John Wayne

John Wayne picks his favourite John Wayne films

Due to his continued dedication to honing his craft, John Wayne soon became synonymous with the western genre, closely working with John Ford on pictures such as The Searchers and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance to create a legacy like no other. Wayne was one of the biggest stars of the silver screen during Hollywood’s Golden Era, starring in over 170 films, and his name still carries huge weight to this day.
After injuring himself in a bodysurfing incident, Wayne lost his university scholarship, and his sporting career was no longer viable, forcing him to withdraw from education. However, because his coach, Howard Jones, often gave western star Tom Mix free tickets to USC games, Ford and Mix returned the favour by hiring Wayne as a prop boy. Following several small or uncredited roles in silent films, he received his first leading role in 1930’s The Big Trail after director Raoul Walsh saw Wayne working behind the scenes.
Due to the commercial failure of The Big Trail, Wayne spent the early years of his career playing minor roles in big films or leading cheaply-made Poverty Row westerns. Within these films, he helped to pioneer the idea that good characters could fight with the same intensity as the bad guys. Wayne stated (via archive.org), “Before I came along, it was standard practice that the hero must always fight clean. The heavy was allowed to hit the hero in the head with a chair or throw a kerosene lamp at him or kick him in the stomach, but the hero could only knock the villain down politely and then wait until he rose. I changed all that. I threw chairs and lamps. I fought hard, and I fought dirty. I fought to win.”
His burgeoning influence on cinema was evident from the beginning, although it was not until 1939 that he truly broke into the industry with his role in Ford’s landmark western Stagecoach. Soon enough, Wayne was a symbol of machismo and personified the all-American man, conveying the ideals and values of his country.
The actor once selected his favourite roles from his career in an interview with Phil Donahue in 1976. Of course, his first pick was the film that allowed him to emerge into the spotlight, Stagecoach. He stated, “I love Stagecoach naturally because I stepped on that stagecoach, and it carried me a long way.” The film was shot in Monument Valley in the Southwest of America and followed a group of stagecoach passengers, including Wayne’s Ringo Kid, who is picked up after his horse leaves him stranded. According to actor Louise Platt, in a letter recalling the film’s production, Ford believed that Wayne would become “the biggest star ever because he is the perfect ‘everyman’.” Although Stagecoach lost out on winning ‘Best Picture’ at the Academy Awards, it scooped up ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for Thomas Mitchell and ‘Best Score’.
Another of Wayne’s favourite films he starred in was Hatari! from 1962. Directed by Howard Hawks, Wayne appears as a game catcher in Africa. Shot in Tanganyika, now Tanzania, the film became the seventh highest-grossing movie of the year. Hatari! is not regarded as one of Hawks’ greatest films, a title much more likely to be given to another of his collaborations with Wayne – Rio Bravo. Still, Wayne loved the film, although it appears that he loved the shooting location more than the final product. “I like Hatari! which was a picture we made in Africa because I had a three-month safari free. I mean, rich men don’t get that, you know.”
Finally, his last pick was Ford’s The Quiet Man, released in 1952. The romantic comedy follows Wayne’s Sean Thorton as he travels from Pittsburgh to his native Innisfree in Ireland to buy his family’s farm. Upon its release, Wayne was praised for his performance, although contemporary critics have noted that his character displays glaringly misogynistic attributes through his exertion of control over the women around him. Ford won the ‘Best Director’ Oscar for the film, and Winton C. Hoch and Archie Stout took home ‘Best Cinematography – Colour’ for their stunning shots of the Irish countryside. Wayne explained his love for shooting the film: “I got to work with all the Abbey Players and some forebears of my own family.”
John Wayne’s favourite John Wayne films:

Stagecoach (John Ford, 1939)
Hatari! (Howard Hawks, 1962)
The Quiet Man (John Ford, 1952)

Phil Donahue interviews John Wayne (1976)

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.