John Wayne

‘Old Hollywood’ Gladly Came To John Wayne’s Aid On The Set Of The Shootist

When producer Mike Frankovich set out to make “The Shootist,” he did not initially pursue John Wayne for the role of J.B. Brooks, a lawman-turned-gunfighter who discovers he is dying from cancer. Given the elegiac tone of Glendon Swarthout’s novel, and Wayne’s real-life battle with cancer, you’d think he would’ve been at the top of Frankovich’s list. Alas, Wayne’s health was in steep decline; he’d struggled through the shoot of 1975’s “Rooster Cogburn,” and was likely not up to the task of one last leading-man part. But when top Hollywood stars like Paul Newman, Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson, George C. Scott, and Gene Hackman passed on the project, the universe seemed to be telling the producer there was only one man for this particular job.

Frankovich finally caved and offered the part to Wayne, who not only accepted but proved to be a boon to the film’s casting prospects. “Old Hollywood came to the rescue,” said Frankovich’s producing partner William Self. Within a short span of time, director Don Siegel found himself blessed with a cast that included legends like James Stewart, Lauren Bacall, Richard Boone, Scatman Crothers and Hugh O’Brian. They were all there to pay their respects to The Duke in the flesh before he rode off into the sunset, and some of them took pay cuts for the experience. As O’Brian said in Scott Eyman’s “John Wayne: The Life and Legend,” “We all felt it might be his last film.”
The company of friends was a great comfort to The Duke
ParamountFor Wayne, having friends and esteemed entertainment colleagues hanging around lightened the mood on the set. At the end of the shooting day, the old timers would reminisce about dear departed friends like Humphrey Bogart, Spencer Tracy, and John Ford. But it wasn’t all fun and games. Far from it. Wayne was in poor health, and freely complained about it (“I don’t mind being old, I just mind not being able to move.”) According to Bacall:
“‘Wayne wasn’t particularly reflective, at least not with me. He loved to enjoy life, but he wasn’t feeling well. One day he said to me, ‘God, I can’t drink, I can’t smoke, life’s no fun anymore.’ But he was still feisty, ornery in a way. A very sweet man, actually. We got along very well.”
The most poignant moment of the shoot came when Wayne was reunited with his “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” co-star Stewart. Stewart, who’d segued from features to television in the early 1970s, was, according to Eyman’s book, thrilled to be making a big-screen Western again with his movie-star pal. Though Stewart’s hearing loss occasionally caused him to miss cues on occasion, the scene ultimately came together in a fashion that pleased all parties.
An elegant swan song for an ornery cuss
Paramount“The Shootist” was released on August 20, 1976 to laudatory reviews, and performed reasonably well at the box office. It’s a quiet film that builds to a violent climax, one orchestrated by Books, who prefers to die on his own bullet-whizzing terms. The film is too modest in its ambitions to rate as a masterpiece, but it’s a fine send-off to Wayne’s career.
And while Wayne was very much in pain throughout the filming, he greatly appreciated the companionship of his peers. As Bacall remembered, “Every now and then we would just be standing next to one another and he’d kind of just hold my hand. One of the crew mentioned that it was a beautiful day, and he said, ‘Every day you wake up is a beautiful day.’”

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.