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AC Legends 2012-CoverM
AC Legends 2012-1M
AC Legends 2012-2M
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Peter Bogdanovich never seriously considered John Wayne, James Stewart or Henry Fonda for the role of Sam the Lion. They were big stars and would have been too dominant among the ensemble cast. (Orson Welles also would have loved the role and told Bogdanovich that whoever was cast, that actor would win the Oscar.) Bogdanovich was looking through a book of character actors searching for just the right person and as soon as he saw the listing for Ben Johnson, whom he had first met on the set of Cheyenne Autumn, he knew he'd found his Sam. Ben didn't want the role because of what he considered excessive foul language and nudity in the script, but Bogdanovich persisted and finally a phone call from John Ford persuaded Ben. Bogdanovich considered Tex Ritter when Ben initially turned the role down but only as a reluctant second choice.
AC Legends 2012-4M
That should be "acting gigs and an Oscar win eventually followed," not "an Oscar win and directing gigs." As far as I know, Ben never directed.
AC Legends 2012-5M
AC Legends 2012-6M
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