Kanab, Utah… Never heard of it. It was a dot on the map between Lake Powell and our little side excursion to ZION NATIONAL PARK on our way to Las Vegas then out to Los Angeles before making a drive up to Bakersfield, California and back for the Rolling Roadshow’s NORTH BY NORTHWEST screening. This was to be a picturesque, but uneventful cinematically day…
But, I’m Harry Knowles – the divining rod of film geek coolness. As we were pulling into Kanab, I looked at the map and realized that if we didn’t eat in this little town, there wasn’t really a chance to grab something till around 10pm that night in Las Vegas – and with a little kid in the car, it’s best to eat before they go, “I’mmmmm HUUUUUngrrrry!” Plus – let’s face it, I have to watch my figure.
On the side of the road was this little Utah Mexican food restaurant called NEDRA’S TOO. Now – this wasn’t really going to be a good meal. Just a snack to hold us till Vegas. Besides, what the hell is Utah Mexican food… as a Texan, I was amused. We go into this place and all over the walls are autographs of famous A & B Western stars! Lone Ranger lobby card, an Outlaw Josey Wales one sheet autographed by Clint Eastwood and Chief Dan George! Tons of stuff. I’m like. Cool. Weird for a no name Mexican food restaurant in Utah.
We sit down, order our little lunch and while we’re waiting on food… Father Geek picks up that little advertising thing on the table, that often is there to sell mixed drinks or desserts. Only this time, it’s selling a B Western Film Festival that is taking place in Kanab, this very second! The WESTERN LEGENDS ROUND UP – Holy Shit L.Q. Jones is fucking in town! OH MY GOD! James Drury THE VIRGINIAN! He’s here! Tons of stunties and other folks!
We look at each other, “What’s happening today?” we say in unison. I tell Dad that I saw some fliers for something in the entrance area of the restaurant, and he heads off. The nephew is blissfully wolfing down his Utah Mexican Taco that has ketchup all over it… GAG!
He returns with the program guide. I take a look and find that THE LAST COMMAND – my father’s favorite Alamo film that he’s been telling me about my entire life.. it is scheduled to start… immediately. Dad begins freaking out. A chance to see THE LAST COMMAND on the big screen, in a theater, with an audience? Wow.
We finish our food, pay and get on the road to the CRESCENT MOON THEATER. Dad rushes out of the car, still running, to see if we can get in, sure enough, we can. No charge since we missed the first 5-10 minutes. Dad groans to me, “Shit – we missed Borgnine vs Sterling Hayden / Mike Fink vs Jim Bowie knife fight!” We head in, the theater is pitch black, the day was so bright it takes us couple of minutes to adjust. Then quickly make our way to some seats.
Sterling Hayden is magnificent as Jim Bowie. The best Jim Bowie there has ever been. Iconic, sad and set upon his fate. Hayden is one of the great actors that I just absolutely love. His Gawain in PRINCE VALIANT being amongst my personal favorite screen characters. Then there’s his “Precious Bodily Fluids” performance in DR STRANGELOVE and his work in GODFATHER – probably the two most famous parts he’s played. But damn it, his Sheriff in SUDDENLY and the loser he played in Kubrick’s THE KILLING or… fuck that, this was JOHNNY GUITAR and he’s here on screen as Jim Bowie, giving that character all the swagger and reluctance that Hayden was so good at.
And here was Richard Carlson, our old friend we left against the side of the UFO Building in Roswell, New Mexico… only this time he wasn’t dealing with Aliens, but Mexicans… and technically he was the Alien invading their land. He’s playing Travis. And holy shit… he got a bullet to the head. Fuck, didn’t know they did headshots in 1955, I’m beginning to see why Pops was such a freak for this flick.
And what the fuck is Mike Fink, Riverboat Captain doing in the damn Alamo. He wasn’t there… but as Borgnine plays him, I now believe he should have been. This film isn’t the gigantic production that John Wayne’s was, or that dreadful Disney shit. This is a lean and mean ALAMO story with Jim Bowie at the helm. They’re playing fast and loose with history, and frankly this is so fun, it’s just so damn unexpected. Oh wow! Slim Pickens just kicked ass and captured a cannon!
As my eyes adjust, I see a sea of silver hair. I think other than my nephew and myself, Father Geek is the youngest person here. I can barely make out the posters on the wall. Behind me is a one sheet for HIGH NOON – holy shit, a Black Jack Ketcham 3 Sheet, couple of Audie Murphy and Gene Autry one sheets. I love the little romantic melodrama that’s taking place with the beautiful folks in the Alamo… and as the movie ends, Dad and Kubla come back to hang with me and take off, but the Festival director takes the stage and introduces Ben Cooper, the last surviving male of the Alamo that delivered that final message from Jim Bowie to Sam Houston and is reunited with his loved one in the closing shots of the film as the big LAST COMMAN hit song plays us out! Holy shit, they’ve got an actor from THE LAST COMMAND!
Dad begins to smile and tear up… this was one of his favorite childhood films, and growing up in San Antonio – The Alamo story is… well, it’s everything. I’m so jazzed, I can barely think straight. That young handsome man… he’s this silver haired gentleman on stage. He’s talking about working with Borgnine and Hayden. But mostly about the stunties and the hard work that they did on the project.
Like that one wall that collapses. The rubble with bodies? The first time they shot the Mexican’s leaping over the rubble and limbs… them limbs actually belonged to real living stunties. Then the 2nd take was with the dummies. Speaking of that collapsing wall. Damn that was an amazing practical stunt. Looked dangerous as hell.
This whole thing was amazing. As Ben finished up, this fellow stood up out of the audience… I swear to God it was Hopalong Cassidy. Down to the finest detail. Soon I learn that this is Joe “Hoppy” Sullivan – the world’s official Hopalong Cassidy look alike! He comes over and talks to me. Dad is too geeking. Father Geek is a Huge Hopalong Cassidy geek, he’s paralyzed with geekgasms. My nephew thinks this strange man is scary, but funny.
As we got in our car and continued into the infinite never-ending trip. We were agog at our luck. We’re on a film quest with the Alamo crew and we happen to stumble into a town of B-Western movie stars, western workshops where cowboy poetry and chuckwagon cooking is taught.
After the screening we went to Denny’s WigWam to get a Coonskin hat and a pair of six shooters. But now folks… Now I’m at the Shafter Airport staring at biplanes that are about to attack us. Fun never stops on the Rolling Roadshow or off. Hopefully I’ll see some of you tonight, or in the upcoming days!
