John Wayne

John Wayne Nearly Came To Blows With Frank Sinatra During a Las Vegas Trip

John Wayne had many famous friends in his day—and one notable enemy, Frank Sinatra. For years, the two kept their disdain for each other at bay. But eventually, their feelings boiled over and caused a very public dispute that was literally one for the books.

It may not be widely known today. But during the classic Hollywood era, there was a long span of time when Sinatra and The Duke couldn’t stand each other. Their feelings for each other were mostly due to conflicting political views. Wayne was a staunch republican while Sinatra was as blue as his eyes. And during their run-ins, the stars couldn’t keep their opinions to themselves. However, they did manage to stop their arguments from getting too heated.

But during a star-studded event in Las Vegas during the 1960s, John Wayne finally had enough of his Cast a Giant Shadow co-star. And a confrontation almost caused the two to come to blows.

As Carol Lea Mueller documented in her book titled The Quotable John Wayne: The Grit and Wisdom of an American Icon, Wayne was in the city filming a movie while Sinatra was there to party with his friends. And he was constantly bringing his pals back to his room for late-night drinks and dancing.

Wayne just happened to be staying at the same hotel, and his room was directly above Sinatra’s. The Duke didn’t sleep in his room much because of filming, but one night he made it back and was excited about getting some rest. However, Sinatra was also excited to party into the early morning hours.

John Wayne quickly grew tired of the noise coming from below and called down to the room to ask them to keep it down. Sinatra did as he was asked—for a while. But once the sound ramped back, The Duke paid a personal visit to Ole Blue Eyes.

John Wayne Took Frank Sinatra’s Body Guard Down with One Punch

As Muller wrote, Wayne stormed downstairs and pounded on Sinatra’s door. When someone opened it, Wayne threw out some threats and demanded they quieted down. Sinatra wasn’t bothered by the scene, but his bodyguard was. So he confronted Wayne to tell him that “Nobody talks to Mr. Sinatra that way.”

That was the last straw.

“Wayne looked at the man, turned as though to go [leave], then turned back swiftly and backhanded the bodyguard, who dropped to the floor,” Muller continued.

The author noted that no one documented Sinatra’s response. But the display did the trick. The noise stopped.

Ironically, John Wayne and Frank Sinatra ended up growing close in the years that followed.

Sinatra famously took his fourth wife, Barbara Marx, with him to visit Wayne at his home in Newport Beach. And when Wayne fell ill from cancer, Sinatra sat by his hospital bed.

Marx recalled the duo’s special friendship in the Scott Eyman book John Wayne: The Life and Legend.

“They were buddies,” she shared. “I don’t know why, because they were completely different in almost everything. But they liked each other a great deal, and they kidded a lot.”

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.