John Wayne

John Wayne Thought ‘Gone With the Wind’ Actor Clark Gable Was an ‘Idiot’

Actor John Wayne had fairly strong opinions about various things, including actor Clark Gable. The Gone With the Wind actor impressed many audiences around the world with his acting abilities and good looks. Wayne could admit that Gable was a handsome man, but he didn’t fall for his charm as many others did.

John Wayne rarely spoke negatively about his acting peers

L-R: Thomas Mitchell, John Ford, Clark Gable, Robert Montgomery, and John Wayne | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images

Wayne’s daughter, Aissa, wrote John Wayne: My Father, where she explored his thoughts on his peers, including Gable. The actor was known for his feature film performances, but he did make television appearances later in his career. However, Aissa explained that he never had anything negative to say about the actors who exclusively performed for television.

Aissa noted that Wayne had high praises for Lucille Ball, Hal Linden, and Jackie Gleason. He also had nice things to say about many of his film co-stars, except for Gene Hackman. He “skewered” every performance that he delivered and called him “the worst actor in town.”

John Wayne thought Clark Gable was an ‘idiot’ who could only ever be an actor

However, John Wayne: My Father also pointed to the harsh criticisms the actor gave Gable. The actor told his daughter that he thought his fellow A-lister star was incredibly handsome. He could see why audiences wanted to see his face on the silver screen, but he didn’t care for him as a person beyond that. Additionally, Wayne thought that Gable wouldn’t be able to pull off any other line of work outside of acting.

“[He’s] extremely handsome in person,” Wayne said. “That’s one guy that doesn’t need Hollywood to make him look good. But Gable’s an idiot. You know why Gable’s an actor? It’s the only thing he’s smart enough to do.”

Wayne would call Gable “handsome but dumb” at least four or five more times, which got Aissa thinking. She wondered if it perhaps had something to do with her father’s close relationship with filmmaker John Ford. The director clashed with Gable while filming Mogambo, and the feud didn’t dissipate for years.

Aissa wrote that Wayne had strong loyalty to friends, which perhaps created his negative feelings toward Gable. She believed that her father would have defended Ford against Gable if given the chance.

He thought of himself as more of a ‘star’ than an ‘actor’

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John Wayne: My Father detailed why Wayne thought Gable wouldn’t be able to tackle another career outside of acting. He always told his family that he “loved the goddamn business,” but he thought of himself as more of a star than as an actor, which combated how Gable viewed the art of acting. Wayne frequently told the press, “I don’t act at all, I react.”

“In a bad picture, you see them acting all over the place,” Wayne said. “In a good picture, they react in a logical way to a situation they’re in, so the audience can identify with them. All I do is sell sincerity, and I’ve been selling the hell out of that since I started.”

Wayne continued: “I was never one of the little theatre boys. That arty crowd has only surface brilliance anyway. Real art is basic emotion. If a scene is handled with simplicity—and I don’t mean simple—it’ll be good and the public will know it.”

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.