Ben Johnson was a family friend and an extra "uncle" to my brother and I. In many, many ways, Ben pretty much played himself in almost every movie he was in. As he said, more than once, "There are hundreds of actors in Hollywood who are better actors than me, but nobody plays Ben Johnson better than me".
I love the the way Ben dresses down these punks.. "I've been around that trashy behavior all my life". One of the great lines of all time. This town might of had a sheriff, but Sam The Lion was it's heart and soul. No wonder the town was so busted-up when he died. Great movie, great performances.
Agreed. Cloris Leachman too. But don't forget Ellen Burstyn--her scene after Sam's death when she's remembering her fling with him--magnificent acting. Wish I could find that clip on RUclips.
This reminds me of my grandpa. He ran a pool hall in winnsboro,tx in these days.He had three rules. No Chewing Gum, No Gambling,No Fighting.And he was very well Known! Last of the good Guys..A true Texan my grandpa!
I remember when my own father(who grew up in Texas in a town like that) did something like that to me and my friends when I was 17. I sure learned my lesson and now that I am 67, I still remember this scene and his words.
Doesn't matter if they do. Speaking as an Oklahoman, Ben Johnson was OURS! And tell Texans to stop quoting Will Rogers, as though he was theirs as well. Lol.
I always envisioned having a sagely, ol' cowboy like Sam the Lion as a neighbor whom I could go to for advice when things weren't working out in the home-- or go fishing by the creek with ... A great man who can elucidate all the troubles I may have been going through in my adolescence. A man who would march up right to school and confront the bully to his face who was giving me a hard time and watch him scurry away nervously as I watched assuredly confident that he damn sure wouldn't pick on me again.And as I got older maybe he would teach me how to drive in his 'ol unpretentious pick-up, then when I turned 21 he'd take me to his pool hall and buy me my first drink as we'd play a game of pool ...
I didn't know until recently while researching this movie,that Sunny and Billy meaning Timothy Bottoms and meaning Sam Bottoms were brothers in real life,no wonder why they had such chemersty!
Ben Johnson didn't want to do the roll of "SAM THE LION" because of the cursing..Finally he told Peter Bogdanovich if "YOU LET MY PEOPLE WRITE THE SCRIPT WITHOUT THOSE CUSS WORDS...I"LL DO YOUR FILM"..and still he wouldn't allow his family or friends to see the movie..."IF I CAN'T TAKE MY MOTHER TO IT..IT"S NOT SUITABLE'..One of Johnson's relatives said she was 32 years old before she ever saw "THE LAST PICTURE SHOW"..Won him an OSCAR...
@Randy White Whole armies of people can get slaughtered in TV & Film and that's just fine, but throw down a few cuss words and the world is ending. Bizarre to say the least. That said, I'm sure glad old John Ford convinced Ben to do this movie despite his distaste for it's language.
We reserve the right to refuse service! Back in day this was not always used as a racist act, just as this scene displayed by the business owner. Now it's an illegal act to do so. Progress is often a mixed bag as everyone knows. RIP Larry McMurtry, Thanks for all the great Texas characters and Texas stories. The good and decent, the bad, the outrageous. No one did it better.
Ben Johnson was a family friend and an extra "uncle" to my brother and I.
In many, many ways, Ben pretty much played himself in almost every movie he was in.
As he said, more than once, "There are hundreds of actors in Hollywood who are better actors than me, but nobody plays Ben Johnson better than me".
No yelling or shouting, his solemnity coveys effortlessly. A poignant performance.
I love the the way Ben dresses down these punks.. "I've been around that trashy behavior all my life". One of the great lines of all time. This town might of had a sheriff, but Sam The Lion was it's heart and soul. No wonder the town was so busted-up when he died. Great movie, great performances.
I second that.
One of Ben Johnson's finest moments in a great film.
"I've been around that trashy behavior all my life" yeah, Tell me about it
I loved everyone and everything in this movie but Ben Johnson was hands down the best thing in it.
And Cloris Leachman too.
@@MothGirl007 She was wonderful. I was so sad to hear of her death this week.
@@michaelboultinghouse1478 Yes, I heard that. John Ford talked him into doing it. I can't imagine anyone else in that part.
Agreed. Cloris Leachman too. But don't forget Ellen Burstyn--her scene after Sam's death when she's remembering her fling with him--magnificent acting. Wish I could find that clip on RUclips.
@@Plathismo You're absolutely right. I just saw Ellen Burstyn in "The First Ladies" on Showtime-still a beauty and still a great actress.
