I would have liked to write a deep, thoughtful review or essay of some kind for Legends of Western Cinema Week—but no matter how hard I tried to think of something to write, all my brain would say was, “I got nothing, pal.” But I hated the idea of missing out on the event altogether, so I decided to contribute a post on one of the things that drew me to Westerns in the first place: horses. In this case, one horse, a particularly beautiful one who is always a joy to see gallop across the screen.
His name was Steel. A burnished chestnut with three white feet, a wide blaze, and a luxuriant mane and tail, his proud arched neck and graceful, fluid way of moving stand out among the many handsome horses that have appeared on a movie screen. According to IMDB, Steel was so prized as a mount that his owner, Clarence “Fat” Jones, was able to make it a condition that all the horses in a film had to be rented from the Jones stables if Steel was used in the movie.
Like some human actors, Steel paid his dues in B-Westerns. At the bottom of this page you can see several photos of him with the stars of B-grade Westerns in the mid-to-late 1940s, including Tim Holt and a young Robert Mitchum. But at the same time, Steel was already carrying A-listers too. In 1944 John Wayne rode him in Tall in the Saddle—pretty nice mount for a drifter new in town!
In 1948, Steel appears to beautiful advantage as Joel McCrea’s mount in that time-bending chase scene from Four Faces West (again, the fugitive drifter sure scored a nice horse somehow).
In Yellow Sky (1948), it’s Steel who carries Gregory Peck across the desert—looking a bit less elegant than usual, as does everybody else in the movie.
But what most Western fans probably remember him best for is his teaming with Ben Johnson, one of the finest riders in the movies (and also “Fat” Jones’ son-in-law). Steel’s grace and Johnson’s horsemanship made an unforgettable combination in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), Wagon Master (1950), pictured above, and Rio Grande (1950). (I’ve also read that Johnson rode Steel when he won his roping championship, but couldn’t find a picture or record to confirm that on a quick search.)
In Rio Grande, Steel is the subject of an amusing plot gaffe. Johnson’s character is supposed to abscond with his commanding officer’s horse—played by Steel—but John Wayne’s Colonel Yorke rides an entirely different horse throughout the whole movie, both before and after the theft: a powerful bay horse with a narrow stripe down his face, named Banner. Well, perhaps Steel was the colonel’s best horse, kept for Sundays and holidays.
(You can spot John Wayne riding Banner in Red River (1948) as well—and he was also sturdy enough to carry the substantial Andy Devine in Under California Stars (1948). I think he may have been Henry Fonda’s mount in Fort Apache (1948) as well. Banner had a busy ’48!)
Steel was valuable enough to have his own stunt double. The hardest-riding chase scenes in Rio Grande and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon were doubled by another horse called Bingo—but in the above shot ’tis clearly the horse himself, in Oscar-winning Technicolor.
More Steel in color—ridden by Henry Fonda in Warlock (1959) and Richard Widmark in Broken Lance (1953). These screenshots don’t even really do him justice, though; you have to see him in motion to appreciate what a beautiful horse he was.
Steel with Clark Gable on the set of Across the Wide Missouri (1951). I don’t know how many times he appeared onscreen in total—I know Randolph Scott rode him too, but am not sure in which movie(s). If you know of one I’ve overlooked, comment below and tell me!
I already have “Wanderlust Creek and Other Stories,” which is a wonderful collection.
Endorsement appreciated. 🙂
Yes!! Do you know if Ben Johnson was riding Steel during the chase scene in Wagon Master? There was one part that I always liked, where the horse stumbled and he lost a rein, and had to reach down and grab it mid gallop.
I had to go back and look at that scene, since I didn’t remember it well (only saw the movie once). What riding! It’s hard to tell at that speed whether it’s Steel or a double; you can’t get a really good look at the face blaze.
Thank you! Yes!! That scene is what made me fall in “love” with Ben Johnson . That movie is one of my all time favorites!
Wonderful post! As someone who really does not know much about horses (I’ve ridden a few a couple of times) I have trouble identifying horses in films, but I’m delighted to have others point out the star horses!
And I would appreciate either collection of short stories should I happen to win the giveaway. How nice of you to offer!
Thank you! Honestly, it’s not easy to spot the same horses unless they have really distinct and recognizable markings. But once you know a couple by sight it’s fun to recognize them!
Oh my goodness, I loved this post! Brilliant!! Seriously, it might sound silly, but it was giving me tingles. 🙂 Even after seeing more westerns, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon is still one of my top, near and dear favorites, so hearing further details was a highlight of my week. Thanks for sharing and I’m SO glad you thought of it! <3
I’m so glad you liked it!
No need for a “thoughtful review or essay” as you put it! It was fun to read about how you became interested in westerns, and to learn all about Steel. I’ve never given much thought to the animals used in films and how they might be “hired” for multiple films. I’d like to enter for Wanderlust Creek.
Such an interesting article! I feel actors that happen to be animals don’t get the recognition they deserve. It’s nice to read articles like yours where readers can learn more about a topic like this. I also participated in this blogathon, so I’ll share the links in this comment section.
https://18cinemalane.com/2020/08/17/sally-watcheswalker-texas-ranger/
https://18cinemalane.com/2020/08/19/take-3-forsaken-2015-review-a-month-without-the-code-3/
https://18cinemalane.com/2020/08/21/the-legends-of-western-cinema-week-tag-2020/
If I do win this giveaway, I’d like to receive Wanderlust Creek and Other Stories.
Comanche Station Randolph Scott. Steel looked so beautiful running in that open landscape.
To Elizabeth Grace Foley,
If you’re trying to figure in which movie Randolph Scott rode Steel, take a look at his movie, “Gunfighters”. Although Stardust gets credit for being the horse Scott rode in “Gunfighters”. I believe it was actually “Steel”. Stardust was a dark palomino with a blonde mane on the off side of his neck. The horse Scott is riding in the beginning of “Gunfighters” is a sorrel with a long flowing mane on his near side of his neck like “Steel”. I just thought you might want to take a look and see what you think.
Regards,
Karl Mohr