Company of Heroes: My Life as an Actor in the John Ford Stock Company

Harry Carey (Jr.)

Jan 1994 · Scarecrow Press

About this ebook

When Harry Carey, Sr. died in 1947, director John Ford cast Carey's 26-year-old son, Harry, Jr. in the role of The Abilene Kid in 3 Godfathers. Ford and the elder Carey had filmed an earlier version of the story, and Ford dedicated the Technicolor remake to his memory. Company of Heroes is the story of the making of that film, as well as the eight subsequent Ford classics. In it, Harry Carey, Jr. casts a remarkably observant eye on the process of filming Westerns by one of the true masters of the form. From She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Wagonmaster to The Searchers and Cheyenne Autumn, he shows the care, tedium, challenge, and exhilaration of movie-making at its highest level. Carey's portrayal of John Ford at work is the most intimate ever written. He also gives us insightful and original portraits of the men and women who were part of Ford's vision of America: John Wayne, Richard Widmark, Henry Fonda, Maureen O'Hara, Ward Bond, Victor McLaglen, and Ben Johnson. Funny, insightful, and brutally honest, Company of Heroes is a rip-roaring good read that presents the remarkable life story of Harry Carey, Jr. and his many continuing fine performances.

About the author

Harry Carey, Jr. was born in Saugus, California. He has appeared in over 100 feature films and scores of television shows. His screen credits include, 3 Godfathers, the Searchers, Wagonmaster, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and five other John Ford films. His recent films include The Long Riders, The Whales of August, Crossroads, and Tombstone.