John Wayne

The Hollywood star John Wayne called “the worst actor in town”

Fewer actors in the history of Hollywood cinema can be said to be quite as iconic as John Wayne, the face of the western genre throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Collaborating with such early pioneers of the craft as John Ford and Howard Hawks, Wayne became known for his rugged characters daring to patrol the American frontier, delivering iconic performances in 1956’s The Searchers and 1962’s The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, among other classics.
Oozing class and potent patriotic vigour, Wayne found great success by essentially playing a rough, tough caricature of his own real-life persona. Aware of such an identity on screen, Wayne told film critic Roger Ebert back in a 1969 interview that he was delighted to take on the Henry Hathaway movie True Grit, stating: “It’s sure as hell my first decent role in 20 years…and my first chance to play a character role instead of John Wayne. Ordinarily, they just stand me there and run everybody up against me”.
Though he thrived in the mid-20th century, becoming one of the most beloved actors of all time, the actor wasn’t afraid of making enemies, calling out multiple actors and filmmakers who he disagreed with.
Such is detailed in the book John Wayne: My Father, written by the actor’s daughter, Aissa Wayne. “When it came to his contemporaries in film, I only heard him speak once with any real venom,” she wrote, before revealing that the actor in question was none other than the two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman.
“Gene Hackman could never appear on-screen without my father skewering his performance,” Aissa added: “I wish I could tell you why he so harshly criticized Hackman, but he never went into detail”. Hackan rose to industry prominence in the same decade as Wayne’s Hollywood stature dwindled, starring in 1971’s The French Connection, 1974’s The Conversation and Young Frankenstein of the same year.
For whatever reason, Wayne wasn’t fond of Hackman at all, with Aissa further recalling: “Back then, however, my father called Hackman ‘the worst actor in town. He’s awful’”. Despite his clear hatred of Hackman, his daughter is sure that if her father was around today, he might like his films, stating: “Although it’s pure speculation, had my father lived to see more of his work, I think his view of Mr Hackman would have changed”.
Still, despite Wayne’s dislike of Hackman, the latter never took his criticism to heart, calling the former “one of the best actors ever”. In an interview from back in 1992, Hackman, who was hot off the back of the release of the Clint Eastwood ‘Best Picture’ winner Unforgiven, added: “I could never be the man he was, because his politics and mine would be incompatible, but you must admire how really good he was as an actor, in command of the scene and with such great charisma”.
Take a look at the trailer for the influential revisionist western classic, Unforgiven below.

Official Trailer: Unforgiven (1992)

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!

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.

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.