Before he was Festus in Gunsmoke, he played the part of a filthy, grungy backwoodsman on two episodes of Have Gun Will Travel. In his second appearance, he sang. My brother and I sat there, stunned while our mother laughed at us. She knew of him from his time as a singer with Tommy Dorsey.
Of all the scenes in all of the John Wayne movies THIS IS my favorite. I learned this song from the movie. It still brings tears to my eyes. I sang it for a gal from Ireland once. She loved it.
Filme "Rio Bravo" (Rio Grande/1950), de John Ford. Aqui um belíssimo momento da História da Sétima Arte. O tenente-coronel Kirby Yorke (John Wayne) e sua linda esposa Kathleen (Maureen O'Hara), com o Grupo Musical The Sons of Pioneers - Os Cantores do Regimento - cantando "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen". Um clássico da música norte-americana, composta em 1875 por Thomas P. Westendorf. Soberba interpretação do ator Ken Curtis.
@@wg8202 1943 an era when we had to look after ourselves completely .dad returning from ww2 . mates looking after mates. taking newspapers up to the butcher for pocket money. we did'nt have much but we got through.
I can say that I got to see Ken Curtis play different roles, & I honestly can say He was one of The Best Supporting Actors that I have ever seen with a Golden Voice. What Talent, Such Great Talent. Thank You Festus.
Wonderful song from a wonderful movie. I thought that this was one of the best John Ford/John Wayne movies of all time. Maureen O'Hara was so luminously beautiful, and she was a wonderful actress.
My dad saw this movie while he was in the Air Force, a few years before I was born. He said the right then and there that he would name his first daughter Kathleen. When I came along, he names me Kathleen!
Well Cathleen lovely name. I myself is as you may guess the name is Patrick and I am a proud Irishman from county cork known as the rebel county. We done a lot of damage to the brits when they ruled our country with loving care and generosity. For that reason we had to get rid of them.
John Ford was required by Republic to make "Rio Grande" (a sure fire money maker) in order to get the funding for the movie he'd been aching to make for years, but for which Republic had no confidence in; "The Quiet Man". Many in "Rio Grande", including the singer on the left, Ken Curtis, also appeared in "The Quiet Man". Ironically, "The Quiet Man", an atypical John Wayne movie, has eclipsed "Rio Grande". It became the top money maker in the history of Republic. This was the first of many pairings between Maureen O'Hara and John Wayne. O'Hara was one of the most beautiful women who ever appeared in movies. She and Wayne were close friends for life, and I think they were each other's best costars. She remained beautiful all her life; in fact I think she was more beautiful in her 30s and 40s than she was in her 20s. She also had a fine singing voice which sadly was rarely used in her movies. She desperately wanted the part of Anna in "The King And I" and even sent a recording of her singing to Richard Rodgers, who agreed she had a great voice, but he didn't want "that pirate queen" to play Anna. Too bad; she'd have been terrific. Instead, they cast a non singer in the role.
Can you imagine going to the theatre back then with popcorn & a coke & hanging onto every word they said. Then go home & talk about that movie for weeks.
John Ford certainly knew how to make a movie. A lovely song, the Sons of the Pioneers, a tall,clean young Duke and a Renaissance beauty in Maureen O'Hara. If you are Irish, as I am, This will break your heart.
sorry. she not. the niceprson you THNK she is . behind the scenes . SHES GOT PROBLEMS . STRANGE PERSON. . NOT GOOD AT ACTING .. SHE LIVED NOTFAR AWAY FROM MY MOTHERS HOME . SHE WAS POOR . . NOT FAR FRO. PROB . NEAR COUNTY MAYO !COMAMMARRA.IRELAND.. SHE LIKE LUMP ON A LOGG.
soo W haat part IRELAND. .. you. from. dave 'hunter. .? Maureen. oh are. moved HRE to Idaho out in country. area. lied right nxt door to my dghtrs freind.. .. . OK we Idaho. she was BT 90 yrs OLDE . mvd bk calif THN passed away . Santa Barbara.calif . CPLE MONTHS befo .George Kennedy. who lived HRE up road from her.Boise idaho.. away from Ovrcrowded . la. like Waylon' Jennings .' as in his song. he came hre. great NTH WEST calm CLN MNTNS . sawtoothes.😊🤗 .
