Actor Ben Cooper’s extreme fast draw.

1309 Views 28 Replies 13 Participants Last post by Wyatt Burp, 4 d ago

Wyatt Burp

Discussion Starter · 3 mo ago

I found this nine second video of actor Ben Cooper in a western drawing a gun with extreme speed. In a movie I can’t remember the name of he was as fast as I’ve ever seen before. Watching the other two guys in this video, their movements do not look like the film was speeded up. What do you think? His gun rig is an Anderson Walk And Draw.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=503340213188165

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C3Ranger

· #2 · 3 mo ago

Wow! Definitely quick. I can't tell whether the film is any faster than real time. But is his gun riding high in the holster before the draw?

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Jersey Kid

· #3 · 3 mo ago

Ben was a great guy - here he is with his wife at End of Trail

Smile Hat Photograph Sun hat Musical instrument

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Wyatt Burp

Discussion Starter · #4 · 3 mo ago (Edited)

C3Ranger said:
Wow! Definitely quick. I can't tell whether the film is any faster than real time. But is his gun riding high in the holster before the draw?

No, it’s sitting in the holster normally. Here’s Steve McQueen using the same type rig and he’s ultra fast and with a longer barrel. Plus he’s shooting the gun which would make him more careful not to hurry and fire too soon accidentally.

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Todd

· #5 · 3 mo ago

Scary fast and the distance absolutely excludes debate as to accuracy.

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Fast enough

· #6 · 3 mo ago

Todd said:
Scary fast and the distance absolutely excludes debate as to accuracy.

Look at any of the films of Cowboy Fast Draw, granted it is wax bullets, but you can be fast and gunfight accurate.

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Todd

· #7 · 3 mo ago

Fast enough said:
Look at any of the films of Cowboy Fast Draw, granted it is wax bullets, but you can be fast and gunfight accurate.

Oh, I'm quite sure of that. I was mostly talking about actors with documented world-class speed who are on record NO WHERE as to accuracy.

Kinda like sticking a 'landing' every time on a simulator and struttin' about like a pilot. Still accomplishments but in reality, more like facsimiles of the act.

Fast enough

· #8 · 3 mo ago

Todd said:
Oh, I'm quite sure of that. I was mostly talking about actors with documented world-class speed who are on record NO WHERE as to accuracy.

Kinda like sticking a 'landing' every time on a simulator and struttin' about like a pilot. Still accomplishments but in reality, more like facsimiles of the act.

There is a story about Hugh O'Brian in his prime challenging Audie Murphy to a fast draw contest. Audie said something like "Fine as long as we use real bullets." Don't know if it is true, but amusing.
Plenty of the famous older actors had been to war and were genuine to the core.

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Wyatt Burp

Discussion Starter · #9 · 3 mo ago (Edited)

Todd said:
Oh, I'm quite sure of that. I was mostly talking about actors with documented world-class speed who are on record NO WHERE as to accuracy.

Kinda like sticking a 'landing' every time on a simulator and struttin' about like a pilot. Still accomplishments but in reality, more like facsimiles of the act.

EDIT: I just saw that “Fast enough” already stated this about Hugh O’Brien right before me. Guess I wasn’t fast enough!

I recall reading about Hugh O’Brian during his Wyatt Earp days challenging Audie Murphy to a fast draw contest but then changed his mind when Murphy said ok, but only with live ammo.

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Todd

· #10 · 3 mo ago

Wyatt Burp said:
I recall reading about Hugh O’Brian during his Wyatt Earp days challenging Audie Murphy to a fast draw contest but then changed his mind when Murphy said ok, but only with live ammo.

Lieutenant Murphy being WELL aware that speed is secondary to calm & accurate too.

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Wyatt Burp

Discussion Starter · #11 · 3 mo ago (Edited)

Here’s that “Johnny Ringo” episode. Cooper does a great gun spinning routine in it. That part is at 6;50 into it.

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Kid Sopris

· #12 · 3 mo ago

Back in 2006, I had the opportunity to spend the day with Ben and Pam Cooper..( Pam died a short time later, and Ben didn't make many appearances after that.) He had a lot of great stories..This was shot at Roy Rogers' Double RR Bar Ranch. Very personable and a character in his own right. Directly behind Pam Cooper is Jon Locke. Pam put her purse in front of Ben's hand to hide a bandage..Its all about staging in the movies..

Hat Sun hat Fedora Table Leisure

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veeman

· #13 · 3 mo ago

I think Glen Ford was the fastest.

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TheDS

· #14 · 3 mo ago

Don’t forget Sammy’s spinning.

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Wyatt Burp

Discussion Starter · #15 · 3 mo ago

TheDS said:
Don’t forget Sammy’s spinning.

Notice that his gun was a 1961 125th Anniversary Commemorative that was probably brand new right then.

Reactions: 3

petersearls

· #16 · 10 d ago

veeman said:
I think Glen Ford was the fastest.

Hi. Glenn was amongst the fastest but Ben Cooper and Sammy Davis Jr. were faster in that order.

dfariswheel

· #17 · 9 d ago

I don't remember who the actor was, but there was an 80's? TV show "Alias Smith and Jones" with one of the actors just blindingly fast.
I don't know if special effects "helped" it out, but the speed was astounding.

SnidelyWhiplash

· #18 · 9 d ago

Not from a western but Jim Zubiena in Miami Vice doing the Mozambique Drill.
Jim Zubiena

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Fast enough

· #19 · 9 d ago

SnidelyWhiplash said:
Not from a western but Jim Zubiena in Miami Vice doing the Mozambique Drill.
Jim Zubiena

A classic!

Wyatt Burp

Discussion Starter · #20 · 9 d ago

dfariswheel said:
I don't remember who the actor was, but there was an 80's? TV show "Alias Smith and Jones" with one of the actors just blindingly fast.
I don't know if special effects "helped" it out, but the speed was astounding.

Yeah, it still pops on now occasionally. Early 70s as a take off on the great “ Butch Cassidy And…” movie.That guy in it was portrayed as being ultra fast. But they never actually showed him draw. His adversary would go for his gun then freeze in fear because it would then show “Kid Curry” holding his gun on him. Or he would kill or wound a guy. But the actor is neve4 actually seen drawing his gun.

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