Is Ben Johnson Top Gun? Classic TV in 4K! Ben goes up against Ozzie Nelson! ADVS OF OZZIE & HARRIET
An unusual performance by Ben Johnson is being featured in this special presentation. Ben was one of John Wayne’s frequent co-stars, friend and fellow Academy Award winner. Surprisingly, Ben appeared in the April 2, 1958 episode of the classic sitcom, THE ADVENTURES OF OZZIE & HARRIET entitled “Top Gun.” Realizing that many fans of Ben probably haven't seen this treat, we selected this special episode, restored in 4K, to post. It was filmed during the time that Ben and his mentor, director John Ford, had a falling out. Ford’s RIO GRANDE (1949), filmed after WAGON MASTER but released before, was the last film Ben would make for Ford until 1964’s CHEYENNE AUTUMN.
In between films with Ford, Ben left Hollywood for a season of rodeoing, where he won the World Champion 1953 Buckle for Steer Roping. Realizing that there was much more money to be made in Hollywood, safer too, Ben returned to LA and appeared on just about every TV western being produced during the 1950s, the heyday of the TV western. That brings us to “Top Gun” and Ben’s appearance as a famous TV cowboy who is challenged to a fast draw with “Six Gun” Ozzie Nelson. Ben Johnson is Tex Barton. Can Ozzie out draw Ben Johnson? You'll have to watch and see. John Doucette is in a funny western dream sequence as the Laramie Kid. Gordon Jones is Oz's neighbor Butch and Frank Cady is Doc Williams.
THE ADVENTURES OF OZZIE & HARRIET was, and still is, TV’s longest running live action situation comedy with the most episodes…435! Beginning in 1952 and ending in 1966, it ran on ABC for 14 seasons. As one of those Cowboy Kids from the 1950s, I can certainly relate to the nostalgic action in this episode, running around the neighborhood with cowboy hat, cowboy boots and cap pistols. You’ll spot young Stanley Livingston as one of the cap pistol toting kids in the Nelson’s neighborhood. Shortly after this episode was filmed, Stanley was cast as Chip Douglas in the long running sitcom, MY THREE SONS (1960 - 1972).
Ben Johnson remained friends with Wayne, Harry Carey Jr and the rest of the Ford/Wayne Stock Company and thrilled them all when he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the Peter Bogdanovich classic, THE LAST PICTURE SHOW in 1971.
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