... the Unmistakable Ward Bond

Burly, growly, sometimes softy, Ward Bond was born in Nebraska in 1903. While attending the University of Southern California, he worked as an extra in the movies meeting his soon-to-be-life-long friend John Wayne. After getting his first speaking role with director John Ford in 1929, Bond appeared in literally hundreds of movies, usually in supporting roles - most notably in The Maltese Falcon (1941), It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) and The Searchers (1956). He became a founding member of the famous ‘Ford-Wayne’ acting ensemble, but ironically, the role which made him famous came on television, in 1950s series Wagon Train. Bond had a steady career until his death at age 57, and is reputed to have appeared in more films on the AFI’s Top 100 Movies list than any other actor. Here are four films that may show why.

3 Godfathers (1948, dir: John Ford)
A small film by Ford’s standards, filled with Wayne and Ford’s gang of actors. After robbing a small-town bank and going out into the desert to avoid the Marshall (Ward Bond) and his posse, three outlaws (John Wayne, Pedro Armendariz, John Carey Jr.) find an abandoned mother (Mildred Natwick) dying in a wrecked wagon, newborn in her arms. The ‘godfathers’ promise to take on the baby, despite being on the lam from the law.

Fort Apache (1948, dir: John Ford)
Perhaps my favourite Ward Bond role, here he plays Sgt. Mjr. Michael O’Rourke with dignity and panache. O’Rourke and his Captain Kirby York (John Wayne) have to content with the arrival of an unbending new commander Owen Thursday (Henry Fonda) who is determined to impose ‘west point’ values on a wild frontier post. Also notable is Shirley Temple, admirably playing one of her first adult roles, as Thursday’s equally self-willed daughter.

The Quiet Man (1952, dir: John Ford)
Ford’s tribute to the ‘the olde country’, Bond underplays the gentle local priest, Father Lonergan, administering (some might say 'refereeing') a village full of trying characters. American Boxer Sean Thornton (John Wayne) retires and returns to his family's Irish village but, unused to its confusing Irish traditions, soon falls foul of just about everyone, especially his new wife (Maureen O’Hara) and her stubborn brute of a brother Wil Danahar (Victor McLaglen).

The Wings of Eagles (1957, dir: John Ford)
Based on the life of Naval Officer-turned-Screenwriter Frank ‘Spig’ Wead, Bond supports John Wayne in the title role, with Maureen O’Hara as Spig’s long suffering wife, the third time the three of them appeared a movie together. Bond appears late in the movie, playing a hollywood director who gives Spig his first break, showing an uncanny resemblance to his old friend John Ford, even Bond’s office is strewn with props loaned by Ford himself.