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John Wayne’s Favorite Films Of All Time (Including Two Of His Own) – My Blog

Here are John Wayne’s Favorite Films of his own – which just happen to include two movies he starred in. Wayne had to work his way up to leading man status, and after many uncredited roles in 1920s movies, he spent much of the ’30s fronting low-budget, “poverty row” Westerns. It was 1939’s Stagecoach that changed his fortunes, with the film being both a major success and a landmark for the genre.While Wayne is best known for Westerns – of which he made 80 – he appeared in many different types of movies during his heyday, including romantic dramas and war films. Of course, his screen persona rarely changed from film to film, as audiences often came to see a “John Wayne” movie first and foremost. His low-budget Westerns also saw him carefully craft his screen image, from his distinctive drawl, the way he walked and his innovative – for the time, at least – approach to screen fights.

Wayne was a star for over 30 years, but while he appeared in many classics, his controversial Playboy interview from 1971 came to haunt him. During this conversation, he openly expressed racist, homophobic and misogynist viewpoints, which caused an outcry shortly after its publication. It caused another in 2019 when the interview resurfaced. This has turned some cinephiles and viewers off the star, though Wayne – who was also known as “Duke” – work looms large from Hollywood’s Golden Age. In 1977, The People’s Almanac (via Stars and Letters) sent out a poll to living Academy Award winners, asking for their top five choices for best movies and actors. Here are John Wayne’s favorite movies.A Man For All Seasons (1966)
robert shaw in a man for all seasons


Wayne’s first choice is the historical drama A Man For All Seasons, starring Jaws‘ Robert Shaw and Orson Welles. The movie adapted the play of the same name and recounted the fate of Sir Thomas More, the Lord Chancellor of England who refused King Henry VIII’s request for his marriage to Catherine of Aragon to be annulled. A Man For All Seasons was both a critical and commercial hit upon release and later won Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Given his interest in history and men who hold true to their principles, it’s little surprise Wayne – who only made one sequel – was taken by the film.Gone With The Wind (1939)

Gone with the Wind movie
The next film on Wayne’s list is Gone With The Wind, the sweeping romantic epic from 1939. The story is set during the American Civil War and follows Vivien Leigh’s Scarlett and her marriage to Clark Gable’s Rhett. Despite being a troubled production the film was an enormous critical and commercial success, and in later years would regularly top lists of the greatest films ever made. Gone With The Wind is still held in high regard, though its depiction of slavery has come under fire in the decades since its release.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1962)
the-four-horsemen-of-the-apocalypse-poster
Wayne’s third selection was The Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse, a remake of the classic silent film from the ’20s starring Rudolph Valentino. The remake was directed by Gigi’s Vincente Minnelli, with the story being an epic family drama set during World War 2. Lead Glenn Ford – co-star of Superman 1978 – was consideredly woefully miscast in the lead role, and the film received mixed reviews. The film was also a financial disaster for MGM, with the big budget production said to have lost the studio over $5 million at the box office. While it hasn’t been reappraised as a lost classic, the reception to the movie is warmer now than it was on its initial release, and it is recognized for being an ambitious – if flamed – melodrama.The Searchers (1956)
Jeffery Hunter and John Wayne in The Searchers
One downside to John Wayne’s favorite film selection is that the star didn’t actually expand on the reasons he enjoyed a given film. At least with The Searchers, his fondness is a little easier to explain. The Searchers is a dark Western where Wayne plays Ethan Edwards, a bigoted Civil War vet who teams with his nephew to find his niece, who was abducted by Native Americans. The Searchers – which was a big influence on Lucas’ Star Wars – was one of the first major Westerns to explore racism against Native Americans, and its style inspired future movies like Tarantino’s Django Unchained and Lawrence of Arabia.The film is not only regarded as one of Wayne and Ford’s best movies but arguably one of the greatest Westerns ever made. The Searchers also has one of the most famous ending images in cinema, where – after completing his mission – Ethan chooses not to rejoin his family and is instead framed by a doorway as he retreats into the distance as the door closes on him. This is a visual that was later borrowed by Francis Ford Coppola for The Godfather’s ending.The Quiet Man (1952)
two main characters stand soaked in an archway in The Quiet Man
The final film on John Wayne’s list of favorite films is another Ford collaboration The Quiet Man. This follows Wayne’s retired boxer as he travels to Ireland after accidentally killing an opponent in the ring. The film was a change of pace for its star at the time, as it’s a romantic comedy instead of a Western or war drama. The Quiet Man has aged poorly in some regards, especially for playing into various comic stereotypes of the Irish. That said, it’s also considered one of Wayne’s best, and is also famed for its drawn-out fight scene; the latter would be homaged in the famous alley fight in John Carpenter’s They Live.While the above topped John Wayne’s Favorite Films list, he’s also mentioned other favorites over the years. During a Q&A on Phil Donahue, Wayne – who only made one horror movie – also name-dropped Stagecoach as a favorite, stating he “loved” the movie for basically giving him a career. What’s interesting to note about the latter Western is despite the fact it’s more of an ensemble, Wayne’s Ringo Kid was the character that popped with audiences regardless. Wayne also name-checked the 1962 adventure Hatari!, which focused on game catchers in Africa. That film didn’t receive particularly strong reviews, but Wayne claimed to have enjoyed filming because it was essentially a three-month safari experience for “free.”

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John Wayne or Jeff Bridges, who plays the role of Rooster Cogburn well? – My Blog

Two movies made 50 years apart, both based on a novel by the same name. Two different iconic actors took turns playing the rough-and-tumble marshal Rooster Cogburn in their respective versions of “True Grit.” John Wayne played him in the 1969 version, Jeff Bridges in 2010. Both were celebrated critically. Now, Duke’s official Instagram account is comparing the performances to see which one did it better.Of course, the question was posed by the John Wayne account. So it’s safe to say the people who responded in the comments were at least slightly biased toward the 1969 version.


