SUMMARY
- Milt Bradford and Alan Robert Murray received tribute in Yellowstone S4 premiere for their behind-the-scenes contributions to the show.
- Bradford, a close friend of creator Taylor Sheridan, helped shape the authenticity of the show’s horse-related scenes.
- Murray, an Oscar-winning sound editor, worked on over 100 projects, including Yellowstone, adding to the show’s immersive experience.
Milt Bradford and Alan Robert Murray were important members of the Yellowstone production family, which is why they received a special tribute at the end of the season 4 premiere. Yellowstone season 4 picks up right where season 3 left off and prepares the way for the thrilling Yellowstone season 4 finale. In the premiere episode, Beth, John, and Kayce manage to survive the various mortal perils they were placed in at the end of season 3. What’s more, Rip gets his revenge on Roarke by murdering him before the episode is out.
Season 4, episode 1, “Half the Money”, ends with one more moment before the credits. A dedication card appears that says, “In Loving Memory of Alan Robert Murray Milt Bradford”. Even the most diehard Yellowstone fans may not recognize those names and that’s likely because they are not part of the cast. Yellowstone is no stranger to dedicating episodes to below-the-line crew, and even those who are simply friends of the show. Taylor Sheridan has filmed his Western universe so long, that everyone involved is like family at this point.
Milt Bradford Owned A Horse Auction Business & Was A Close Friend Of Yellowstone’s Taylor Sheridan
Bradford Had No Official Role With Yellowstone
Milt Bradford died on May 1, 2021, at the age of 71 after a battle with cancer, just before season 4 premiered (via Country Thang Daily). Bradford was not involved in the making of Yellowstone in any official capacity, and he was actually not involved in film and TV at all. Instead, Bradford owned a horse auction company, then a real estate company, and finally, was a breeder and owner of horses used in horse cutting. The man loved the animal and there are many social media posts of Bradford standing next to his prized horses.
Bradford and Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan were close friends, and Bradford helped the showrunner nail the look of the Yellowstone Ranch and ensure there was authenticity to any scenes involving horses. Sheridan’s love for horses is well-documented, and he grew up on ranches. He seemed to have found a kindred spirit in Bradford, so much so that when Bradford passed, Sheridan made sure to dedicate a key episode of his show to him.
Alan Robert Murray Was An Oscar-Winning Sound Editor Who Worked On Yellowstone
Murray Did Sound Editing For Over 100 Movies And TV Shows
The other name on the dedication card is Alan Robert Murray, and unlike Milt Bradford, Murray did have an official role on Yellowstone. Murray was an Oscar-winning sound editor who had worked with Sheridan previously on earlier projects such as Wind River. Murray, who passed before Yellowstone season 4 at the age of 67, was an incredibly accomplished sound editor who earned 10 Academy Award nominations in the sound editing category, winning twice.
| Taylor Sheridan & Alan Robert Murray Collaborations | |
|---|---|
| Title | Year |
| Sicario | 2015 |
| Wind River | 2017 |
| Sicario: Day of the Soldado | 2018 |
| Yellowstone | 2018 |
| Those Who Wish Me Dead | 2021 |
| Alan Robert Murray Oscar Nominations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Title | Nominee Year | Winner |
| Ladyhawke | 1986 | Back to the Future: Charles L. Campbell, Robert R. Rutledge |
| Lethal Weapon 2 | 1990 | Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: Ben Burtt, Richard Hymns |
| Eraser | 1997 | The Ghost and the Darkness: Bruce Stambler |
| Space Cowboys | 2001 | U-571: Jon Johnson |
| Flags of Our Fathers | 2007 | Letters from Iwo Jima: Alan Robert Murray, Bub Asman |
| Letters from Iwo Jima | 2007 | Alan Robert Murray |
| American Sniper | 2015 | Alan Robert Murray |
| Sicario | 2016 | Mad Max: Fury Road: Mark A. Mangini, David White |
| Sully | 2017 | Arrival: Sylvain Bellemare |
| Joker | 2020 | Ford v Ferrari: Donald Sylvester |
Murray contributed to over 100 projects in his career, notably with Clint Eastwood, and his sounds can be heard in films from Dirty Harry to A Star is Born. His ability to jump between vastly different genres is incredible and the sounds of Yellowstone are some of the reasons the show feels so lived in. Both Alan Robert Murray and Milt Bradford may not be instantly recognizable names, but they both contributed to making Yellowstone the authentic series that many have come to love.