David, Google his stock company....used a lot of the same actors over and over but they were probably the best for westerns at the time. He was great at what he did.
@@singingscotty2001 If you don't understand any of the comments then you don't know nothing about John Ford. Google is your friend. His stock company is the actors he used regularly in his westerns. It also shows how many of his westerns they were in. The list of regulars is a pretty good size.
One of the greatest scenes in cinema history...brings tears to my eyes every time....The Duke, Maureen, and of course the wonderful voices of Ken Curtis (FESTUS!!) and the legendary Sons of the Pioneers...
Perfect vocals.. from all.especially.Ken Curtis.. and the camp fire song "My gal is purple" is another piece of a vocal harmony masterclass. An absolute pleasure to listen to those guys! Much respect from England.
I watch Gunsmoke all the time and I knew Ken Curtis was a singer, but did not know how good he was. He actually replaced Frank Sinatra with th eTommy Dorsey band. Very nice song. And what makes this video better is the Beautiful Maureen O'Hara.
The song I'll Take you Back Kathleen is often identified as an Irish song. Actually it was written for a German Immigrant wife by her husband a successful businessman in Plainfield Illinois outside Chicago. She was homesick for her family and familiar surroundings, so to cheer her up he wrote this song.
The Trilogy was well researched. There were some minor details that were wrong. Most US army installations of the 1800's were not stockaded but were open to the land. One thing they got right was the tents in this film. Most posts had some structures for families, but as one 1st Sgt said when asked by a newly arrived 2nd Lt "Which should I take Sgt, the Adobe or the tent. "Sir, it don't matter much, after a few weeks, no matter which you picked, you will wish you picked the other."
I really love the years Ken was with the Pioneers. His voice really thickened up the group's sound when Bob Nolan left. As similar to Nolan's voice as Tommy Doss' was, it was missing the weight that Bob's had. Luckily, Ken helped add that weight.
Hard to believe that powerful, resonant voice belonged to Ken Curtis, Gunsmoke's Festus! A man of many talents. I always enjoy his presentations on tv or in films.
What an amazing tribute to John Ford as a film maker. How many words of dialogue are in this sequence? "The regimental singers... Probably to serenade..." "That's very gracious of them." "With Mrs. Yorke's permission." "Thank you." "This music is not of my choosing." "I'm sorry, Kirby. I wish it had been." What is that? About 30? In a three and half minute sequence. And, yet, how much is said about their relationship, who they are, how they look at life, what they feel. Just can't top that, can you?
One of the many times I have watched this movie I realized "Festus" was singing this song, I realized Ken Curtis was a fantastic singer. A remark was made about why Ken chose acting over singing, seems he did both, had he stuck to singing only he would never been a household word aka Festus, and he worked acing until he was getting on in years, I think Conagher was the last movie he died shortly after this movie was made most singers aren't able to sing at the age of 74 acting yes !!
Lots of singers are still able to keep going beyond 70. I've just got home from choir practice and I'm one of the younger members at 57. We have to reaudition every 3 years and give concerts that are televised nationally.
Only you, Curtis Wane Gates.,, can sing this song, I'll take you home again, Kathleen,,, with tears in my eyes.,,..I love to hear that beauiful voice...brings me to the days of happiness,,,,Oh,, thank you.,, for this wonderful gift,,
Concerning the music, the acting, and how we react to it... it is sad that today's audiences do not seem to have the kind of souls that can resonate with this. It is not shouted at you, with a drum beat driving it up into your brain through your loins. It is all understated and beautiful... and therefore deeply powerful.
...."and tears begim your loving eyes." I had to look up the definition of begim and now understand what is meant. Such a beautiful son from beginning to end. Ken Curtis was a wonderful singer and man.
I keep coming back here since I found it. Rio Grande is my favorite of the Ford and Wayne cavalry movies from Republic, not least because of Ken Curtis singing.
