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John Wayne

John Wayne Could Have Cost Harrison Ford His Chance To Work With Gene Wilder On The Frisco Kid

One of the most oddly fascinating chapters of a movie star’s career is Harrison Ford’s awkward three-year run in between “Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope” and “Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back.”
After a rough 10 years that saw him kicked out of Columbia Pictures’ New Talent Program, and relegated to smallish roles in films like George Lucas’ “American Graffiti” and Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Conversation,” Ford finally broke through as the dashing rogue Han Solo in Lucas’ blockbuster space opera. With the entire country mad for anything even tangentially related to “Star Wars,” it seemed like all of the actors were primed for superstardom. This was especially true of Ford, whose banter with Carrie Fisher’s unflappable Princess Leia drew the film’s biggest laughs.
Ford’s presence, delivery, and undeniable good looks should’ve had every major studio and director in Hollywood knocking on his door — and, to an extent, he was in high demand. But now that he’d hit it big, Ford was eager to make up for lost time. He wanted to prove to everyone who ever doubted him that he wasn’t just another pretty face, but a serious actor with a range that stretched far beyond a wisecracking intergalactic smuggler.
He was also smart enough to understand that he had to flick on that high-wattage leading man charm, which led him to Robert Aldrich’s comedic Western, “The Frisco Kid,” and into direct conflict with John Wayne.
A casting showdown with the DukeWarner Bros.“The Frisco Kid” was a fish-out-of-water buddy comedy starring Gene Wilder as Avrim Belinski, a Polish-Jewish immigrant who heads west from Philadelphia to San Francisco to become a congregation’s new rabbi. He’s in over his head until he’s befriended by Tommy Lillard (Harrison Ford), a savvy bank robber who gets him into and out of trouble.
According to Brad Duke’s biography, “Harrison Ford: The Movies,” the producers were about to offer Ford the part of Lillard when John Wayne suddenly expressed interest in the role. Even though the aging star had several decades on the much younger Ford, if you were making a Western and the Duke was interested, you had to consider him. Evidently, Aldrich — also nearing the end of his career — was particularly intrigued by the prospect of directing Wayne. When the Western icon ultimately passed, Ford believed Aldrich was disappointed. Per Duke’s book:
“Ford had always felt as though he was in competition with Wayne. Although Ford had played a plethora of cowboy roles during his episodic television years, his director jokingly harassed him with constant comparisons as to how Wayne would have done the job.
The film’s producer Mace Neufeld recalled, ‘I think Harrison always felt when Aldrich was shooting a scene, that Aldrich was looking at him and seeing the picture of John Wayne, and he gave him a pretty hard time on the film ….’”
Tom Selleck’s loss was Harrison Ford’s gainWarner Bros.As with just about every film Harrison Ford made in between his first two “Star Wars” gigs (aside from “Apocalypse Now”), “The Frisco Kid” was a box office disappointment. Though Ford and especially Wilder received kind notices from critics, the movie was deemed a forgettable mediocrity, and a sad, late-career misfire for the director of “Kiss Me Deadly,” “The Dirty Dozen,” and “The Longest Yard.”
Even with “The Empire Strikes Back” on the horizon, Ford had to be sweating it. “Heroes,” “Hanover Street” and “Force 10 from Navarone” were stale showcases for a guy who’d blown everyone’s doors off in “Star Wars.” It wasn’t unheard of for a surefire movie star’s career to get derailed by repeatedly choosing the wrong project. Just as industry professionals were beginning to wonder whether Ford was a one-trick pony, Tom Selleck was forced by his commitment to “Magnum P.I.” to drop out of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas’ rip-snorting adventure about a dashing archaeologist who battles Nazis while looking for the Ark of the Covenant.
Fortunately for all involved, Ford was available. His fifth and final go-round as Indiana Jones will hit theaters on June 30, 2023.
Read More: https://www.slashfilm.com/1136975/john-wayne-could-have-cost-harrison-ford-his-chance-to-work-with-gene-wilder-on-the-frisco-kid/

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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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