John Wayne

John Wayne Once Intentionally Embarrassed Himself to Protect His Elderly Mentor

John Wayne (commonly referred to as The Duke) might have been known for his rough and tough personality both as an individual and an actor. However, when it came to director and long-time father-figure John Ford, John Wayne was actually quite thoughtful and empathetic. In fact, near the end of his mentor’s career, the Hollywood icon intentionally embarrassed himself to protect the reputation of the elder man.

According to Techno Trenz, John Ford directed John Wayne in 14 different movies across his career. Wayne saw early success with Ford’s 1939 film, “Stagecoach.” However, following the release of their hit film “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” in 1962, John Wayne received a prestigious award and asked John Ford to present it to him.

As per the outlet, John Ford had been nearing the end of his career, and ultimately his life, when Wayne received his award for “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.”

That said, Scott Eyman, Ford’s biographer said during the award presentation, Ford suffered a rather humiliating stumble.

Specifically, Eyman said, “When Ford was called to introduce Wayne, he walked up a few steps to the dais, tripped over one of the steps, and slid back down the dais.”

At this point, John Ford was nearly 70 years old. After seeing the fall, the outlet states Wayne created a scheme to loosen the tension surrounding the elder man’s stumble.

Eyman continued, “As Wayne ascended the steps to the dais, he purposefully tripped over the same step and slid all the way back down. The audience laughed thinking the two men were playing a game. Then he stood up again and accepted the award.”

John Wayne Once Deemed a Clint Eastwood Film ‘a Piece of S—t’

John Wayne may have had a soft spot for director John Ford. However, he wasn’t too keen on fellow Western icon Clint Eastwood. John Wayne and Clint Eastwood are arguably Hollywood’s two most famous Western actors. But, due to their age and stylistic preferences, they were often at odds. In fact, when Eastwood began work for “The Hostiles,” The Duke deemed the film a complete “piece of s—t.“

With more than 20 years between them, John Wayne had a penchant for the big screen and characters portraying moralistic righteousness. In contrast, Eastwood was attracted to both films and television, eyeing much more diverse roles than that of John Wayne.

Eastwood received the script for “The Hostiles” in 1973. Upon reading it, he thought it would be the perfect opportunity to finally star alongside John Wayne. However, when Eastwood sent the script to Wayne, he immediately dismissed the film.

The actor and director sent the script, revised, a second and third time. Wayne received “The Hostiles” script the third time while out sailing with his son Mike. Upon reading it, he reportedly said, “This piece of s—t again.”

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.