Connect with us

Entertainment

How John Ford’s Fort Apache Saved John Wayne’s Flagging Film Career – My Blog

John Wayne might’ve been full of macho swagger on the big screen, but off-screen he was given to fretting. A large portion of the blame for this could be placed at John Ford’s doorstep. The A-list Hollywood filmmaker was nearly instrumental in making Wayne a full-fledged movie star, but he’d made the actor earn it over the course of a decade in bit parts and supporting roles.When Wayne finally broke through in Ford’s classic Western, “Stagecoach,” he was 32 years old and determined to make up for lost time. It was at this precise moment that his mentor joined the United States Office of Strategic Services to assist in morale building during World War II. Wayne notably sat out the war, which, in the absence of friendly rivals like James Stewart and Henry Fonda (who also enlisted), allowed him to become one of the biggest movie stars in America. But the films he top-lined between 1941 and 1945 weren’t anywhere near as distinguished as “Stagecoach.” It wasn’t until Ford returned from the war that he appeared in a first-rate picture (“They Were Expendable”), but he did so as second fiddle to star Robert Montgomery.Perhaps more worrying to Wayne was Ford’s decision to cast Fonda as the star of his first post-WWII Western, “My Darling Clementine.” Fonda’s portrayal of Wyatt Earp would become viewed as the definitive take on the lawman. Wayne, meanwhile, wondered if he should form a production company and get busy developing his own projects.Then 1948 happened.At last, the Duke measures up to Henry FondaRKOHas any actor had a better year than Wayne did in ’48? It’s hard to think of anyone stringing together three classics like “Red River,” “Fort Apache” and “3 Godfathers” over a 12-month span. The effect on the Duke’s career was tremendous. On a strictly commercial level, all three movies were hits, which cemented Wayne’s status as a box-office draw. But most importantly, the Ford-directed duo of “Fort Apache” and “3 Godfathers” allayed his fear that his filmmaking benefactor had lost faith in his ability to lead a picture.“Fort Apache” was especially vindicating for Wayne. The first installment in Ford’s Cavalry Trilogy asked him to share the screen with Fonda as a co-lead, and the Duke more than held his own. As David Welky and Randy Roberts explain in their “John Wayne: Treasures” biography:“‘Fort Apache’ came at a perfect time for Wayne’s career. Although critics failed to discern the significance of the film, they recognized its mass appeal. It was a solid box office success, a powerful movie, and a clear demonstration that John Wayne did not have to win the heart of a leading lady to stand out in a film. Although Ford still did not consider him in the same class as Fonda, Duke was narrowing the gap.”Wayne was back in the saddle and riding tall. The following year, he would receive his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in “The Sands of Iwo Jima” and give one of his finest performances in Ford’s “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.” He’d find more reasons to worry, but he remained a star until the end of his career.

Entertainment

Mel Gibson slammed for sharing ‘insane’ conspiracy theory about LA fires after his mansion burns down

Mel Gibson has been met with backlash from social media users after discussing a conspiracy theory on live TV regarding the Los Angeles wildfires.

The 69-year-old actor revealed over the weekend that he had lost his Malibu home in the blaze after it succumbed to the flames while he was a guest on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

Speaking on Elizabeth Vargas Reports on NewsNation, Gibson revealed he was in Austin, Texas, when he found out that his multi-million dollar mansion was “completely toasted” ,describing the loss as both “devastating” and “emotional”.

“I’ve never seen such a complete burn,” Gibson said. “It is obviously devastating, it’s emotional. You live there for a long time, and you had all your stuff. I lived there for about 14, 15 years, so it was home to me.”

Now, Gibson has appeared on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle to speak about a conspiracy theory that even he admitted was “insane”.

He told the host: “I know they were messing with the water, letting reserves go for one reason or another. They’ve been doing that a while. California has a lot of problems that sort of baffle the mind as far as why they do things.”

Gibson then asked the questions, “Is it on purpose?” and “Do they want the state empty?”

The actor then admitted he was guilty of concocting “horrible theories” about the fires in his mind, adding: “I can make all kinds of horrible theories up in my head, conspiracy theories and everything else, but it just seemed a little convenient that there was no water.”

