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John Wayne

John Wayne Saved His Young Co-Star From The Wrath Of John Ford On The Set Of Fort Apache

John Agar never asked to be a movie star, but when the question is put to you by David O. Selznick, you say yes every damn time.
Born in Chicago and raised in Los Angeles, Agar was a physical training instructor for the U.S. Army Air Corps when, in 1945, he found himself at a glitzy party rubbing shoulders with Hollywood’s heaviest hitters, as Shirley Temple’s date. Selznick, the legendary producer whose dogged determination brought Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the Wind” to the big screen, was struck by the handsome, twentysomething, 6’1″  man on the arm of filmdom’s most famous child star, and the filmmaker offered him a five-year contract at $150 a week — that’s twice what the Army was paying him. Though he’d never performed before, he signed on and began taking acting lessons.
Three years later, Agar got a chance to prove himself as Second Lieutenant Mickey O’Rourke in John Ford’s cavalry Western “Fort Apache.” The untested young actor received fourth billing under John Wayne, Henry Fonda and, a bit of an eyebrow-raiser, Temple. As big-screen debuts go, this was a recipe for both failure and ridicule. Did he earn this part, or was he cast at the urging of Selznick and Temple?
All that mattered for Agar was that he’d been asked to hold his own with two of Hollywood’s biggest Western stars in a John Ford picture. Unsurprisingly, the ornery director put the young amateur through the ringer, almost driving him from the set and his marriage.
John Agar’s trial by movie star fire
RKOAccording to Maurice Zolotow’s biography “John Wayne: Shooting Star,” Ford got after Agar for every lacking aspect of his performance: his line readings, his flubbing of dialogue, and his struggles with horseback riding. Agar, feeling singled out and overmatched by his veteran costars, finally had enough, and stormed back to his room to pack his clothes and walk away from everything, including his wife. He was just about out the door when Wayne appeared.
Wayne was no stranger to Ford’s mind games and insults. He’d endured a decade of this before the director at last gave him his shot at a lead role (in “Stagecoach”). Per Zolotow, the Duke had taken a shine to Agar, and assured his co-star that this was par for the course with Ford:
“Now hold on just a minute there,” Wayne drawled, as if he were in character. “Mr. Ford insulin’ you don’t mean he doesn’t admire you. He likes you or he wouldn’t insult you. Let me tell you what he did when I worked for him in ‘Mother Machree’ and ‘Stagecoach’ and a few other times, Johnny.”
Agar calmed down and resolved to stick it out. His reward was a long career in movies. Long, but not entirely happy.
John Agar was a creature feature superstar
Universal InternationalAgar was an alcoholic prone to womanizing and drunk driving. Temple divorced him in 1950 on the grounds of mental cruelty, at which point he segued from A pictures to B movies like “The Rocket Man,” “The Mole People,” “The Daughter of Dr. Jekyll” and “The Brain from Planet Arous.” Some of these films were pretty spiffy on their own terms (especially Jack Arnold’s “Tarantula!” and Virgil W. Vogel’s “The Mole People”), but Agar would never become the star Selznick envisioned.
Despite his struggles, Wayne threw Agar some much needed work in ’70s Westerns like “Chisum” and “Big Jake.” Late in his career, he shined as Mare Winningham’s father in Steve De Jarnatt’s masterful thriller “Miracle Mile.” Agar was never up for an Academy Award, nor was he beloved by film critics of his era, but for those of us who grew up watching creature features on Saturday afternoon television, he was a welcome presence. He always looked the part, and we were thrilled whenever he showed up.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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