A Memoir: My Experiences as an Actor in John Ford's Stock Company in Company of Heroes

HGWT: Enjoyed and shared with others.

United States on Jul 18, 2023

Arnold Frank: Having watched many of the movies discussed in this book, I found it a fascinating read. The book is also good movie history,or memoir. The next time I watch these movies, I’ll certainly see them in a different light. Highly recommend.

United States on Jun 18, 2023

david price: As a companion to Ben Johnson book, this does not repeat, but enhances insight to the Western movie and TV actor. Terrific guy. Terrific book

United Kingdom on Jul 20, 2022

W J Press: I found this book by Harry Carey Jr to be a treasure trove of anecdotes about some of my favourite films. I absolutely adore the John Ford films recounted in these memories. Everything from Three Godfathers through classics like She Wore a Yellow Ribbon to the later films where Ford was perhaps beginning to lose his touch slightly. Carey was a close observer of all that was going on. We all know that Ford was unorthodox and a bit of a bully in order to get exceptional performances out of his cast. Carey confirms this, at times displaying fear, but somehow always loyalty to the great master. Fascinating.

United Kingdom on May 06, 2022

Barry Freeman: Company of Heroes: My Life as an Actor in the John Ford Stock Company is a unique inside perspective of the Hollywood motion picutre industry and one of its iconic directors. John Ford efectively invented the modern Film Director. In a career spaning from black and white silent films to blockbuster wide screen color, Ford shaped actors like John Wayne into the quintisential American Cowboy. Told through the experience of Harry Carey, Jr. who was born into the Hollywood show biz by being the son of early movie star Harry Carey, he struggled to be as good an actor as John Ford wanted. Often humorous and always entertaining, Company of Heroes is a hard to put down behind the scenes look at a period of movie making the world will never see again.

Canada on Feb 08, 2022

Carolyn A: Bought this as a present for my Western loving father. He's read many of the biogs of the main players and so it was nice to have something that came from someone slightly down the pecking order. I've not read it myself but my dad has spent many happy hours pouring over the reminiscences and photos. Harry Carey Jr. is an engaging and detailed witness to events but he's not interested in a 'warts and all' take down of the various Stars/John Ford, he just wants to invite you to the party, which is all you need sometimes.

United Kingdom on Jan 31, 2022

mary cooper: Gives an intimate insight of what it's like to work on the set of a film. Fascinating details of John Ford's directing methods and treatment of film actors plus interesting personal information about the actors themselves that you don't often get to hear about. Well worth a read.

United Kingdom on Oct 02, 2020

Ray C.: As a child of the 1940's and 50's, I remember well the "A" and "B" Westerns of the theatrical Saturday matinees and the many television major shows like Wagon Train, Have Gun Will Travel, and Gunsmoke. As youngsters pioneering the new age of television, we had our youthful heroes: Hopalong Cassady, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and The Cisco Kid and his sidekick, Pancho.

In this wonderful book, Harry Carey Jr. has provided us with an endearing and affectionate picture of what it was like to be a part of the 20th century western American motion picture mileau. His deep love for the "old west" culture and the lives of those who were committed to passing on its values, comes through on every page. His memories of his wonderful father and mother (silent and sound western actor Harry Carey, Sr. and his actress mother, Olive Carey); their ranch life in the upper desert in the mountains north of Hollywood, where they homesteaded 800 acres beginning in 1916, are rich in details. Carey Jr.'s deep bond with director and mentor (the irascible, yet genius) John Ford, and his "stock company" of noted actors and players (John Wayne, Ward Bond, George O,Brien, Maureen O,Hara, Henry Fonda,...

United States on Feb 19, 2016

Richard Elphick: I thoroughly enjoyed this book, written by one of the " John Ford Stock Company " members - ( as a certain band of actors, stunt men, and crew were often referred to. ) Written with a great deal of insight, humor and observation, on the golden days of making Western movies. I found it hard to put down- a real " page tuner " for me, being a big fan of Westerns. Loved all of it.
Highly recommended for similar movie buffs.
My own favorite movie ( in all genres ), is the superb John Ford movie, " The Searchers ".
Adjectives fail to describe it adequately- superb, mesmerising, breath- taking, et al- all the actors were perfectly cast for their roles.
Simply exquisite.

United States on Feb 06, 2015

Amazon Customer: His first movie he acted in was Red River along side John Wayne.

He is the son of the actor Harry Carey and the actress Olive Carey. He was born on his parents' 1000-acre ranch near Saugus, in the northwestern part of Los Angeles County.

During World War II, Carey enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and he served in the Pacific Theater first as a Navy medical corpsman. However, he was transferred back to the United States (against his wishes) to serve under his father's good friend, the director John Ford, in making movies for the Navy (training films)and the O.S.S. (propaganda films).

After the death of Harry Carey, Sr., in 1946, Mr. Ford gave the younger Carey a leading role in the movie that Ford dedicated to the memory of Harry Carey, Sr., in 1948, 3 Godfathers (1948).

As a full-fledged member of the noted John Ford Stock Company, Carey, Jr., appeared in many of Mr. Ford's epic Westerns during the following two decades. Carey also starred in a series-within-a-series on TV, The Adventures of Spin and Marty (1955), which was shown as a part of The Mickey Mouse Club (1955). Very boyish looks characterized Carey's early years, but he matured into a strong and...

United States on Mar 18, 2014