Tall in the Saddle: The Life of Ben Johnson, Hollywood’s Real Cowboy is the definitive biography of Ben Johnson (1918–1996), the only man to win both an Academy Award and a world rodeo championship. Born on a historic Oklahoma ranch, Johnson could rope cattle before he could read, and his horsemanship took him straight to Hollywood when tycoon Howard Hughes needed horses for The Outlaw in 1943. What started as a behind-the-scenes gig turned into an acting career that spanned six decades.
Discovered by legendary director John Ford, Johnson became a fixture in classic Westerns alongside John Wayne, before stepping into more complex roles with filmmakers like Sam Peckinpah, Steven Spielberg, and Peter Bogdanovich—who guided him to his Oscar-winning performance in The Last Picture Show. Though he worked with Hollywood greats like Steve McQueen, Marlon Brando, and Clint Eastwood, Johnson remained rooted in the authenticity of the American West, both on and off screen.
Drawing from a wealth of interviews with costars, directors, and rodeo companions, Kathryn Jones captures the grit, grace, and enduring legacy of a man who didn’t just play a cowboy—he was one. Tall in the Saddle is a rich, cinematic portrait of a Hollywood legend whose real-life story is as unforgettable as any role he played.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Prologue
Chapter 1. Big Sky and Tall Grass
Chapter 2. The Cowboy Way of Life
Chapter 3. Hollywood and Mr. Hughes
Chapter 4. Doubling the Stars
Chapter 5. Enter John Ford
Chapter 6. Don’t Act, React
Chapter 7. The Western Master and Wagon Master
Chapter 8. In the Crosshairs
Chapter 9. Playing the Bad Guy in Shane
Chapter 10. Rodeo Champ
Chapter 11. Back in the Hollywood Saddle
Chapter 12. Black Hats and Brando
Chapter 13. Grand Adventures
Chapter 14. The Autumn of John Ford
Chapter 15. Blood and Guts and Thunder
Chapter 16. Rebranding the Western
Chapter 17. The Wild Bunch’s "Traumatic Poem of Violence"
Chapter 18. Back with Duke
Chapter 19. A Picture Show Role of a Lifetime
Chapter 20. The Best Little Rodeo Picture Ever Made
Chapter 21. Getting Away with Peckinpah and McQueen
Chapter 22. Oscar Acclaim
Chapter 23. An Actor in Demand
Chapter 24. Chasing Dillinger
Chapter 25. The Spielberg Express
Chapter 26. A Man to Remember
Chapter 27. Westerns Ride Again
Chapter 28. "A Symbol of America Past"
Chapter 29. Returning to Roots
Chapter 30. Arizona Son
Chapter 31. "Not Bad for an Old Cowboy"
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Notes
Bibliography
Filmography
Index
