Date: 03-04-05  10:16

Just a little tale that might make your day:

When John Wayne was first breaking into the movies he was
befriended by a old-time stunt man named Harry Carey. (HC from now
on.) This was in the late 20s' - early 30s' when the westerns were
still featuring real old-time cowboys. Anyway, HC kinda took John
Wayne under his wing and taught him some of the ropes on how to
survive in Hollywood.

HC was a respected man on any movie set, and a star in his own right.
One of HC's mannerisms was to reach his right arm across his body and grasp
his left elbow. This was an unconscious gesture on his part, and
he really wasn't aware that he was doing it -- but anyone who
wished to mimic him made that part of their act. Now we cut to
1956.

In 1956, JW was THE western hero in Hollywood. That year he
filmed a movie called "The Searchers." HC had died, but his
widow, Olive Carey and her son, Harry Carey Jr. had minor
roles in this movie. (Also featured another young actress named
Natalie Wood.)

The theme of the movie is that a young girl, played by Wood,
had been kidnapped by Indians during a raid several years ago.
She is JW's niece and he spends several years searching for her.
He finally finds her, now part of the tribe, but he talks her
into leaving the tribe and to return home with him. Now the punch
line.

In a very powerful scene, JW rides up to this rough old
cabin, opens the door, and presents NW to her mother, the part
played by Olive Carey. When Olive sees her daughter after all of
these years, she breaks into tears - a very touching scene.

However the real reason she breaks into tears is this: Just
after the camera shows NW running to her "mother," the camera turns
back to the doorway. Standing in the door, framed by sunlight
behind him, is John Wayne. At this moment his right arm crosses
his body and he grasps his left elbow -- a tribute to Harry Carey.

In an interview held during the making of an excellent series on Hollywood,
in fact titled "Hollywood" and made by Thames Productions, John states
this gesture wasn't in the script -- it was just something that he
decided on at the moment and he felt he had to do this for Olive.

John continues by saying that Olive lost it. They actually
had to stop filming until she could compose herself. The tears
you see on the screen are real, not because of the "daughter,"
but because John Wayne -- probably at the peak of his career --
felt it proper to honor her husband in this subtle way.

Tells me a lot about John. (Not that I needed it, he's always
been one of my favorites.)

Isn't that a GREAT story?
********************