When Harry Carey, Sr., died in 1947, director John Ford cast Carey's twenty-six-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 fine performances.
Harry Carey, Jr., was born in Saugus, California. He appeared in over one hundred feature films and scores of television shows. His screen credits included 3 Godfathers, The Searchers, Wagonmaster, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and five other John Ford films. His post-Ford films included The Long Riders, The Whales of August, Crossroads, and Tombstone.
Chapter 1: In the Beginning Chapter 2: 3 Godfathers Chapter 3: Myself When Young With Cowboys and Navajos Chapter 4: She Wore a Yellow Ribbon Chapter 5: Paul Fix, the OSS, and Merry Christmas Chapter 6: Wagonmaster Chapter 7: Rio Grande Chapter 8: The Long Gray Line Chapter 9: Mister Roberts Chapter 10: The Searchers Chapter 11: Two Rode Together Chapter 12: Cheyenne Autumn Chapter 13: So Long, But Not Good-bye Chapter 14: Harry Carey, Jr.'s Appearances in John Ford Films
. . . [T]he best personal picture of Ford and one of the best of any director at work.... * Movie Collectors World * Absolutely wonderful . . . immense warmth . . . an unforgettable read. * The Hollywood Reporter * . . . [C]ouldn't be better. * Los Angeles Times * . . . [A] treat from start to finish.... * Daily News * . . . [F]illed with laughs, film lore, care, love, and insight to the motion picture business that few can aptly express. . . . Company of Heroes deserves to be a huge best seller because it delivers! But even more, it deserves to be read and re-read.... * Trail Dust Magazine * . . . Reads so fluidly it's almost as if Carey is sitting in your living room narrating the story and you don't have to be a Western fan to appreciate this. * Brave New World * [Carey is] unlike other Hollywood people. A brilliant raconteur. . . . By the end of the book, one feels one has lived in the surreal conditions of a Ford set on location, where grown men were treated like children. -- Gary Wills Carey shows the care, tedium, challenge, and exhiliration of filmmaking, and provides an intimate portrait of the great director at work and the actors and actresses, such as John Wayne, Henry Fonda, and Maureen O'Hara, who were part of Ford's vision of America. Includes a filmography and numerous b&w photos. * Reference and Research Book News * Since Ford remains the most honored U.S. picturemaker, arguably its finest as well, Carey's book is both a valuable treasure and a complete delight. -- Peter Bogdanovich, Director of The Last Picture Show Absolutely essential. * 50 Westerns From The 50s * A great read for anyone who loves the classic and truly great western?a company of heroes indeed. * Filmwerk *
