Tim Holt

Charles John "Tim" Holt III (February 5, 1919 – February 15, 1973) was an American actor. He was a popular Western star during the 1940s and early 1950s, appearing in forty-six B westerns released by RKO Pictures.

In a career spanning more than four decades, Holt is best remembered for his roles in the films ''The Magnificent Ambersons'' (1942) and '' The Treasure of the Sierra Madre'' (1948).

Early life

Holt was born Charles John Holt III on February 5, 1919, in Beverly Hills, California, the son of actor Jack Holt and Margaret Woods. During his early years, he accompanied his father on location, even appearing in an early silent film. He was the inspiration for his father's book, ''Lance and His First Horse''.

Holt was educated at Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana, graduating in 1936. One of his classmates was Budd Boetticher who recalled Holt "used to walk around in our suite of rooms there…and he often had on his .38 revolvers and holster. He’d walk up and down the hall in his bathrobe and practice drawing his guns. He’d say, ‘I’m going to be a western star some day’." Immediately after graduation he went to work in the Hollywood film business.

His sister, Jennifer Holt, also appeared in B-westerns, notably opposite Johnny Mack Brown at Universal.

Acting career

Walter Wanger

Holt was signed to a contract by Walter Wanger in January 1937. Wanger was going to use him in ''Blockade'', but that film was postponed.

Instead he made his debut as Anne Shirley's suitor in '' Stella Dallas'' (1937) for Sam Goldwyn – the same role that another film star's son, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., had played in the 1925 version. When told he was given the role his father Jack said, "Fine. Let's have one good actor in the family." Wanger then cast him in ''I Met My Love Again'' (1938) and used him for a Technicolor Western, '' Gold is Where You Find It. In the latter the ''Los Angeles Times'' said Holt "confirms the favourable impression he gave" in ''Stella Dallas''.

RKO borrowed him for a western '' The Renegade Ranger'' (1938) supporting George O'Brien, then a leading star of B-westerns. Wanger wanted to star Holt opposite Henry Fonda and Louise Platt in an adaptation of Vincent Sheean's ''Personal History''; however after the problems Wanger had making ''Blockade'' he decided to postpone the project. (It was later filmed as ''Foreign Correspondent''.) He lent Holt to Paramount to play the juvenile lead in ''Sons of the Legion'' then RKO asked for him again in '' The Law West of Tombstone'', supporting Harry Carey.

Wanger then used Holt in the role of young Lieutenant Blanchard in the 1939 classic ''Stagecoach''. At Universal he appeared in a story of his old alma mater, Culver Military Academy, '' The Spirit of Culver''. His contract with Wanger expired. RKO signed Holt to a seven-year contract in December 1938.

RKO Pictures

RKO gave Holt his first lead in the B-film ''The Rookie Cop''. It was popular, and RKO put him in ''The Girl and the Gambler'' opposite Leo Carrillo. He was then cast as the romantic lead for the studio's biggest star, Ginger Rogers, in ''5th Avenue Girl'' (1939). It was popular and the ''Los Angeles Times'' said Holt "does unusually well in this", although the ''New York Times'' thought he "seems a trifle young to be running a great corporation". He was meant to play the eldest son in ''Three Sons'' (1939) with Edward Ellis, but he was withdrawn and replaced by William Gargan. He was also meant to star in a Western, ''Silver City'', with Betty Grable, but it was not made. In early 1940 it was announced Holt and Ginger Rogers would be reunited in an adaptation of '' The Enchanted Cottage''. The film was not made until several years later with different stars. Instead he was assigned to play Fritz Robinson in the studio's expensive adaptation of ''Swiss Family Robinson'' (1940). He also played the lead in ''Laddie'' (1940); the ''Los Angeles Times'' called him "engaging and capable". ''Swiss Family Robinson'' was a financial failure and ''Laddie'' was not particularly popular.

Western star

During the late 1930s, George O'Brien had made a number of low-budget Westerns for RKO. Holt later recalled, "I believe George O’Brien quit over money so RKO needed another Western star and I was put forward." In early 1940, RKO announced Holt would make six low-budget B-Westerns, starting with ''Wagon Train'' with Martha O'Driscoll. O'Driscoll and Holt were meant to reteam in ''Sir Piegan Passes'' but it was not made. Instead Holt appeared in ''The Fargo Kid''. Universal borrowed him to play Charles Boyer's son in ''Back Street'' (1941). The ''Los Angeles Times'' said Holt had "some splendid scenes towards the end". Then it was back to Westerns: ''Robbers of the Range'' (1941), ''Along the Rio Grande'' (1941), '' Cyclone on Horseback'' (1941) and ''Six-Gun Gold'' (1941). Holt usually played a cowboy who had one or two friends, who occasionally sang. From 1940–42 he made 18 Westerns. His first sidekick was Ray Whitley, who was slightly older than Holt, and who would usually sing a song or two in each film. The other sidekick was a character "Whopper" played by Emmett Lynn and then Lee White. 1942 they were replaced by Cliff Edwards as Ike. Author Tom Stempel later recalled:

