MovieChat Forums > Hang 'Em High (1968) Discussion > Ben Johnson's offscreen death.

Ben Johnson's offscreen death.

posted 13 years ago by mousalope
6 replies | jump to latest

After Eastwood and Inger, Ben was the most recognizable and certainly the most experienced actor in the film.

It seems odd that the producers would have used him only for the opening few minutes, then dropped him altogether until the quick reference to his killing.

I wonder if this was the original direction the script was to take.

[–] churchr-1 13 years ago

I think they deliberately made non-issues of death, The Prophet was on for a minute or two, Bruce Dern's character was shown a lot but not his death. It showed how cheap life was in that area in those days.

[–] KnatLouie 12 years ago

Sure, life was cheap.. but not showing the death-scenes of major characters? They didn't show the blacksmith's death either.. that seemed odd to me too, like they couldn't afford paying the actors and/or for special effects or whatever..

[–] ret_cpo 10 years ago

They did show Bruce Dern's character having the rope and hood placed on him, as he struggled against them. And they showed him getting hung with the rest.

I always wondered why the Blacksmith's death wasn't shown. Possibly a budget issue, as he was a minor character. But a part of me wonders if it was because it was Alan Hale Jr., who was very recognizable at the time, as the Skipper on Gilligan's Island. Gilligan's Island ran from 1964 to 1967, with this movie showing in 1968. When I first saw Hale make his appearance, I thought "Hey, it's the Skipper!!!", and I'm sure I wasn't alone.

[–] jgroub 9 years ago

When I first saw Hale make his appearance, I thought "Hey, it's the Skipper!!!", and I'm sure I wasn't alone.

You sure weren't. I just saw it for the first time just now, and that was my reaction too. AND - it yanked me right out of the movie. I couldn't get past that that was the Skipper.

And that's one of the gripes I have against the movie. First of all, Dennis Hopper was listed prominently in the credits, and then gets blown away after 30 seconds. What a waste of an actor there.

Next you've got the offscreen death of Ben Johnson, and from the way it was described, it would have been awesome to see. And the judge could have ordered Eastwood to go and round up that whole family who shot him down. But no.

And then there's the Skipper's death - offscreen.

And finally, you've got Ed Begley's dad hanging himself, cheating us of a final shootout with Clint.

I didn't care for the movie.

I want the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

[–] strntz 9 years ago

I always wondered why the Blacksmith's death wasn't shown.

I like the scene where the Sheriff comes to Fort Grant to talk to Cooper and tell him the story of how he was forced to shoot his friend; a friend with whom he had many a dinner.

So it would either be a scene showing the Sheriff shooting the blacksmith, or the Sheriff telling Cooper the story.

Either would be OK but I like the way they filmed it.

Is very bad to steal Jobu's rum. Is very bad.

[–] Captain_Augustus_McCrae 12 years ago

The death of Bruce Dern's character was indeed shown- he was hanged at the same time that the two boys were.

"It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's LIVING!"
Captain Augustus McCrae