This reminds me of my grandpa. He ran a pool hall in winnsboro,tx in these days.He had three rules. No Chewing Gum, No Gambling,No Fighting.And he was very well Known! Last of the good Guys..A true Texan my grandpa!
Why no gum chewing?
Joe L
He, probably, figured that some low life would stick a piece of gum on one of his pool tables.
I remember when my own father(who grew up in Texas in a town like that) did something like that to me and my friends when I was 17. I sure learned my lesson and now that I am 67, I still remember this scene and his words.
The world has a pitifully short supply of Sam The Lions.
Very painful scene to watch - he quietly made those boys look about 2 feet high.
Sam was called the Lion for good reason, he protected his own eloquently and fiercely, nobody but Ben Johnson could've played him better.
I always loved Sam's Monologue here.
Тhis mоviе is nоow avаilaааble toooo wаtсh hеre => twitter.com/f88f3883971729625/status/795843593952866304 Тhe Lаst Piсturе Shоw Sаaaam defends Billу
One of my all time favourite scenes. Great acting.
Doesn't matter if they do. Speaking as an Oklahoman, Ben Johnson was OURS! And tell Texans to stop quoting Will Rogers, as though he was theirs as well. Lol.
As a Wisconsinite I can assure you nobody outside of your states cares. And I'll bet few in them do, either.
I always envisioned having a sagely, ol' cowboy like Sam the Lion as a neighbor whom I could go to for advice when things weren't working out in the home-- or go fishing by the creek with ... A great man who can elucidate all the troubles I may have been going through in my adolescence. A man who would march up right to school and confront the bully to his face who was giving me a hard time and watch him scurry away nervously as I watched assuredly confident that he damn sure wouldn't pick on me again.And as I got older maybe he would teach me how to drive in his 'ol unpretentious pick-up, then when I turned 21 he'd take me to his pool hall and buy me my first drink as we'd play a game of pool ...
I feel so akin to your sentiments. I couldn't add anything to them.
Sam The Lion is the kind of man I strive to be in my older age. Kind and principled and strong.
Sam is the man. Decent.
I didn't know until recently while researching this movie,that Sunny and Billy meaning Timothy Bottoms and meaning Sam Bottoms were brothers in real life,no wonder why they had such chemersty!
Ben Johnson didn't want to do the roll of "SAM THE LION" because of the cursing..Finally he told Peter Bogdanovich if "YOU LET MY PEOPLE WRITE THE SCRIPT WITHOUT THOSE CUSS WORDS...I"LL DO YOUR FILM"..and still he wouldn't allow his family or friends to see the movie..."IF I CAN'T TAKE MY MOTHER TO IT..IT"S NOT SUITABLE'..One of Johnson's relatives said she was 32 years old before she ever saw "THE LAST PICTURE SHOW"..Won him an OSCAR...
@Randy White Whole armies of people can get slaughtered in TV & Film and that's just fine, but throw down a few cuss words and the world is ending. Bizarre to say the least. That said, I'm sure glad old John Ford convinced Ben to do this movie despite his distaste for it's language.
It's no wonder Ben Johnson won an Oscar. He was a great actor.
The Last Picture Show was a great movie too.
Billy is Bottoms real brother.
"He was sweeping"
Easily one of my all-time favorite movies. The actors had a great story to tell.
He didn't get angry or yell, he just cut them to pieces with his words.
Such a great scene!
If you haven't read the book you should!
Will do, yes.
One of the few movies that follow the book. It has more detail and backstory but stays true to the author's story.
Such an underrated scene in what is an amazing movie. Ben steals every scene hes in.
I couldn't have said it better myself, Sam.
I've always loved this movie
Thanks and yes on Alameda. It was the 50s & 60s west coast version of Anarene, Tx.
Couldn't use Archer City and there was another town that's just a name. Thalia. But all in the same area.
Ben Johnson did not need to fake an accent like some these folks although he was an Okie it was close enough to Texan......
When the 'boys' hurt Billy.
That’s is his Oscar winning scene. Leachman’s is the last scene this is Ben’s .
We reserve the right to refuse service! Back in day this was not always used as a racist act, just as this scene displayed by the business owner. Now it's an illegal act to do so. Progress is often a mixed bag as everyone knows. RIP Larry McMurtry, Thanks for all the great Texas characters and Texas stories. The good and decent, the bad, the outrageous. No one did it better.
Sam the lion.
Ain't that the truth
It is
this is my favorite movie wth Remains of the day 2nd.
Duane hiding in the backseat.