Then again, both Rooster Cogburn actors were nominated for Academy Awards for their performances. So it’s really anybody’s game.“John Wayne & Jeff Bridges were both nominated for Oscars for their performance as Rooster Cogburn. Which version of the movie is your favorite, 1969 or 2010?” the Instagram caption read.

In the world of remakes, few movies do as much justice to their original counterparts as the 2010 version of “True Grit” from the Coen Brothers. There was no consensus among fans whatsoever. But some of the most popular sentiments seemed to be that the 1969 “True Grit” with John Wayne as Cogburn featured the more iconic performance. Though, many fans thought the 2010 movie was closer to the source text than the original.

“I have to fall on the side of the Duke. BUT, that’s the BEST remake of a film, I’ve ever seen! Loved them both,” a fan replied to the Instagram post.“2010 Much richer film and truer to the book’s feel. Wayne was robbed of an Oscar for the Searchers and this was a lifetime achievement award,” another added.Two Versions of ‘True Grit,’ Two Very Different Approaches to Character . One of the biggest complaints John Wayne fans had of Jeff Bridges’ approach to Rooster Cogburn was how disheveled he appeared.

“Jeff Bridges was horrible had marbles in house mouth and portrait Roster as a slob,” another fan replied to the post from John Wayne’s estate.But a different fan pointed out that, indeed, the portrayal of Rooster Cogburn in the novel by Charles Portis was one of a slobbish man.This isn’t to say that the Bridges performance is better for accuracy. It’s just that Henry Hathaway, the director of the 1969 “True Grit,” and the Coen brothers took different approaches to their movies. As a result, the actors contrasted greatly in their portrayals of Rooster Cogburn.

At the end of the day, however, the win may have to go to John Wayne on this one. After all, we’re still waiting on Jeff Bridges to reprise the role in a sequel. Duke did it in the 1975 film “Rooster Cogburn.”

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John Wayne’s ”expensive” sayings made the fans ”nod”’. – My Blog

John Wayne (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979) was an American movie Actor, director, and producer, known in movies like Stagecoach, Angel and the Bad Man, Red River, and The Shootist.They say that life is a good teacher and through them who lived this life we can learn a lot, especially from great people like John Wayne a.k.a Duke.Today I am going to share with you Wayne’s 5 rules you should be remembering in your daily life:


1. Money cannot buy happiness but its more comfortable to cry in a Mercedes than on a bicycle.
This is a long debate everywhere, rich people say that “those who say money can buy happiness are the ones who don’t have” and broke people reply that “you don’t know how miserable we are just because we don’t have coins in our pocket”.John Wayne made it clearer that though money cannot buy happiness but when unhappy moments arrive money can make someone comfortable.


2. Forgive your enemy but remember the bastard’s name.
Forgiving your enemy is in your favor, most of the time carrying such burden in your heart is more painful while the bastard doesn’t even know.Just to be careful, put their names somewhere in your mind. Once a soldier always a commando and once enemy, I don’t know.

3. Help someone when they are in trouble and they will remember you when they’re in trouble again.
Do what is right, help people but never expect something in return.According to John Wayne, the only thing you can expect from people is that if you have helped them in the hard times, they will remember you when they’re in trouble again.

4. Many people are alive only because it’s illegal to shoot them.
Everyone has enemies and some people do harm to us to the level we even wish to kill them. Not only our enemies would be killed if to kill was not illegal but also some innocents and powerless people.About this rule, something you have to learn is that we’re surrounded by people that don’t kill us only because it’s illegal.
5. Alcohol does not solve any problems, but then again, neither does milk.
Haha this rule is somehow funny but it is true on the other hand. You will find people telling you stop drinking alot it will solve nothing but at least you’ll have that sedative moment.Alcohol does not solve any problems, but then again, neither does milk.

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Interesting things happen at the “Duketober” celebration at the John Wayne museum . – My Blog

The enduring legacy of actor John Wayne, America’s ultimate cowboy, was celebrated last month, fittingly enough, by the Cowboy Channel in association with the John Wayne: An American Experience museum in Fort Worth, Texas.


The “Duketober” celebration is a month-long airing of classic John Wayne movies via broadcast and streaming. It will culminate with a 50th anniversary live panel discussion on Nov. 3 in remembrance of Big Jake, the 1971 movie that bought Wayne together with sons Ethan and Patrick, who will participate in a discussion about his films and career.Wayne’s legacy has taken a few hits in the last couple of years.

A 50-year-old Playboy magazine interview outlining some of his controversial views on race surfaced, sparking his USC alma mater to remove an exhibit on him. There’s also a movement to remove his name from the Orange County airport. So far, that action has failed to gain ground . But Wayne’s cinematic legacy, particularly his western movies, continue to rank among the finest ever produced by Hollywood. Such films as The Searchers, True Grit, Stagecoach and Rio Bravo are considered classics of the genre.

“The John Wayne: An American Experience (JWAAE) museum in the Fort Worth Stockyards has created a perfect synergy for the Cowboy Channel to highlight this incredible western film legend and showcase many of his classic films for our audience,” said Cowboy Channel CEO Raquel Koehler Gottsch.

“Our fans absolutely adore John Wayne, and we couldn’t be happier to have a great relationship with his family and be able to share his movies with our audience and dedicate an entire month to such a western star legend.”“He would be thrilled to learn that so many people still cherish his films after all these years and I know he’s smiling somewhere,” said son Ethan Wayne.

The Cowboy Channel will also feature a Halloween movie marathon of Wayne films, and fans can tune-in to such classics such as Rio Grande, Sand of Iwo Jima, and The Shootist.

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