On this episode of A Word on Westerns, host Rob Word and producer/co-host RJ Word welcome Irish-born actress Audrey Dalton, whose wide-ranging career brought her to Hollywood’s golden era—and right into the heart of the Western genre. Known for her role in 1953’s Titanic (opposite Barbara Stanwyck and Clifton Webb), Audrey also appeared in a host of classic TV Westerns and frontier features that showcased both her elegance and her grit.
Audrey recalls filming Drumbeat in scenic Sedona, Arizona for star-producer Alan Ladd and director Delmer Daves, revealing how a then-rising Charles Bronson (credited for the first time under his new stage name) brought fierce intensity to the role of “Captain Jack.” She shares fond memories of working on Gunsmoke with Burt Reynolds, including the challenges of conquering her fear of horses for a fast-paced storyline. She also recounts guest turns on Wagon Train with Ward Bond, on The Big Valley with Barbara Stanwyck, and on The Wild Wild West wrangling live cheetahs—plus a brush with the legendary Boris Karloff.
From surviving runaway stagecoaches to juggling comedic bits of costuming and accent changes, Audrey’s experiences shine a loving spotlight on Hollywood’s high adventure of the 1950s and ’60s. Saddle up as she takes us from the soundstages of Paramount to the rugged backlots and desert vistas that transformed a Dublin girl into one of the genre’s favorite frontier ladies.