“And that the wind conditions were right and that there are people ready and willing and able to start fires,” Gibson continued. “And are they commissioned to do so or acting on their own volition? I don’t know. But they seem pretty well equipped these people that they are catching.”

During their discussion, Ingraham said: “Well, now there’s already talk. And we played a couple of soundbites. Of re-imagining the way rebuilding occurs.

“And obviously there’s a great need for high-density housing in California and across the country. That’s a big push by the climate folks. And you’re already hearing rumblings of that. In this case, like goodbye single-family homes. Hello high-density housing!”

In response to the segment, viewers took to X to bash the actor’s baseless claims.

“Conspiracy theories are his last claims to fame,” one person wrote, with another adding: “The has been is now an expert on water reserves.”

A third tweeted: “I will never watch another movie with him in it.”

“Mel needs a rest,” one viewer responded, with another simply writing: “Shameful.”

The fires remain one of the most destructive and costly disasters in US history.

At least 16 people have lost their lives — 11 in the Eaton Fire and five in the Palisades Fire. Thirteen others remain missing, as of this writing.

As firefighters continue to contain the blazes, officials have issued critical health and safety warnings to the public:

Water Safety: Residents in and around Pacific Palisades have been advised not to drink tap water due to potential contamination from the fires. Bottled water is being distributed at Westwood Recreation Centre and Brentwood Country Club.

Air Quality: The LA County Public Health Department has urged residents to avoid using power blowers like leaf blowers to limit exposure to ash, smoke, and particulate matter worsened by the fires and windstorm conditions.

Ocean Waters: Authorities have also warned against swimming, surfing, or playing in ocean waters between Surfrider Beach and Dockweiler State Beach, covering a 20-mile stretch. “People entering these waters could become ill,” the department stated.

Meanwhile, early estimates suggest that recovery efforts in the Los Angeles area could cost upwards of $150 billion, per AccuWeather.

Our thoughts continue to go out to everybody impacted by this unfolding tragedy.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

How people view beauty in American and the world at large

The standard of beauty is changing, driven by social media, where women can proudly display their natural beauty in all shapes and sizes. A recent study in the *International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology, and Education* confirms this shift, showing that the average American woman now wears between a size 16 and 18, rather than the size 14 of previous years.

The study, which analyzed data from over 5,500 U.S. women, found that the average waist size has increased from 34.9 inches to 37.5 inches over the last two decades. Susan Dunn, a lead expert on the study, believes this information is crucial: “Just knowing where the average is can help a lot of women with their self-image.”

Dunn, along with co-author Deborah Christel, calls on the fashion industry to adapt to these changes. “These women aren’t going away, they aren’t going to disappear, and they deserve to have clothing,” Dunn emphasizes.

The message is clear: it’s time for clothing designers to update their sizing standards to reflect the reality of the modern American woman, embracing her true shape and size.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

She hasn’t cut her hairs for 20years, even though her husband begged her to. Then, one day, she finally gave up and cut her hair! Better sit down before you see what this woman looks like today

Whether it’s the boring hairstyle we’ve had for years or the clothes we got tired of, a little change always makes us feel better.

Rosa Ramirez, an American woman, saw that it was time for a change after 25 years of not getting her hair cut.

Because her hair was so long, she sometimes walked on it.

Over the years, her husband had tried to get her to change her hairstyle, but she was always proud of her 1.5-meter-long hair.

She finally had enough and went to the hairdresser with some friends after 25 years of hard work. She had her hair cut to her shoulders.

The owner of the hair salon, Eda Motchka, told WXYZ-TV Detroit, “We love seeing different things done on customers, different styles. We meet a lot, and I always see her the same way.”

But she did what she did for a reason. Locks of Love is a nonprofit that makes wigs for kids whose hair has been lost to cancer. Rosa sent 4 feet of her hair to them.

Ramirez said, “I think it would make someone’s day who is sick a little better.”

Rosa’s change over time is very interesting to watch. Watch how it works in the video below.

 

Continue Reading

Trending