How WWII Set The Stage For John Wayne’s Rise To Superstardom – My Blog
John Wayne is often canonized as one of America’s greatest heroes, but this wasn’t the case during World War II as his Hollywood star began to rise. As author Garry Wills described in his book “John Wayne’s America: The Politics of Celebrity,” the combat veterans present during his USO tours in the 1940s were furious with his presence, booing the Duke and jeering as he took the stage. In their eyes, Wayne was a coward and a draft dodger who chose Hollywood stardom over joining the war effort. When the attack on Pearl Harbor signaled the United States’ entry into World War II, John Wayne had recently enjoyed his breakthrough performance in “Stagecoach,” which positioned him as the next big thing.
By the time the U.S. joined the war, Wayne was already 34 years old and was the main financial support for his wife and four children. His contemporaries like Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable, and Henry Fonda all enlisted, but Wayne never did. The longstanding belief has been that Wayne was fearful he’d be “over the hill” by the time he returned to have a career in Hollywood, and didn’t have the wealthy safety net for his family the way his aforementioned colleagues did. President Roosevelt called the movie theater a “necessary and beneficial part of the war effort,” so Wayne stayed back to support the war effort through his art, successfully obtaining a 3-A status, “deferred for [family] dependency reasons.” Making movies could help support his family, and in his mind, raise morale throughout the country.
(Lest we forget: plenty of other men who were the head of their household did not have the privilege of deferring, but that’s a whole ‘nother article.)
Is Wayne a draft dodger or a loophole exploiter?
John Wayne never actually had to register for the draft, instead starring in 18 films between 1941-1945, many of which had war-related themes that positioned him as a tough American hero who survived the impossible. With his A-lister status now well entrenched, there was no real reason he couldn’t enlist. His family had the money to stay afloat without him, Hollywood clearly loved him and would have welcomed him back with open arms, and director John Ford even had an “in,” getting Wayne to join the naval photography unit. But it didn’t happen. In 1944, Wayne received a 2-A classification, “deferred in support of [the] national … interest.” Meaning that he didn’t have to go to war because it was believed his performance on screen was just as important. Selective Service tried to revoke his deferments shortly after, but the studio system made an appeal and his 2-A status was reinstated until after the war had ended.
Historians believe that Wayne’s guilt inspired by his lack of serving in the war was a major contributing factor to his eventual zealous nationalism and white supremacist ideals. It’s hard to have empathy for someone who completely took advantage of a studio system in need of movie stars because the regular go-to’s were off serving in the war while John Wayne’s support and activism started and stopped with his own quest for fame.
Meanwhile, superstar Marlene Dietrich also couldn’t serve in the war due to her gender but dedicated countless hours and dollars to helping Jews escape Germany, publicly called Hitler “an idiot” for trying to cast her in propaganda films and put on more than 500 performances for Allied troops throughout the war.
John Wayne is no hero
When it comes down to brass tacks, John Wayne is nothing more than an opportunistic bigot that has been undeservedly iconized by American culture. In Ronald L. Davis’ book “Duke: The Life and Image of John Wayne,” he cites a quote from John Ford’s grandson Dan regarding Wayne’s lack of action during World War II. “Here was his only chance and he knew it,” Dan Ford said:
“He was an action leading man, and there were a lot of roles for him to play. There was a lot of work in A movies, and this was a guy who had made eighty B movies. He had finally moved up to the first rank. He was in the right spot at the right time with the right qualities and willing to work hard. Would I have done any different? The answer is hell no.”
Ford’s honesty is refreshing compared to Wayne’s history of skirting around the question and subsequent unacceptable behavior in the name of “patriotism.” In a delicious bit of irony, Sacheen Littlefeather, the indigenous woman that Wayne had to be physically restrained from attacking at the 1973 Academy Awards ceremony was finally given a formal apology today, nearly half a century later.
Meanwhile, John Wayne has statues erected of him across the American Southwest and is the namesake of the Orange County, CA airport … all because he took advantage of a dire situation and used it to make him a star.
This photo from the ‘Pretty Woman’ blooper reel is not edited. Take a closer look, and you’ll understand why
Not many actors could pull off the role of Prince Charming alongside Julia Roberts as the damsel in distress in Pretty Woman, which is a fresh twist on the classic fairy tale. Richard Gere, who plays Edward, faces his fear of heights in the final scene to rescue Vivian, portrayed by Roberts, who is waiting at the top of her tower. This performance is something I will always remember.
What’s not as widely known is that Charles Grodin was a top choice to play Edward. It was actually Roberts who encouraged Gere to take on the role in this beloved film, even though he had some doubts at first. In 2015, the cast of the famous romantic comedy Pretty Woman reunited, revealing some interesting facts that fans didn’t know before.