Holt, unlike many other B western stars, played characters not named Tim Holt. From his debut in 1934 Gene Autry always played "Gene Autry" and after 1941 Roy Rogers always played "Roy Rogers", but Holt's names varied, even if the basic character he played is the same... In these early films Tim's jobs were diverse. While Hopalong Cassidy was always the foreman of the Bar 20 Ranch, Tim played a cowboy, a Treasury agent, a Texas Ranger, or a number of other occupations. The characters were pretty much the same: Tim, with his boyish good looks, is drawn into situations where he must right some wrongs. Holt had a charming personality on the screen, which made him one of the top western stars from 1940 to 1943.

The Westerns proved popular and Holt wound up making six more: ''The Bandit Trail'' (1941), ''Dude Cowboy'' (1941), ''Riding the Wind'' (1942), ''Land of the Open Range'' (1942), '' Come on Danger'' (1942) and ''Thundering Hoofs'' (1942).

''The Magnificent Ambersons''

Holt's career received a boost in September 1941 when Orson Welles cast him as the lead in his second film, ''The Magnificent Ambersons'' (1942). "It was a lucky decision", Welles later said, calling Holt "one of the most interesting actors that's ever been in American movies". The ''Washington Post'' thought Holt "gives an excellent account of himself". The ''New York Times'' said he "draws out all the meanness in George's character which is precisely what the role demands." (In 1965 Welles wanted to reshoot the ending with those of the original cast still alive, including Holt, but it did not happen.)

RKO announced they had purchased two stories for Holt, ''Five of Spades'' (which became ''The Avenging Rider'') and ''Adventures of Salt Valley''. He was always announced for ''There Goes Lona Henry''. Holt was going to enter the army, so RKO quickly put him in six more Westerns: ''Bandit Ranger'' (1942), '' Red River Robin Hood'' (1942), ''Pirates of the Prairie'' (1942), ''Fighting Frontier'' (1943), ''Sagebrush Law'' (1943) and ''The Avenging Rider'' (1942).Richard Jewell & Vernon Harbin, ''The RKO Story.'' New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House, 1982. p175 His entry into the U.S. Army Air Forces was delayed long enough so that Holt could star in '' Hitler's Children'' (1943). He was called to active duty during the making of the film. However it was one of RKO's most profitable movies during the war.

War service

Holt became a decorated combat veteran of World War II, flying in the Pacific Theatre with the United States Army Air Forces as a B-29 bombardier. He was wounded over Tokyo on the last day of the war and was awarded a Purple Heart. He was also a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Post-war

Following the war, Holt returned to films and went back to RKO. According to his biographer David Rothel, "No more was he the callow, youthful cowboy with big, silly grin on his face. Now he exuded a steady, serious no-nonsense type of mature cowboy who was less impulsive, more contemporary, and somewhat ‘world weary." Tom Stempel argues that "While Holt had lost his baby fat during the war, he still had a wonderful grin and cute dimples. He used the mixture of charm and seriousness very well."

His post-war career began well when 20th Century Fox borrowed him to play Virgil Earp alongside Henry Fonda's Wyatt Earp in the John Ford western ''My Darling Clementine'' (1946). For RKO he appeared in a series of Zane Gray adaptations: '' Thunder Mountain'' (1947), '' Under the Tonto Rim'' (1947) and '' Wild Horse Mesa'' (1947). He also made ''Western Heritage'' (1947), which was an original screenplay. The budgets were around $100,000 a film, making them among the more expensive B Westerns.

''The Treasure of the Sierra Madre''

Holt was next borrowed by Warner Bros for the role for which he is probably best remembered — that of Bob Curtin to Humphrey Bogart's Fred C. Dobbs in John Huston's '' The Treasure of the Sierra Madre'' (1948), about two men who team up to prospect for gold, only to have greed tear apart their partnership. Holt's father also appeared in a small part. Tim Holt tended to be overshone in reviews by Bogart and Walter Huston, the latter winning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance. However the ''Chicago Daily Tribune'' said he was very likeable". The ''Los Angeles Times'' said Holt "gives a rare and sincere impression of character in his performance."

According to the ''Los Angeles Times'', Holt's casting in ''Madre'' impressed RKO studio chief Dore Schary who announced "expanding plans" for the actor, looking to cast him in films other than Westerns. He also promised a bigger budget for Holt's Westerns such as ''The Arizona Ranger'' (1948), which cast him opposite his father. However the films remained undistinguished: ''Guns of Hate