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John Wayne

John Wayne: These Famous Actors Almost Starred in ‘The Shootist’ Instead of ‘The Duke’

Just imagine John Wayne not appearing in “The Shootist” at all. Would you believe four other actors were up first for the role?

What’s more impressive is when you see who was offered and passed on the role, it might leave you scratching your head. So yes, Wayne was not the No. 1 choice to play in “The Shootist,” his final film.

Paul Newman, Charles Bronson, Gene Hackman, and Clint Eastwood all received offers to play the lead role. All four of them said no. Why did they turn down this role before it fell to John Wayne? Well, it’s not spelled out clearly. But look at these actors and what roles they’re known for in their careers.

‘The Shootist’ List of Possible Lead Actors Is Quite Impressive

Newman played “Fast Eddie” Felson in “The Hustler” while also co-starring with Robert Redford in “Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid.” Bronson became the No. 1 box-office star in the early 1970s through “Death Wish” and its sequels. Hackman played “Popeye” Doyle in “The French Connection.” Eastwood played “Rowdy” Yates on TV’s “Rawhide” and Harry Callahan in the “Dirty Harry” movies.

But they all passed on this role of an aging gunslinger. It’s pretty amazing once you stop and think about any one of these actors playing that role instead of John Wayne. That doesn’t seem to fit the bill.

In case you’ve never seen “The Shootist,” then here’s a short description. Wayne plays a gunfighter who is dying and wants to go out with some dignity. Lauren Bacall and Ron Howard also are part of the cast. James Stewart makes a cameo role, too, at the insistence of Wayne himself.

The movie was released in 1976. There’s been a lot of mythology around “The Shootist” that Wayne did have cancer at the time and was dying. The reality is that Wayne, who years earlier went through surgery and was cancer-free, didn’t have a recurrence of it. Wayne did die of stomach cancer on June 11, 1979, at 72 years old.

Wayne Nearly Lost His Home When Trying to Get This Movie Filmed

Making a movie about the Alamo was a passion project for John Wayne. Well, John Wayne really wanted to get the movie done.

In order to do it, though, he almost lost his house, yacht, and cars to finance the film. Wayne put nearly everything he owned on the line to get it financed. He even produced, directed, and starred in the film to drum up interest.

John Wayne had been wanting to make a movie about the Alamo for years. He hired a screenwriter in 1945 but was never able to get full funding for the project. He fought with Republic Pictures over funding, but they wouldn’t budge. They were known for B-movies with much smaller budgets than Wayne had wanted. He wanted $3 million to capture the epic nature of the battle, but Republic said no.

The film was made and went on to be a big hit, raking in $20 million at the box office, according to Box Office Mojo. It received mixed reviews, but still netted seven Oscar nominations.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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