“Pretty Woman,” the classic romantic comedy featuring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, has won the hearts of viewers all over the world since it came out in 1990. While the movie is loved for its charming story and memorable characters, there are also a bunch of funny bloopers behind the scenes just waiting to be found.
In a rare glimpse into the making of the movie, fans have been treated to a collection of bloopers that showcase the camaraderie and laughter shared by the cast and crew. From tongue-tied lines to unexpected mishaps, these outtakes provide a light-hearted and entertaining peek into the filming process. Watch the video below:
One funny blooper shows Julia Roberts having a hard time not laughing during an important scene. While she tries to say her lines with her usual charm, she suddenly gets the giggles, which makes both her and her co-star Richard Gere burst into laughter.
The endearing moment serves as a reminder of the genuine chemistry between the two leads that helped elevate “Pretty Woman” to iconic status.
Some things you might not have heard about Pretty Woman
It is said that Christopher Reeve, Denzel Washington, and Daniel Day-Lewis were all in the running for the part of Edward Lewis.
Chris Reeve, Denzel Washington, and Daniel Day-Lewis were all rumored to be interested in the role of Edward Lewis in “Pretty Woman.” It’s also said that Sandra Bullock, Kristin Davis, and Sarah Jessica Parker were offered the role of Vivian but decided to pass on it.
The clothes worn on set were a mix of high-end and cheap items, and people had mixed feelings about how the brand was portrayed.
In a surprising twist, the necklace featured in the movie cost a whopping $250,000! To keep it safe, the jewelry store even sent a security guard to watch over the director during filming. On the flip side, Vivian’s iconic red coat was only $30, and the director got it from a movie usher before they started shooting. Both Ferrari and Porsche declined to let their cars be used in the film.
A lot of coaching took place behind the scenes.
To make Julia Roberts laugh in one scene, the director tickled her feet when the camera wasn’t rolling. However, she was so nervous that a vein was sticking out on her forehead during the take. To help her relax, the director joined her and Richard Gere in bed and gently rubbed her face until the vein disappeared.
Newborn twins won’t stop cuddling like they did in the womb
Having a twin can be an incredible thing, having someone who’s always there for you right from the start of life, a bond that lasts a lifetime
One incredible video shows just how deep that bond is, even starting before birth: two newborn twin boys refused to stop cuddling together like they did in the womb!
In a video that has been viewed nearly 50 million times on YouTube, the babies, less than two months old, receive a bath and keep holding one another, wrapping their little arms and legs around each other.
The twins are receiving a special baby bath, developed by Sonia Rochel, a maternity nurse and grandmother from Paris, France.
The technique is designed for infants younger than two months old because it is meant to replicate the feeling of being in the womb.
This might explain why the twins are so cuddly with one another—they want to be close to each other like they were before being born.
Donna D’Errico responded to women who say she is “too old to wear a bikini.” The 54-year-old Baywatch actress has a message for women who have told her it is shameful to appear in a swimsuit at her age.
The Baywatch star posted a picture on Instagram of herself relaxing in a light pink bikini. In the caption of the photo, she wrote,
“Quite a few women complained about the 4th of July video I posted in a red, white, and blue bikini, saying I’m ‘too old to wear bikinis’ and my favorite, ‘desperate.’
Let me tell you something that might surprise you. I can wear and do whatever I want.”
Donna D’Errico responded to the women criticizing her, ending her post with, “So here I am in a bikini next to a coffee table.”
The former BattleBots host received many praises for her post in the comments section. One fan wrote, “Do whatever you want, dear!
We love you! Women always attack other women and try hard to make them feel bad. You have no reason to feel disappointed.” Another person said, “Donna, you can wear and look absolutely phenomenal in a bikini. Don’t let those jealous ones bother you even a bit.”
D’Errico is not the only woman who has responded to people saying she is too old to wear a certain type of swimsuit.
Another Baywatch actress who feels comfortable in her body is Pamela Anderson. See here how she looks in the sexiest outfits.
Other famous women who are criticized for their courage In April, 57-year-old model Paulina Porizkova shared some of the hateful comments she received on her own bikini photos posted on Instagram. The comments included, “It must hurt so much to post bikini pictures at your age.”
“I get comments like these every time I post a picture of my body. Older men are distinguished, older women are ugly. People who think beauty equals youth don’t understand beauty. Pretty is easy on the eyes, partly because it is a little bland, harmless.
It is easy to accept and easy to forget,” Porizkova wrote at that time. “Not so with beauty. Beauty can be sharp. It can hurt you and leave a scar. To perceive beauty, you have to be able to see. That’s why I believe we become more beautiful with age. We have earned beauty, we understand what it is, and we can see it much better. There is no such thing as ugly and old. Just nearsighted and ignorant.