John Wayne

The John Wayne Western Spielberg Watches Before Starting A New Movie

Steven Spielberg has claimed he watches John Wayne Western The Searchers every time he’s preparing to film a new project. Of the 80 or so Westerns Wayne starred in, 1956’s The Searchers is arguably his most acclaimed. The story is simple with Wayne’s cynical, racist Civil War vet teaming with his nephew to rescue his kidnapped niece, who was grabbed during a Comanche raid. The dark storyline, stunning scenery and iconic moments such as the final image of Wayne’s Ethan framed in a doorway have seen it lauded as one of the greatest Westerns ever. Many filmmakers have cited The Searchers as an influence, with Spielberg especially taken by it.

Speaking with The Telegraph, the filmmaker revealed when he’s about to start shooting a new movie project, he rewatches The Searchers as a ritual. It’s been noted that the Barry abduction sequence from Spielberg’s Close Encounters Of The Third Kind is similar to the scene where Ethan’s – who MIGHT be Debbie’s father – doomed family prepares for the raid that sets the story off. Speaking further with AFI, Spielberg speaks of how Searchers director John Ford’s films “inspire” him, comparing his use of the camera to a painter. Given his deep love of The Searchers, it’s surprising the filmmaker hasn’t tried a Western – though one could still be in his future.
The Searchers Also Influenced Martin Scorsese & Star Wars

Steven spielberg perfect western John ford the searchers

Spielberg is far from the first filmmaker to cite The Searchers as an influence. In terms of pop culture, its biggest inspiration was on Star Wars: A New Hope. The basic story – where a veteran warrior teams with a naive young hero to rescue a kidnapped woman – applies to both movies. Stylistically, Star Wars‘ use of vast desert landscapes connects to The Searchers, as does the shocking discovery of a burned-out homestead. Lucas’ film was a potpourri of cinematic influences and it also pulled from Akira Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress, making it a unique marriage of Western and samurai movie.

Alongside Citizen Kane, Scorsese listed The Searchers as one of his favorite movies (via BFI), and it was namedropped in his debut film Who’s That Knocking at My Door. The Searchers even influenced Breaking Bad. Creator Vince Gilligan told EW in 2013 that the ending where Walt can’t go through with his plan to kill ex-partner Jesse (Aaron Paul) and instead saves him, was heavily inspired by The Searchers. In comparing the endings, Gilligan said “A lot of astute viewers who know their film history are going to say, ‘It’s the ending to The Searchers.’ And indeed it is.”
Why Wayne Rejected A Spielberg Movie

John wayne steven spielberg 1941

Being such a fan of The Searchers, it’s little surprise Spielberg tried to work with Wayne too. Unfortunately, he decided to pitch the Western icon 1941, a zany comedy set during World War 2. The fiercely patriotic actor was offered a supporting role, though he swiftly rejected Steven Spielberg’s movie offer. Recounting Wayne’s rejection to EW, the director stated “He called me the next day and said he felt it was a very un-American movie, and I shouldn’t waste my time making it. ‘You know, that was an important war, and you’re making fun of a war that cost thousands of lives at Pearl Harbor.’”

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.