Freeze frame

In my gut, I knew this wouldn’t go well. I sat on my stunt horse, Jim, as we waited for our cue. We were in full Western tack, and ahead of us was an open-topped buckboard wagon with four large, spoked wheels. A photographer was setting up nearby. The plan called for us to jump the wagon to get some publicity stills for the upcoming movie “The Big Country,” starring Gregory Peck.

I had known Peck for years, and when I’d heard about the film, I’d called him to inquire about work as a stunt double for the female leads---Jean Simmons and Carroll Baker. I also asked him if he could use Jim---he was a beautiful horse and he could jump just about anything. I was offered the job as a stunt rider, but the horse? Peck wasn’t sure. “Let’s get some