Ken Curtis & the Son's of the Pioneers, really do a great job in this and other John Fords movies! Of course Ken was married to Ford's daughter at the time.
I didn't know there was a colorized version of this movie. Anyway I always enjoy to watch it, and one of the reasons is the great music in it, like this wonderful song. Unforgettable Ken Curtis and The Sons of the Pioneers
Such a romantic voice. I can listen to Ken curtis sing all day. Wonderful talent💐
Ken Curtis was so young looking that I did not recognize him! 😊
Me also.😊
My wife has a different opinion of my singing ability:-))
Before he was Festus in Gunsmoke, he played the part of a filthy, grungy backwoodsman on two episodes of Have Gun Will Travel. In his second appearance, he sang. My brother and I sat there, stunned while our mother laughed at us. She knew of him from his time as a singer with Tommy Dorsey.
Of all the scenes in all of the John Wayne movies THIS IS my favorite. I learned this song from the movie. It still brings tears to my eyes. I sang it for a gal from Ireland once. She loved it.
The song my husband offered to me when me met in 1959 when we used to be studying at US .
Amazing and explosive harmony🟢⚪️🟠🟩⬜️🟧
Old Festus sure could sing! God bless him andthe Sons of the Pioneers.
Filme "Rio Bravo" (Rio Grande/1950), de John Ford.
Aqui um belíssimo momento da História da Sétima Arte. O tenente-coronel Kirby Yorke (John Wayne) e sua linda esposa Kathleen (Maureen O'Hara), com o Grupo Musical The Sons of Pioneers - Os Cantores do Regimento - cantando "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen". Um clássico da música norte-americana, composta em 1875 por Thomas P. Westendorf. Soberba interpretação do ator Ken Curtis.
Rio bravo 1959 directed by Howard Hawks not john Ford. Rio Grande 1950.
That very last pic is REALLY nice. But all of it is. Was a good movie. They were so young here.
My mum was named after this song it was my grandads favourite film, I lost my mum a year ago today, god bless you mum
John Wayne is extremely handsome with the mustache and Slimmer, young look.
He was handsome abit older, too
I love listening to Great songs like is and I love it
Great music! Superb Movie!
Look for recordings of the old Sons of the Pioneers & you'll find Ken Curtis there too!
The look on Maureen O'Hara's face is priceless....she wants to cry but knows she has to be stoic in front of them.
She is sublime in that scene.
Ken Curtis great voice
Lovely song!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
This scene and this song always makes me tear up❤
One of my favorite Actors 😃😃😃👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
I was born too late....I'd have gone for that in a heartbeat
A John Ford film, Rio Grande; he knew how to pull the heart strings.
Ken Curtis sang with Dorsey after Sinatra left
To bad the song isn't Irish . A German gentleman wrote it in 1875 in Indiana he was a school teacher .
It was for his wife
Well duh look at what channel it's on
Hopefully she told Trump, “ let’s not talk about religion or politics.”
You are filled with Commercial Ads, Can't enjoy bit anymore.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We did truly live through a beautiful era . Young people of today will never understand.
You are so, so right.
2024/05/15 Wed. What ages were you thinking of?
@@wg8202 1943 an era when we had to look after ourselves completely .dad returning from ww2 . mates looking after mates. taking newspapers up to the butcher for pocket money. we did'nt have much but we got through.
I can say that I got to see Ken Curtis play different roles, & I honestly can say He was one of The Best Supporting Actors that I have ever seen with a Golden Voice. What Talent, Such Great Talent. Thank You Festus.
Wonderful song from a wonderful movie. I thought that this was one of the best John Ford/John Wayne movies of all time. Maureen O'Hara was so luminously beautiful, and she was a wonderful actress.
My dad saw this movie while he was in the Air Force, a few years before I was born. He said the right then and there that he would name his first daughter Kathleen. When I came along, he names me Kathleen!
My name was supposed to be Catherine but thanks to that song I am a Kathleen also
Another Kathleen, here, thanks to this song and my grandfather.
