Alan Ladd was the real Little Big Man

ALAN LADD

Alan Ladd began doing bit parts and cameos in movies as early as 1932. Most movie-buffs know that in 1941, he had a walk-on in Citizen Kane (Special Edition), but what about " HITLER-BEAST OF BERLIN " (1939), " THE GREEN HORNET " (1939), " GANGS OF CHICAGO " (1940), and Black Cat (1941) (1941). He had appeared in, at least 40 movies, before he landed his breakthrough role in This Gun for Hire in (1942) as the stone killer, Philip Raven.

He appeared in 14 Westerns during his career. AMAZON always has one of the most extensive lexicons of DVD and VHS tapes. Yet there seems to be only 6 westerns available that one can order. So, as a point of interest for Alan Ladd fans, it needs to be pointed out that were eight other Westerns.It started in 1948 with "WHISPERING SMITH", as Luke Smith, with Brenda Marshall as the love interest; with Robert Preston, Donald Crisp, William Demarest, and Frank Faylen in support. For a first Western, this was a solid effort, and entertaining film. In 1950, he made Branded (1950) as Choya. Mona Freeman was the femme; with Charles Bickford, Robert Keith, Joseph Calleia, Tom Tully, and Milburn Stone in support. Another solid effort for Ladd; a good western. In 1951, came "RED MOUNTAIN", as Capt. Brett Sherwood, with Lizabeth Scott as the love interest; Arthur Kennedy, John Ireland, Jeff Corey, Neville Brand, Whit Bissell, Jay Silverheels, and Iron Eyes Cody in support. Ladd got the star treatment for this one. In 1952, he made," THE IRON MISTRESS", as Jim Bowie, with lovely Virgina Mayo as the love interest; Joseph Calleia, Phyllis Kirk, Anthony Caruso, and Nick Dennis in support. Of course, in 1953 came the hallmark of his entire career, Shane, as Shane; with Jean Arthur as the femme; Van Heflin, Jack Palance, Brandon DeWilde, Ben Johnson, Elisha Cook Jr., and Edgar Buchanan in support. This film will always reign in the top ten of Westerns. George Stevens created a legend of greatness.In 1954, he went to Canada and made, Saskatchewan, as O'Rourke, with Shelly Winters ( the svelte young version ) as the love interest, with incredible Canadian Rockies scenery; J.Carrol Naish, Hugh O'Brian, Richard Long, Jay Silverheels, and Anthony Caruso in support. Also in 1954, he made," DRUM BEAT ", as Johnny MacKay, with Audrey Dalton as the femme; with Marisa Pavan, Robert Keith, Charles Bronson, Rodolpho Acosta, Elisha Cook Jr., and Anthony Caruso in support. In 1956, he made, " SANTIAGO", as Cash Adams, with Rossana Podesta as the love interest; with Lloyd Nolan, Chill Wills, Paul Fix, L.Q.Jones, and Royal Dano in support. In 1957 came, " THE BIG LAND ", as Chad Morgan, with Virgina Mayo as the love interest; with Edmond O'Brien, Anthony Caruso, and David Ladd in support. In 1958, he made Proud Rebel, as John Chandler, with the still lovely Olivia DeHavilland as the femme, and David Ladd as the mute son; great PG family fare; Dean Jagger, Cecil Kellaway, John Carradine, Harry Dean Stanton, and Henry Hull in support. Also in 1958, Ladd made Badlanders, as Peter Van Hoek, the "Dutchman"; with Katy Jurado as the femme; with Ernest Borgnine, Nehemiah Persoff, Anthony Caruso, and Kent Smith in support. In 1959, he made, " GUNS OF THE TIMBERLAND ", as Jim Hadley; with Jeanne Crain as the love interest; with Gilbert Roland, the teenage Frankie Avalon, Lyle Bettger, Noah Berry Jr., and Alana Ladd in support. In 1960, came ," ONE FOOT IN HELL ", as Mitch; with Delores Michaels as the femme, with Don Murray, Dan O'Herlihy, and Barry Coe in support. Then in 1964 came his final "Western", " THE CARPETBAGGERS", as Nevada Smith; a great cameo in one of his last films. This was a George Peppard vehicle; Carrol Baker, Robert Cummings, Elizabeth Ashley, Martha Hyer, Martin Balsam, Archie Moore, and Lief Erickson in support.

When Alan Ladd appeared with Sophia Loren in 1957, in " BOY ON A DOLPHIN ", they had to dig a trench for Ms. Loren to walk in so that she would not tower over the star. In 1958, in Deep Six, Ladd had to stand on a box in several scenes, so that he would be the same height as his co-stars. One of them, Keenan Wynn, said to me, that in the big conference scene, where everyone is around a large table, Ladd looked at him, and asked," Do you mind my box ?".But regardless of his short stature, the camera loved him, and he really understood film acting. And Alan Ladd greatly contributed to the wealth of Westerns that is out there to enjoy. And after all, if all he ever accomplished within the Western genre was Shane, that would have been enough to lasso him a fencepost in Cowboy Heaven. For dyed-in-the-wool Ladd fans, all we can do to get copies of those eight maverick films, is tape them when they show up on cable. With diligence, it can be done.

Glenn Buttkus 2002