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Thursday, 14 September 2006 |
Prairie Lite?
By Carla Kelly
Doggone it, I'm going to miss Glenn Ford.
That sentence won't mean a lot to people much younger than I, but his death last week at age 90 is going to stick with me.
For more than 50 years, Ford acted in a variety of movies ranging from westerns to romantic comedies. I don't suppose he was handsome in the conventional sense, but he had a certain thoughtful quality that translated well to the movies.
When I read his obituary, it came as no surprise to me to learn that during World War II, Ford left Hollywood and joined the Marine Corps. Marines have an air of competence about them (even, or maybe especially, my sister Wanda Lynn, a former Marine). So did Ford.
Glenn Ford was not afflicted with what I call the "O Holy Night Curse."
You know this one. It's Christmastime and some tenor in your choir or general vicinity is singing "O Holy Night." It has a higher note near the end that tenors can sing in a range suitable to guys who, during the rest of the week, are electricians or claims adjusters.
There's an optional high note, though, which should only be attempted by a trained voice. Trouble is, sometimes the ordinary guys try it, usually with cringe-inducing consequences.
Thing is, you never know which note the ordinary, I-sing-on-Sunday tenor is going to try. That's why I'm nearly always uncomfortable when I listen to "O Holy Night" sung by amateurs. Maybe they'll hit it; maybe they won't. Either way, by the end of the song, I'm more of a wreck than they are.
Ah, but not if the tenor is a pro like Placido Domingo or Jos? Carreras. I know he'll nail that sucker. I can relax.
Same with Glenn Ford. He always hit the right notes in his acting career, and never better than when he was playing Navy officers. He was totally at home in khaki.
He was most effective in the 1976 movie, "Midway," where he played Admiral Raymond Spruance, the nerves-of-steel commander of Task Force 16 that thrashed the Japanese navy in a victory the U.S. really needed. Spruance, like Ford, was another of my heroes, so I was in high cotton watching that movie.
Here's the deal with Glenn Ford: My dad bears a strong resemblance to him. They're not related, but seeing Ford's Navy crew cut and khaki uniform had me convinced, as a kid, that right would triumph and I'd be happy, because that was my dad up there on the big screen.
It wasn't just my imagination. Other people mentioned the resemblance.
Sometimes Dad would be gone on a six-month cruise, or maybe to Vietnam, or to Thailand during the Korean War. Those were the times we liked to see Glenn Ford war movies because we knew Ford and Dad were keeping the world safe. (I'm not sure who's doing it now. Probably no one.)
We lived in a khaki world when I was growing up, except for occasional special events usually related to change of command ceremonies. Then Dad would wear his blues or his whites, depending on the season.
I especially liked the ceremonies during the summer, when Dad had to wear his whites and all his medals and the sword, too. How cool is that for a kid to see? The only man who could possibly have looked better in whites was Glenn Ford.
Dad retired years ago. He and Mom live on Whidbey Island, Wash. He's 83 now and hard of hearing, but Dad has retained all his wit and banter. When I call to ask how they're doing, he tells me he's still buying green bananas.
Dad gave me the neatest birthday present this year. His father used to hunt elk, and Dad had accumulated some elk's teeth. He had one of them put into a silver setting with my initial engraved on it, and turned it into a necklace.
The other birthday present I can't forget is the Porsche he gave me for my 21st birthday. I was in college then and just knew I needed wheels, so he sent me a Matchbox Porsche. Thanks, Dad.
And now Glenn Ford is gone. Darn. I'm glad my dad ? the other Glenn Ford ? is still buying green bananas. Maybe I'll watch "Midway" tonight and salute all three heroes: Ford, Spruance and Dad.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 04 December 2006 )
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