The Western John Carpenter Wrote For John Wayne (& Why It Didn’t Happen)
John Carpenter once wrote a Western for John Wayne called Blood River, but here’s why it didn’t happen. Carpenter grew up a major fan of Westerns, with Rio Bravo being his favorite; Assault On Precinct 13 was his take on the same concept. By the time he moved into filmmaking, Westerns were all but dead in Hollywood. Instead, he focused on horror and went on to helm genre favorites like Halloween, The Thing and In The Mouth Of Madness. He never quite got to fulfill his Western dreams, however, with 1998’s Vampires being about as close as he came.
Early in his career, Carpenter penned a Western called Blood River. This involved a young gunfighter fleeing the vengeful father of a man he killed, and being helped by an old trapper. During the early ’70s, John Wayne’s – who considered Jet Pilot his worst movie – production company optioned the screenplay, with Carpenter brought on to craft it for the star. Carpenter recalls having a good time developing the project and that he was well-treated by Wayne and his family. However, the project was scrapped, with Wayne’s ill health during his final years cited as the key reason. In fact, part of Blood River’s rewrite involved trimming the more intense action sequences for his character.
Blood River Would Have Been Wayne’s Final Western
It appears Wayne hadn’t entirely given up on Blood River, as Ron Howard later recalled the actor mentioning the project as a potential starring vehicle for the two of them. Howard co-starred with Wayne in what proved to be the latter’s final movie The Shootist and mentioned that Blood River contained two great parts for them. Wayne’s health would continue to worsen following The Shootist, and this period even saw Wayne reject Spielberg’s offer to appear in war comedy 1941. Howard later lamented not getting to work with Wayne again, who passed from stomach cancer in 1979.
Blood River Was Made Into A 1991 TV Movie With Wilford Brimley
Carpenter originally envisioned a director like Howard Hawks helming Blood River. Carpenter also knew he would never get the gig, as he was too inexperienced at the time. Wayne’s passing appeared to mark the end of Blood River, though it was eventually produced as a CBS TV movie in 1991. This cast Ricky Schroder as the gunfighter, while Wilford Brimley played the character earmarked for Wayne. Carpenter’s ex-wife Adrienne Barbeau also played a part, but despite a talented cast, Blood River debuted to mixed reviews and is now largely forgotten.
Outside of Blood River, Carpenter developed an epic Western dubbed El Diablo for himself to direct. This would have been a combination of Wayne’s The Searchers – which has an iconic ending – and Journey To The Center Of The Earth, where a mild-mannered schoolteacher teams with a veteran gunfighter to rescue the former’s kidnapped sister. The movie’s potential budget scared studio’s away, while Carpenter moved on to other projects. Like Blood River, it was eventually made in the ’90s as a TV movie, starring Anthony Edwards and Louis Gossett Jr.
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!
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.
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.