John Wayne

John Wayne Wasn’t Willing To Be The Butt Of A Joke For Howard Hawks’ Red River

10 years after his breakout performance in John Ford’s “Stagecoach,” John Wayne found himself the object of some critical derision due to his insistence on giving his audience exactly what they wanted. On one hand, who could blame him? As long as people kept lining up to see him play strong, stolid heroes, why invite box office trouble by going against type, especially when two of the finest directors on the planet, Ford and Howard Hawks, were keen to continue cashing in on his popularity?
It was a pretty nifty arrangement for Wayne, who could work small, yet striking variations on his swaggering persona with two trusted, talented collaborators. He respected these men, and was therefore open to suggestions he might’ve shot down had they been offered by a studio hack. But even with Ford and Hawks, there were lines the Duke was unwilling to cross. Hawks learned this for himself while directing Wayne in the 1948 classic “Red River.”
Don’t ask the Duke to sacrifice a finger for the sake of a laugh
United ArtistsHoward Hawks was already asking a tad extra of John Wayne for his portrayal of Thomas Dunson, an Ahab-like rancher determined to drive his cattle from Texas to Abilene, Kansas. Dunson is a hard man whose pitiless treatment of his men leads his adopted son, Matt (Montgomery Clift), to foment a mutiny and exile him from the drive.
According to Allen Eyles’ biography “John Wayne,” Hawks was eager to inject a bit of humor into Wayne’s performance by having Dunson get drunk so his finger, which had been “mangled between a saddle horn and a rope,” could be amputated. Alas, Wayne had stretched as far as he was comfortable as Dunson, and nixed the idea. Hawks acquiesced, but not before informing the Duke that he’d deploy the bit later with a more versatile actor (that wound up being Kirk Douglas in “The Big Sky”).
Nevertheless, Hawks enjoyed collaborating with Wayne (11 years later, they’d come together for the masterful “Rio Bravo”), and was quick to praise the star’s filmmaking acumen. Per Eyles, Hawks said:
“Wayne is like a big cat on his feet, he thinks quickly and he thinks right. Also he contributes to what other people do. If he sees somebody who is not moving he tells ’em to move, and it becomes part of the story.”
Just don’t ask him to look like a dope who doesn’t know how to rope cattle for the amusement of an audience. Because it was his audience, and he knew they didn’t want to see such nonsense (until 1969’s “True Grit”).

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.