James Arness and John Wayne

[caryc]

Just watched a movie on TCM. It was "Big Jim McClain" made in 1991. It starred Wayne and Arness. I never really realized how big James Arness was before but in the picture below, you can see how big he was compared to John Wayne. Wayne was 6'4" and Arness was 6'7".

One funny thing I noticed in this movie that I never really noticed in Gunsmokes western setting was that Arness actually had to lean down to grasp a door knob!

 

[hittman]

Just yesterday a local channel re-ran Season 1 / Episode 1 of Gunsmoke including the opening introduction by John Wayne. 1955 I believe it was.

and they've been airing the Gunsmoke movies that I think were from the 80's and 90's.

 

[caryc]

Yeah, that was where Wayne introduced this new kid actor, James Arness.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

6'-4" is tall 6'-7" is well just huge. Look at your average door for comparison which is 6'-8"

 

[Paul B]

James Arness was in the movie Hondo with Wayne so they weren't strangers.
Paul B.

 

[soflaac]

Growing up I loved John Wayne and also watched lots of Gunsmoke. I knew J W was a fairly big man but hadn't realized how tall James was.

 

[blume357]

I never realized or saw it in the movies or on TV when I was growing up either.... Actors Like Arness, Chuck Connors and Clint Walker....

 

[Danjet500]

First two episodes of "Gunsmoke" were on MeTV today. Arness was definitely a big man.

 

[caryc]

Many years ago, I subscribed to a service that sent me recordings of all the Gunsmoke programs starting with number 1. Unfortunately they are VCR tapes. I must have about 60 or 70 of those tapes. VCR was all they had back then. If I remember right, I have the whole gunsmoke series from the first show to the last show.

 

[Enigma]

I read that James Arness was in the Anzio landing in WWII. His officer wanted to see how deep the water their landing craft was in was, so he sent Arness off the ramp first. He promptly disappeared, because it was deeper than 6"7"!

 

[Joe Reilly]

Many years ago, I subscribed to a service that sent me recordings of all the Gunsmoke programs starting with number 1. Unfortunately they are VCR tapes. I must have about 60 or 70 of those tapes. VCR was all they had back then. If I remember right, I have the whole gunsmoke series from the first show to the last show.

VHS takes up quite a bit of shelf space, so does the player.

 

[JiminMaine]

Just watched a movie on TCM. It was "Big Jim McClain" made in 1991.

The movie was made in 1952, not 1991.

 

[g5m]

He was the scary guy in the "The Thing from Another World", too! Scared a bunch of kids. Including me.

 

[caryc]

The movie was made in 1952, not 1991.

I thought that was kind of strange too. But when pressing the info button on my DirectTV remote they showed the date as 1991. As matter of fact, I still have it on my DRV and I just looked at it again and they still list it as 1991.

 

[Watertender]

I thought that was kind of strange too. But when pressing the info button on my DirectTV remote they showed the date as 1991. As matter of fact, I still have it on my DRV and I just looked at it again and they still list it as 1991.

Some of the old Tom and Jerry and Warner Brothers cartoons show dates of 2013 and they are actually 1940's. I just watch and enjoy

 

[KS25-06]

John Wayne helped a lot of young actors and actresses get a start in the movie business. My favorite western actor!!

 

[Wyandot Jim]

He was the scary guy in the "The Thing from Another World", too! Scared a bunch of kids. Including me.

I saw the movie while living on Tinker AFB OK in 1950 I was 7 at the time. After the movie was over I had to walk home through a SCARY DARK field and I died of fright 3-4 times.
I tried to get my Grandson to watch it when he was around 8. He wanted no part of it.

 

[tazbigdog]

They say the Duke recommended Arness for the part.

 

[Jeepnik]

Best Arness movie is The Thing From Another World. Think about it. He conveyed his entire role without a single word.

 

[txramfan]

James Arness back in the late 60s/early 70s use to frequent my pops pharmacy during the summer. My brother, sister, mom all met him. I never did, I'd walk in from a day at the beach and be told I just missed meeting him.

I was at the pharmacy that day in the 60s when John Wayne walked by me as I was reading the comics at the magazine rack. I noticed the gate out of the corner of my eye and looked up. The Duke. Walking to the counter. Made a purchase and left, I followed to see his car.
A brown station wagon with mag wheels.

Oh a lot of women having their hair done next door joined me in watching Mr. Wayne walk to his station wagon, some still had dryer hats/hoses on their head.