Video tribute to "Bad Company". Music arranged, recorded and performed by Will Gell.

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Radio Advertising :- The three links below comprise of short advertising segments, originally used on commercial radio, converted from a 1975 vinyl LP record I acquired from a record collector and had digitally restored, nothing 'new' as such, but nevertheless a rare piece of memorabilia.

Bad Company Cut 1: (2.41MB)

Bad Company Cut 2: (1.20MB)

Bad Company Cut 3: (505KB)

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Set in the 1860s, respectable Drew Dixon from Ohio is sent away from home by his parents to escape being drafted by the Union Army. Shortly after arriving in the town of Missouri to catch the wagon train to Virginia City he is robbed by a young drifter Jake Rumsey. After a later chance meeting the mismatched pair team up with Jake's gang of wayward youths and set out west.

The film was shot entirely in Easter Kansas, much of it near Emporia.

The town of St. Joe, Missouri is the small town of Severy, about 60 miles south of Emporia. Other filming locations were Neosho Rapids. The Flint Hills District of Kansas, as well as Elmdale, Kansas.

The scene where Drew meets Jake for the first time (the town of Severy) took 14 takes. Rehearsals took two hours for this scene, lasting five minutes. Catering that day was supplied by an Emporia restaurant and lunch was meat sandwiches, baked beans, fruit salad and cupcakes.

The casting interviews were held at Hospitality House Motel. The cast stayed at the Emporia Travel Lodge Motel.

The entire film had a shooting schedule of eight weeks. Production began in October. Rehearsals for the film began October 4th, with actual filming beginning October 11th.

Source: Credit for the above research goes to Linda Hartnett, who obtained the articles from the Emporia library.

Barry won his role in Bad Company after David Newman's son saw him in "Mod Squad - The Judas Trap". Apparently, he was first choice to play Drew Dixon. David Newton/Robert Benton didn't want anyone else for the role.

Costume designer Anthea Sylbert decided that the principals in "Bad Company" would be "clothed," rather than "costumed." To duplicate apparel of the 1860s, she researched such books as old Montgomery Ward catalogues. Since the boys in the film were homeless, everything they owned was on their backs, giving their clothes a "layered look." The boys' garments were made by hand - with three sets of everything to cover the wear and tear of the drama's outdoor action.

CONTACT’S PRIVATE SCREENING REPORT (attended by various journalists & film critics)

Sept. 19, 1972 – 6.00 PM

GENERAL OVERALL AUDIENCE REACTION:

Good. No walkouts, there was no indication of approval or disapproval. Audience left elated and smiling.

INDIVIDUAL COMMENTS:

Joy Boyum – WALL STREET JOURNAL – left with a strange look as if she had been quite moved emotionally by the film.
Paul Morrissey (director) – made quite a point of praising the film most highly.
Kathleen Carroll – DAILY NEWS – when asked if she would like to screen the film for her class mumbled something that sounded like “We’ll see”.
Louise Sweeney – CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR – smiled broadly as she left.
Carol Kramer – CHICAGO TRIBUNE – gave one of her bemused, non-committal glances as she exited.
Jane Maxwell – NEW YORK – liked the film, felt it should have been a best bet but it was nosed out since BEST BETS included the film in the N.Y. Film Festival listing.
Roger Dooley – VILLAGER – liked the film immensely
Joe Glemis – NEWSDAY – liked the film very much
Charles Goldman – APPLAUSE – liked the film. Quite a respectable first film
Margaret Ronan – SCHOLASTIC – liked the film
Jill Avery – TRUE – very favourably disposed to the film
Pauline Kael – NEW YORKER – “So many boys!” When asked if she liked it better than “A Separate Peace” she waved her hand in a comme ci comme ca gesture. She made special reference to the Joe Mankiewicz character
Gordon Lish – ESQUIRE – “Great Film!”
David Denby – ATLANTIC – liked the film
Louis Jackson – “An excellent film. Liked it very much…beautiful photography.”
Jim Waters – “Fabulous film.”
Richard Kornberg claimed he liked it better than “Bonnie & Clyde.”

Bad Company memorabilia Danish movie poster Japanese movie poster (1973) Bad Company lobby cards (thanks to Jim Brown) These lobby cards were digitally converted from slides (click on images) Mexican lobby card (click on image)

Text from deleted scene.

Cast List:

Jake Rumsey ...................Jeff Bridges

Drew Dixon ....................Barry Brown

Marshal............................Jim Davis

Big Joe ............................David Huddleston

Loney. .............................John Savage

Arthur Simms ...................Jerry Houser

Jim Bob Logan .................Damon Cofer

Boog Bookin ....................Joshua Hill Lewis

Hobbs ..............................Geoffrey Lewis

Jackson..............................Raymond Guth

Orin................................... Ed Lauter

Nolan ................................John Quade

Mrs Dixon .........................Jean Allison

Mr Dixon ..........................Ned Wertimer

Egg farmer.........................Charles Tyner

Zeb ...................................Ted Gehring

Mrs. Clum..........................Claudia Bryar

Prisoner..............................John Boyd

Min....................................Monika Henreid

Sergeant.............................Todd Martin

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