Well Cathleen lovely name. I myself is as you may guess the name is Patrick and I am a proud Irishman from county cork known as the rebel county. We done a lot of damage to the brits when they ruled our country with loving care and generosity. For that reason we had to get rid of them.
My sisters name is
Nathleen 😊
I am also Kathleen always shortened to Kathy
Or Kath, do you all wish like me that we had insisted
On the full version, such a pretty name!
John Ford was required by Republic to make "Rio Grande" (a sure fire money maker) in order to get the funding for the movie he'd been aching to make for years, but for which Republic had no confidence in; "The Quiet Man". Many in "Rio Grande", including the singer on the left, Ken Curtis, also appeared in "The Quiet Man". Ironically, "The Quiet Man", an atypical John Wayne movie, has eclipsed "Rio Grande". It became the top money maker in the history of Republic. This was the first of many pairings between Maureen O'Hara and John Wayne. O'Hara was one of the most beautiful women who ever appeared in movies. She and Wayne were close friends for life, and I think they were each other's best costars. She remained beautiful all her life; in fact I think she was more beautiful in her 30s and 40s than she was in her 20s. She also had a fine singing voice which sadly was rarely used in her movies. She desperately wanted the part of Anna in "The King And I" and even sent a recording of her singing to Richard Rodgers, who agreed she had a great voice, but he didn't want "that pirate queen" to play Anna. Too bad; she'd have been terrific. Instead, they cast a non singer in the role.
i think ole festus needs some recognition here..
William Johns he was fabulous! He was also john fords son in law.
@@johnnybeanz1296 I did not know that! Two great men! Love Maureen O'Hara and John Wayne.
The Sons of the Pioneers.
7
Mareen O Hare, beautiful and a real graceful woman. Very few true Lovely women today. Her and Duke, great combo
Would like young children to see this movie of O Hare & John Wayne to help them understand what is a woman & what is a man
My dad named me after this song when I was adopted.
Ken Curtis is perfect along with Maureen and the Duke!!
Can you imagine going to the theatre back then with popcorn & a coke & hanging onto every word they said. Then go home & talk about that movie for weeks.
John Ford certainly knew how to make a movie. A lovely song, the Sons of the Pioneers, a tall,clean young Duke and a Renaissance beauty in Maureen O'Hara. If you are Irish, as I am, This will break your heart.
sorry. she not. the niceprson you THNK she is . behind the scenes . SHES GOT PROBLEMS . STRANGE PERSON. . NOT GOOD AT ACTING ..
SHE LIVED NOTFAR AWAY FROM MY MOTHERS HOME . SHE WAS POOR . . NOT FAR FRO. PROB . NEAR COUNTY MAYO !COMAMMARRA.IRELAND.. SHE LIKE LUMP ON A LOGG.
soo W haat part IRELAND. .. you. from. dave 'hunter. .? Maureen. oh are.
moved HRE to Idaho out in country. area. lied right nxt door to my dghtrs freind.. .. . OK we Idaho. she was BT 90 yrs OLDE . mvd bk calif THN passed away . Santa Barbara.calif . CPLE MONTHS befo .George Kennedy.
who lived HRE up road from her.Boise idaho.. away from Ovrcrowded . la. like Waylon' Jennings .' as in his song. he came hre. great NTH WEST calm CLN MNTNS . sawtoothes.😊🤗
.
David, Google his stock company....used a lot of the same actors over and over but they were probably the best for westerns at the time. He was great at what he did.
What??????? English please.
@@singingscotty2001 If you don't understand any of the comments then you don't know nothing about John Ford. Google is your friend. His stock company is the actors he used regularly in his westerns. It also shows how many of his westerns they were in. The list of regulars is a pretty good size.
1950....what a brilliant movie. Watching it on 2/3/21.
Ken Curtis is the BEST! Man! That and a Room Full of Roses are my two favorites!!!
The music industry doesn’t realize the beauty they miss distorting the human voice. If only we were unafraid to be raw and real again.
Ken Curtis's voice didn't need any electronic correction. Not many popular singers can claim that today.
I hope you guys remember that non-contemporary pop musicians/singers still exist 🙂
@@CaryCottermanNot many singers replaced Frank Sinatra in Tommy Dorsey's Orchestra, or sang with the Sons of the Pioneers.
