane landing scene, he was likely to be there doing his job. The military was very cooperative back them.
He was on 12 O'clock High, he was one of the ground crew seen during the B-17 belly landing scene. Which he said was insane.
Whew, that was a lot of background info just for this but I'm carrying on lol.
Anyway...He met Gregory Peck. He might have been my Dad's favorite actor. Said he was a great guy. He was not rude or anything. Very respectful. But was exactly as Mr Wellman jr described. just not sociable at all. Unlike Mitchum, who had no problem having a beer or ten with the guys.
Before the war, while still in his teens, my father rode the rails to and from CCC camps. And I have somehow not heard of Wild Boys of the Road. So thank you Rob for mentioning it. I gotta watch it now!
Funny how Rob and Mr Wellman talking about his father's films triggered me to thinking about my dad.
And, OMG, Mr Wellman Jr is such a great storyteller. I could listen to him all day. I need to get his books. And watch the documentary.
As always...sincerely, Thank you Rob!
And thank you to Team WoW for put this together. Music and editing are great and most appreciated.
Hope everyone has a great day.
Thanks, Ace. I think you'll really appreciate WILD BOYS. It's a good one!
Great inside stories from Mr. Wellman. Thank you.
Glad you like them, atreb
I'm so thankful that he has shared these stories in written form also!
Thankful also for the work you and your Son do together to put together these marvelous videos, Thank You Both!!!
👍👍...............👍👍
Thank you so much, karen. We are fortunate to be able to work together.
You never see the movie, The Hanging Tree, 1959 with Gary Cooper anymore. That was an awesome movie, I hope one day you could do a video on it, Love your work, Thank you 👍👍🙏🙏
Any western starring Gary Cooper is worth watching the Hanging Tree included ( I have seen every one except the sadly lost Arizona Bound and The 1930 version of The Spoilers ( my most wanted to see film). Really nasty Karl Malden in that movie.
Thanks, doc. It's getting pretty hard to find people who worked on the older westerns. I do like THE HANGING TREE, too. Did you know that Karl Malden took over directing for several days?
@@AWordonWesterns I didn't know Karl did that, I loved his acting and was surprised how great he played the bad guy. I also loved Maria Schells acting in it, she had you feeling so sorry for her and actually rooting for her to bounce back with her eyesight. I'll say it took me awhile to realize she played in the Superman movie. The entire cast made that movie for me, it was awesome and still is to this day.
Great history of our favorite genre. Thanks Rob!
Another great review, Rob, Thanks for sharing
🤠 Rob , he’s a great interview 👍
He sure is, dox. Thanks
Great interview, thanks Rob!
Yellow Sky Ox Bow Incident and Westward The Women were 3 Wellman Western classics. The last one was written by none other then Frank Capra who wanted Wellman because he knew he would do a better job then he could. That might be the ultimate compliment Wellman received: Frank Capra not able to top you:
Wonderful stuff. Thank you, Rob! These interviews are as fantastic as the stories these great actors tell. They bring back some wonderful memories of my childhood in Argentina during the 1960s where we all wanted to be like Maverick, Bronco or Cheyenne. Those were the days!
Thanks. I hope to keep more good memories coming your way.
My favorite show on u tube
Thanks, mike
I think Audie Murphy would be like coming upon a silent beautiful coiled rattle snake delicately flicking out his tongue while watching your every move but in human form.
My father was in several of the same campaigns Audie was. He had a lurking caution about him that wasn't obvious to most people. It was there.
Well done! Great interview 😊
Thanks so much!
Great video keep them coming please
Thanks! Will do!
Wild Boys of the Road. it reminds me of The Beggars of Life by Tully. it was Mitchum's bible. i read the book as well. it's like the movable feast set in the brick yards and America's lost back roads and ribbons of steel with beggars, thieves, bankers and out of luck dust bowl farmers on an endless journey. i think Mitchum was always a hobo at heart. Wild Bill came up to Mitchum before directing him in the great Story of GI Joe and asked him what he did for a living. to which Mitchum replied "That, dad, is a matter of opinion..."
Love your videos 👍🏻👍🏻funny only enjoyed westerns as I got older weird how tastes change
Glad you enjoy them, sean. Sounds like you've got lots of catching up to do!
As usual there just wasn't enough, but if these interviews went for 3 hours, it still wouldn't be enough, I would always want more, you couldn't make them 3 hours, just to see if it was enough, could you?
Great informational video, very fascinating. worth your time to watch.
Much appreciated!
More of my favorite Heroes and Role Models. Now I have to dig out Yellow Sky, Guns of Fort Petticoat, and the Last Wagon again. 👍👍 10🌟
Question for Rob. Did you watch the old silent film Wings? There was some interesting lip reading in one of the flying scenes, where the pilot looked like he was cussin, instead of the Caption dialogue. 😂😂🤣
I love lip reading silent films.
edit: You just know you are getting the bowdlerized version in the captions.
Mee too @@AceMoonshot 👍👍🤗🌟
I'll have to check that out next time I screen it, OD. Funny!
Great interview, Rob. I think that you interviewed William Wellman Jr before which I enjoyed too. I am a bit of a fan of his father and Richard Widmark, but a big fan of Gregory Peck and Audie Murphy.
I had some dental work done recently, and my dentist is a big fan of westerns too. I talked about Audie Murphy to an assistant who didn't known Audie Murphy. I told my dentist that she needed to tell that assistant about the great Audie Murphy. 😮😂😅😊
And tell them to watch AWOW, too, Bill. Thanks.
@@AWordonWesterns I did and I do, especially when you showed western movies and television shows.
@@williambilyeu9801 Yippee! Thanks.
Really good interview, Rob, but too short. No offense, I enjoy your 30 minute videos.
Awesome content, 👍
Thanks for the visit, AAA
💕👍
Mr. Wellman can we please see those photos?
Andy McLaglen was six-foot-seven, the same height as James Arness.
🐴🐎🐴🐎🐴💫💫💫💫💫
I Imagine Audie Murphy thought play acting in wars and violent situations was rather silly ( being what he had experienced ) and would have preferred to be doing something else. A man has to make a living though and I doubt he could find anything that payed him as well. I do like his movies and own most all of them.
My mom and dad thought he was the greatest. My dad was a WW2 vet and respected him greatly . My mom thought he was the most handsome man their was. They never missed one of his movies when they came out.
Thanks, Troy. I’m still a big fan and love it when I can find someone who worked with him to share some memories.
I feel his acting is really a footnote to his life, of course it was his military experiences that defined his life and that really matter. For a guy who had no experience as an actor he was fine
Widmarjs bad guys were wily and wierdly charismatic even at their worst.
I would love to go to Bishop or Lone pine to catch some of these stars and hear their stories in person. I may do it next year. Rob? Can you tell me when this normally runs?
The Lone Pine Film Festival takes place every October over Columbus Day weekend. lonepinefilmfestival.org
@@AWordonWesterns: Thanks so much!
Rob, is LONE PINE the location for that world famous bank that every cowboy under the son tackled the villain off the horse? Was it also the location for the famous horse jump over the canyon to the other side?
Not Lone Pine, terry.
yeah guys claude akins dan duryea richard widmark have all been mentioned as being nice. duryea seems to have been apta dad and guy you went to to borrow a tool or whatever.
Very cool interview and I love audie murphy movies and Richard widmark movies as well and i love westerns movies as well. 👍👏🏜
Most interesting interview. Rob great job.