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John Wayne

“I fought hard. I fought to win”: John Wayne Invented New Kind of Dirty Fighting Style Unlike Anything Hollywood Had Ever Seen

Anyone who has gone to acting school is aware that there are many approaches to the craft. While many actors (and actresses) portray tough guys, these actors possess real fighting skills and have spent years honing their craft. Hollywood is home to many legendary figures, but few have had the same impact as the one and only, John Wayne, who passed away on June 11, 1979.
Wayne, who is renowned for his ruggedness and toughness, revolutionized the movie industry in a variety of ways, including with his creative fight scenes. The dirty fighting style of the seasoned actor influenced how movie fight scenes were captured on camera. In the 1930s, the late actor spent a significant amount of time as the lead in ‘Poverty Row’ Westerns, where he developed his on-screen persona and acting technique.
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During this time, he also made an appearance in Haunted Gold, his attempt at a horror film. In 1939’s Stagecoach, he finally made it big. And over the years that followed, he rose to become one of the most well-known movie stars in the world.
Also read: John Wayne Humiliated an Entire Superpower After Joseph Stalin Sent KGB Assassins To Kill Him
The Contribution Of John Wayne To Action Movies
Romantic dramas and Biblical epics were just two of the many genres in which John Wayne appeared, but his on-screen persona remained consistent.
Wayne, who starred in around 80 Western films during his lifetime, is one of the iconic figures of a bygone Hollywood era. This also applies to his final performance, in which he played a gunslinger who is about to die of cancer in 1976’s The Shootist. Also, note that he himself had died of stomach cancer in 1979.
Before the John Wayne era, Hollywood fight scenes often featured a close-up of two actors scuffling at each other while using barely covert stagecraft. Even the most spectacular-looking fights lacked the physical impact of a true brawl. But the legendary actor insisted on realism in his fight scenes and made some important adjustments that had a long-lasting impact on the action films.
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First of all, Wayne’s fight scenes were gritty action scenes that showed actors actually fighting one another in real life. This strategy was a part of his iconic Hollywood persona, which placed an emphasis on toughness (an air of genuine toughness that had never been seen in films).
The late actor brought a sense of authenticity to what would have otherwise been staged and fake because he understood how important it was to not only entertain audiences but also to make them believe in reality.
He once remarked:
“The hero could only knock the villain down politely and then wait until he rose. I changed all that. I threw chairs and lamps. I fought hard, and I fought dirty. I fought to win. This made the fights more believable and his characters less squeaky-clean and more interesting.
Also read: Liam Neeson Thought $932M Franchise That Made Him Hollywood’s Next John Wayne Was Too Simple: “It’s going straight to video”
Things You Must Know About John Wayne
It quickly became common for Westerns or thrillers to feature their heroes ‘fighting dirty’, as in the bar fight in The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre.
John Wayne adopted this style throughout the majority of his movies in the ’40s and ’50s. And his method of filming fights did help get rid of the previously mentioned cleanness of movie heroes and added a gritty element to screen fights.
Additionally, the actor created a punch specifically made for movies. He would position himself so that he was in front of the camera in such a way that the audience could see the entire action in all its bloody glory.
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Thus, The Longest Day actor’s innovations in fight scenes are still prevalent in many Hollywood movies, with high-powered, thrilling live-action that feels completely real. He actually served as an inspiration for many filmmakers to use comparable strategies, producing some of the most iconic fight scenes in movie history.
Moreover, he left a lasting impression on the movie industry, which still values realistic fight scenes and authentic action in producing some of Hollywood’s most influential movies.

John Wayne

The Legend Lives On: John Wayne is Still Alive!

In a world where legends never fade, we can’t help but wonder: what if John Wayne, the iconic figure of American cinema, is still with us in spirit? The Duke, known for his larger-than-life roles and undeniable charisma, continues to inspire generations.

From his unforgettable performances in classics like “True Grit” and “The Searchers” to his indomitable spirit, Wayne’s essence is woven into the fabric of Hollywood and American culture. His rugged persona, moral fortitude, and unwavering courage resonate deeply, reminding us of the values he embodied.