So true @heisrisen7961!
@@CaryCotterman … So true!
Ken Curtis-Festus had a beautiful voice. I love to hear him sing.
One of the greatest scenes in cinema history...brings tears to my eyes every time....The Duke, Maureen, and of course the wonderful voices of Ken Curtis (FESTUS!!) and the legendary Sons of the Pioneers...
Will Drucker of more
Perfect vocals.. from all.especially.Ken Curtis.. and the camp fire song "My gal is purple" is another piece of a vocal harmony masterclass.
An absolute pleasure to listen to those guys!
Much respect from England.
Superbe voix j ai eu du mal à retrouver ce chanteur, qui chante dans l homme tranquille, la prisonnière du désert. Chapeau.
I cry every time I hear this, especially how it's used in the context of the movie.
I watch Gunsmoke all the time and I knew Ken Curtis was a singer, but did not know how good he was. He actually replaced Frank Sinatra with th eTommy Dorsey band. Very nice song. And what makes this video better is the Beautiful Maureen O'Hara.
The instrument of the voice! Perfect Pitch
My mum 's name was Kathleen. My dad would d sing this . RIP mum.\
The song I'll Take you Back Kathleen is often identified as an Irish song. Actually it was written for a German Immigrant wife by her husband a successful businessman in Plainfield Illinois outside Chicago. She was homesick for her family and familiar surroundings, so to cheer her up he wrote this song.
Thank you for sharing. I still experience it as an Irish song because of John Ford and the Sons of the Pioneers.
And One More, Great Short Video Clip. For Both Of Them To Always Be Remembered. Basically In '' HOLLYWOOD HISTORY '' AMEN !!!!!!
My great grandma lived till she was 94 x she loved this song x she took in Irish lodgers after great grandad died x
The Trilogy was well researched. There were some minor details that were wrong. Most US army installations of the 1800's were not stockaded but were open to the land. One thing they got right was the tents in this film. Most posts had some structures for families, but as one 1st Sgt said when asked by a newly arrived 2nd Lt "Which should I take Sgt, the Adobe or the tent. "Sir, it don't matter much, after a few weeks, no matter which you picked, you will wish you picked the other."
John wane and Maureen ohara had. A chemistry between them .
I love these comments. I thought I was the only one who bawled through this scene.
I told my 86 year old Mom and my nephew That's Ken Curtis. And they didn't believe me.
I really love the years Ken was with the Pioneers. His voice really thickened up the group's sound when Bob Nolan left. As similar to Nolan's voice as Tommy Doss' was, it was missing the weight that Bob's had. Luckily, Ken helped add that weight.
dad sang this to the irish guy in his band and always got him crying
What band where , pray tell...?
Hard to believe that powerful, resonant voice belonged to Ken Curtis, Gunsmoke's Festus! A man of many talents. I always enjoy his presentations on tv or in films.
Schooled at Juilliard he was
Err, no he wasn't. He did pre-med at Colorado College. He couldn't read music.
My favourite John Wayne movie. Can actually believe this was the true John Wayne
I love this so much it hurts. The inter play between the Duke and Maureen is wonderful. And it reminds of my Dad who loved the sons of the Pioneers.
If that doesn’t make you cry a bit you have no soul!
What an amazing tribute to John Ford as a film maker. How many words of dialogue are in this sequence? "The regimental singers... Probably to serenade..." "That's very gracious of them." "With Mrs. Yorke's permission." "Thank you." "This music is not of my choosing." "I'm sorry, Kirby. I wish it had been." What is that? About 30? In a three and half minute sequence. And, yet, how much is said about their relationship, who they are, how they look at life, what they feel. Just can't top that, can you?
I miss what's called the greatest generation I don't find people like that anymore anywhere I miss them dearly.
One of the many times I have watched this movie I realized "Festus" was singing this song, I realized Ken Curtis was a fantastic singer. A remark was made about why Ken chose acting over singing, seems he did both, had he stuck to singing only he would never been a household word aka Festus, and he worked acing until he was getting on in years, I think Conagher was the last movie he died shortly after this movie was made most singers aren't able to sing at the age of 74 acting yes !!
