Ward Bond


One gets the feeling that the two actors playing the most thuggish roles, Dan Dailey and Ward Bond, had originally been intended to be one. It would have been a tighter drama if Dan Dailey's character was the same as the later one introduced by Bond. That said, both actors contributed so effectively the needed menace to this film. And I have to add that Bond, strong as always, is again screwed in the credits. That's "again" in view of similar fates handed his cast-rankings in "Gone With the Wind" and "Maltese Falcon." I keep wondering, Did he have a crummy agent? BTW, the theme of dangers of fixing intelligence, of whatever kind, to fit official policy ought to have a familiar ring today.

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And we can thank the imbd site for the names of Dan Dailey and Ward Bond. Recognized Ward Bond, but couldn't place Dan Dailey, although I knew that face! Anyone remember Tom Drake....he played one of the students. Again, a thank you to imbd.

Good point about the characters DD and WB portrayed!

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I thought it was amusing how similar Ward Bond's role in this film was compared to his role in "Gone with the Wind". The scene where he and his troops storm into the house looking for Martin. Almost identical.

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That is a great and insightful comparison!
It didn't register at all with me before, and I have seen this movie a couple of times.
Now that you point it out; even the reaction of the women inside the home(s)...both sets act obvlivious to a group of men coming into the house until Ward Bond speaks to them.

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Ward Bond was great. Sometimes I think he was in every movie made in the 1930s and 40s.

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John Ford hated Ward Bond.
He may have been a competent actor, but he was a failure as a human being.

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