John Wayne

Howard Hawks Had One Rule When It Came To Writing A John Wayne Romance

All leading men are not created equal. This is especially true when it comes to playing a love scene. Clark Gable was a man of action; when he lavished his affections on a woman, he knew they would be reciprocated. Cary Grant’s approach was more playful; he used banter as foreplay, and let the woman decide when to take their sparring to the bedroom.
And then there was John Wayne. He was trickier. The Western superstar was adored primarily for his unruffled nature. He was the toughest guy in every scene, and we never truly believed his opponent could lick him or outdraw him. Romance was, at best, a secondary concern for him, but when a woman had her mind set on wooing him, he didn’t exactly shoo them away. He might’ve been stolid, but he wasn’t made entirely out of stone.
John Wayne needs a take-charge womanWarner Bros.Howard Hawks, who made five movies with The Duke, understood this well, which came in handy when they shot the classic “Rio Bravo” together in 1957. As Sheriff John T. Chance, Wayne has his hands full with a collection of hired guns working for the nefarious Nathan Burdette (John Russell). He is badly outgunned. This doesn’t stop Feathers (Angie Dickinson), the ex-wife of a poker cheat, from putting the moves on Chance. This wasn’t unusual in a Wayne film, but Dickinson’s relative inexperience posed a challenge. She was only three years into her acting career, and, at 28, was half The Duke’s age.
Hawks realized this, and explained how he handled the situation in Scott Eyman’s “John Wayne: The Life and Legacy.”
“Dickinson’s problem was that she was playing the sexual aggressor — a part she wasn’t used to. ‘Wayne is better when the girl is forcing the issue,’ said Hawks, comparing it to the way Clark Gable forced the issue in a love scene. ‘If you’ve got a love scene in a Wayne picture, you adjust it to his personality. He just wouldn’t be effective if he were aggressive toward a woman. Partly that’s because of his size. He’s too big to be a Rover Boy like Gable was.’”
John Wayne was no Rover Boy
Warner Bros.In case you’re wondering, “Rover Boy” is a reference to a series of early 20th-century books that follow the exploits of four brash, adventurous brothers. They were troublemakers, the kinds of kids Wayne would like to take over his knee and spank.
In any event, Wayne played the scene as Hawks directed, and Dickinson, who had reason to worry her far more accomplished co-star would grouse about her inexperience, found Wayne to be a terrific acting partner. “Never once did he appear to be impatient,” said Dickinson. “And for a star of his caliber, working with a green actress, that was remarkable. Never, not for a second, did I feel he didn’t approve of what I was doing.”
Indeed, Dickinson is terrific in “Rio Bravo.” Her fun, flirtatious performance turned her into a movie star. Of Wayne’s many leading ladies, Dickinson is one of the few who could throw him (metaphorically, as it would be difficult for a person of any stature to literally throw John Wayne, though I wouldn’t put it past Maureen O’Hara). “Rio Bravo” wouldn’t be one of the greatest Westerns ever made without her.
Read More: https://www.slashfilm.com/1065832/howard-hawks-had-one-rule-when-it-came-to-writing-a-john-wayne-romance

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.