While we may not see him on the silver screen today, Wayne’s legacy lives on through the countless actors he inspired and the stories he helped tell. His films are timeless, bringing joy and adventure to audiences around the world.

So, as we celebrate the enduring impact of John Wayne, let’s keep his spirit alive in our hearts. Whether you’re watching one of his classics or sharing a favorite quote, remember that the legend of John Wayne will never truly die. Here’s to the Duke—forever a part of our cinematic history!

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John Wayne

Why John Wayne Turned Down the Chance to Work With Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood and John Wayne are the two biggest legends in the history of Western movies, however, they never worked together. The duo did have the opportunity to work together once in the 1970s. Here’s why the film never came to fruition.

How John Wayne responded when Clint Eastwood tried to work with him

Firstly, a little background. According to the book John Wayne: The Life and Legend, it all starts with Larry Cohen. Though Cohen is not a widely known director like Steven Spielberg or Quentin Tarantino, he’s a huge name to fans of B movies. He directed famous B movies like The Stuff, Q: The Winged Serpent, It’s Alive, and God Told Me To. He also wrote a script called The Hostiles shortly after Eastwood released his classic High Plains Drifter.

The Hostiles was about a gambler who wins half of an estate of an older man. The gambler and the older man have to work together despite the fact that they don’t like each other. Eastwood optioned the screenplay with the intent of playing the gambler alongside Wayne as the older man.

Eastwood sent a copy of the script of The Hostiles to Wayne. Although Eastwood felt the script was imperfect, he saw its potential. However, Wayne was not interested. Eastwood pitched the film to Wayne a second time and Wayne responded with a letter. Wayne’s letter complained about High Plains Drifter. Wayne was offended by the film and its portrayal of the Old West as a cruel, violent place.

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John Wayne

Ann-Margret Refused to Call John Wayne ‘Duke’ While Introducing 1 of His Movies

Ann-Margret once starred in one of John Wayne’s lesser-known movies. However, she refused to call him by his popular moniker Duke. Here’s a look at the film they made together — and why she declined to call him by a nickname.

The one time Ann-Margret and John Wayne made a movie together

Ann-Margret is probably most known for her work in musicals, specifically Bye Bye Birdie, Viva Las Vegas, and The Who’s Tommy. However, she also dabbled in the Western genre. She starred alongside Wayne in the mostly forgotten movie The Train Robbers.

Wayne was also known as The Duke or just Duke. According to USA Today, the nickname was derived from his childhood dog. It stuck with him for many years. It continues to be used today — even on the box covers of the DVDs for his movies.

John Wayne | Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

During an interview with Interview Magazine, Ann-Margret explained why she didn’t refer to the Rio Bravo star by this famous name. “When I came to this country, first of all, mother and I didn’t know English,” she said. “I would curtsey, then say, ‘Thank you,’ and then when I was leaving, curtsey. For example, we went to Dallas to introduce a film I did with John Wayne. And I never called him Duke. I just couldn’t. That’s the way I was raised. When you meet someone, you say either Mr. or Mrs. or Miss. You stand up.”

Ann-Margret revealed she treated other famous people in much the same way. For example, she worked with director George Sidney on Bye Bye Birdie and Viva Las Vegas. She always called him Mr. Sidney.

What Ann-Margret thought about John Wayne

Ann-Margret refused to use Wayne’s most famous moniker. However, she had a positive view of the actor. During an interview with Fox News, she was asked what she expected when she met Wayne. “Oh, I didn’t know what to expect,” she revealed. “But when he hugged me, it’s like the world was hugging me. He was so big and wide with that booming voice. 

“We were shooting in Durango, Mexico and my parents came down to visit me,” she added. “He was so great with my parents. So absolutely welcoming and gentle with them. And anybody who was great to my parents was on a throne in my eyes.”

How the world reacted to ‘The Train Robbers’

Wayne starred in many classic Westerns, including The Searchers, Stagecoach, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. However, The Train Robbers is mostly forgotten. It didn’t gain a cult following like Once Upon a Time in the West or Dead Man. It wasn’t a critical success either, garnering a 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, Ann-Margret had some fond memories of making the film — even if she refused to call Wayne by his famous nickname.

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