The name of
Lew Wallace is widely remembered for the wildly successful movie
interpretations of his masterwork Ben-Hur
in 1925 and 1959. These were not the only times that the General’s name (and
even the General) showed up in Hollywood
movies. In 1914, Wallace’s book, The
Prince of India, was adapted as a silent movie. This forty-four minute film
moved along at a rapid pace and bore little resemblance to Wallace’s book.
Starring Thurlow Bergen and William Riley Hatch, the plot involved a
devil-may-care newspaper reporter, a stolen gem, a fun-loving Indian prince, a
temptress, and a climatic scene with a run away trolley car. Lew Wallace would
not have been pleased with the artistic license taken in the filming of this
movie.
The General
himself has been represented in several productions. These include Land Beyond the Law (1937) which starred
Dick Foran, a matinee idol of "B" movies and one of the movie industry’s most
successful singing cowboys. Foran played wild and woolly Chip Douglas, who
becomes a lawman after his father is killed in the New Mexico territory; through his efforts
he helps avoid a range war. Although uncredited in the movie, Governor Lew
Wallace is portrayed by Joe King. King was a talented character actor, director
and writer. Working steadily from 1912 until 1946, he was in such significant
movies as: They Died With Their Boots On,
Sergeant York, Destry Rides Again, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Alexander’s Ragtime Band, Cain
& Mable, and Anthony Adverse.
In 1955,
director Mervyn LeRoy brought Wallace to life in Greer Garson’s, Strange Lady In Town. In this movie, which co-starred Dana Andrews and Cameron Mitchell, Garson sets a western town
on edge when she arrives and begins her own medical practice. Her first patient
in Santa Fe has
a toothache and is brought in by Billy the Kid. After all sorts of intrigue,
Garson’s character attends the Governor’s ball where she meets Governor Lew
Wallace who happens to mention two things. First, that he is working on a novel
called Ben-Hur, and second, that he
has a chronic heart condition. The ever helpful lady doctor suggests that
perhaps his collar is too tight. This “miracle cure” for a heart condition
actually contradicts what the town’s male doctor has told the Governor and more
intrigue follows until (spoiler alert) the lady doctor and the gentleman doctor
ride off together in his buckboard at the end of the movie.
The actor who
portrayed Lew Wallace was Ralph Moody, a big, burly man who looked
nothing like the real Lew Wallace. Moody often played gruff old men or Native
Americans. He had an extraordinary career as a working actor from 1948 to his
death in 1971 with well over 100 appearances in both movies and on TV. He was,
in fact, one of Jack Webb’s favorite actors and appeared frequently in Dragnet.
Strange Lady in Town also introduced audiences to Susan Wallace in one of her rare portrayals on screen. Mrs. Wallace was portrayed by
Louise Lorimer. Like Ralph Moody, Ms. Lorimer was a talented actress who worked
steadily from 1934 until her retirement at age 87 in1985. She played alongside
some of Hollywood’s
leading lights in both the movies and on TV. Among the more significant movies
she worked in were: Gentleman’s
Agreement, Sorry Wrong Number, The Snake Pit, Sorrowful Jones, The Heiress, The
Young Philadelphians, and Marnie.
Her appearance as Mrs. Wallace was only slightly closer to reality than Ralph
Moody’s presentation of Lew Wallace.
More recently
Wallace has been portrayed (often more accurately) in documentaries and videos, including a 2006 film called: No Retreat
from Destiny: The Battle That Rescued Washington. This production tells the
story of the Battle of Monacacy. On the History and Discovery Channels, documentaries on Billy the Kid often discuss Wallace’s governorship
using period photos and an occasional actor portraying Wallace.
Beyond the
feature movies, Wallace’s Ben-Hur
also appeared in books and movies as part of the plot. In Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep, the famed private eye,
Philip Marlowe, enters a book store that he believes is a front for evil
doings. In an effort to trap the seductive woman running the store, Marlowe
asks: "Would you happen to have a Ben Hur
1860?" She asks: "A first edition?" to which Marlowe replies "Third. The one
with the erratum on page 116." The lady obviously doesn't know her Ben-Hur (since it was published in 1880 and there is no edition with an erratum on page 116) and, therefore, isn't the store
owner. In Anne of Green Gables, Anne
is caught reading Ben-Hur at school
when she is supposed to be studying another subject.
For over 130
years Ben-Hur and Lew Wallace have
been part of popular American culture. The impact of Wallace’s book is
demonstrated in the many ways it and its author have been incorporated in other
creative endeavors over the past century. Keep your eyes open and ears tuned, as
you never know when Lew Wallace or Ben-Hur
will show up to move a plot along.
Sources:
Marie Stocks for finding blog comments on the Slate article regarding Wallace
in the movies and Kyle Gobel for watching The
Big Sleep. Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
A popular local act makes a return for the 4:30-6:30 p.m. time slot. The Big Swing Band from Lafayette will bring us swing and big band music, featuring vocalist Gail Biss. Bring your best dancing shoes and polish up your Lindy Hop and Jitterbug, because you'll want to get out and cut a rug!
As hard as it is to believe, the TASTE is just over three weeks away. Don't miss your chance to enjoy an afternoon and evening of great music and delicious food. Advance tickets are already on sale at the Carriage House, Milligan's, and the Montgomery County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Advance tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for students. Stop in and pick them up this week!