Lots of singers are still able to keep going beyond 70. I've just got home from choir practice and I'm one of the younger members at 57. We have to reaudition every 3 years and give concerts that are televised nationally.
My favorite song of all time sung by the best singers of all time!
My dad used to sing this to my mum. Kathleen (Kit)
Mine did also.
What stunning acting and only a few words spoken.
I agree its alovejy irish song and takes back to my dear wife in heaven now
“Yellow stripes” the beginning song. “Sons of the pioneers”
Beautiful,love this scene! The magnetism between Kirby and Kathleen...❤️❤️❤
I see it too
I've published this again on "Maureen O'Hara Magazine" on Facebook. The fans love it and I thank you for publishing it.
Only you, Curtis Wane Gates.,, can sing this song, I'll take you home again, Kathleen,,, with tears in my eyes.,,..I love to hear that beauiful voice...brings me to the days of happiness,,,,Oh,, thank you.,, for this wonderful gift,,
Ken Curtis was a fantastic singer.
Festus can sing
Tears for my Grandparents of Cork and Kerry
Hope she's gonna stayyy 😂😂 love this part
What a truly wonderful singer. Great movie. Today I can't watch TV at all maybe I'm showing my age.
Proud. To. Have. Her. Name. She. Was. A. Great actress
Love the movie and this sweet song.. thanks for your sharing.
Ken Curtis singing is probably the best scene ever in Have Gun, Will Travel.
@j.sumner6999 THAT is also MY favorite H.G.W.T. film!!! I LOVE hearing Ken Curtis sing! What a GREAT voice!!
Concerning the music, the acting, and how we react to it... it is sad that today's audiences do not seem to have the kind of souls that can resonate with this. It is not shouted at you, with a drum beat driving it up into your brain through your loins. It is all understated and beautiful... and therefore deeply powerful.
Well said sir
So true Amos!
Well said from the heart.
God bless you.
DITTO
My favorite movies are anything with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara they definitely had chemistry on screen.
Tenderly sung, everlastingly awesome.
Ken Curtis as lead singer with the Sons of the Pioneers. There are others as fine but none better!
It's so funny that sometime all of a sudden I just start humming this song. Then, of course, I have to find it and listen again.
...."and tears begim your loving eyes." I had to look up the definition of begim and now understand what is meant. Such a beautiful son from beginning to end. Ken Curtis was a wonderful singer and man.
It’s nice to see Ken Curtis clean cut before he became Festus. And I love his voice. I loved him as Festus too. I love this movie.
You never saw him as "Monk" on Have Gun Will Travel. Compared to Monk, Festus was sartorial splendor.
I keep coming back here since I found it. Rio Grande is my favorite of the Ford and Wayne cavalry movies from Republic, not least because of Ken Curtis singing.
Ken Curtis & the Son's of the Pioneers, really do a great job in this and other John Fords movies! Of course Ken was married to Ford's daughter at the time.
Magnificent !
they nail it
I love all of John Wayne’s movies from his first through his last. All great 👏🏻❤️🔥‼️
Wonderful, thank you for posting!
Our country owes a large debt to the Irish immigrants. It was very similar to how we treat the Mexicans and other immigrants now.
Really beautiful I play ken a lot
This man is definitively a macho man not like the pretty boy leading man that we have today.
I didn't know there was a colorized version of this movie. Anyway I always enjoy to watch it, and one of the reasons is the great music in it, like this wonderful song. Unforgettable Ken Curtis and The Sons of the Pioneers
A great film,
Beautiful, beautiful! Big John, Mauren Ohara!
Rio BRAVO
What a beautiful voice
When it came to movie making John Ford sure knew what he was doing.
Oh how I love this movie.❤❤❤
Was für ein toller Film,Ken Curtis war wunderbar.Ich liebe diese tollen Schauspieler. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
The Duke and Maureen were really good together. I love seeing them together. And yes, Ford was one of the very best.
Super the best music forever
How beautiful