John Wayne

John Wayne’s Children Debate His Most Influential Film He Ever Made

“What John Wayne film do you think had the biggest impact on the cinema industry?” asks Marisa Wayne in the first episode of the John Wayne Gritcast. Ethan Wayne says 1930’s The Big Trail, as it was 23-year-old John Wayne’s first leading role.

Patrick Wayne disagrees, stating that The Big Trail was a failure. And it was; as one of the first films with sound to hit theaters, it also followed the Great Depression by a year. Shot in new widescreen format, most theaters refused to spend the money to upgrade their projection equipment in order to show the film, according to the Gilcrease Museum.

Patrick votes for The Searchers, a 1956 western epic directed by John Ford and also starring Natalie Wood and Jeffrey Hunter. The American Film Institute seems to agree with Patrick Wayne: in 2008 the organization named The Searchers the greatest American Western.

According to Patrick, The Searchers was not a critical or financial success. But, with the help of up-and-coming directors in film school who discovered the film, it became a cult classic. “I don’t know if it’s that it was a generation later, people look at it with a different eye,” said Patrick. “But it became impactful and it is today one of the 50 top westerns ever made.”

He goes on to tell the story of how The Searchers got made. Apparently, John Ford wanted to make The Quiet Man, and Warner Bros. weren’t sure about John Wayne in Ireland. So, they made a deal with Ford that if he made a western with John Wayne as well, they would let him make The Quiet Man.

“They made a two-picture deal,” says Patrick. “And that’s how those two films got made. Otherwise they wouldn’t have gotten made.”

John Wayne’s Most Impactful Films

Along with The Searchers, Patrick also spoke about 1949’s Sands of Iwo Jima. The film followed a squad of Marines through basic training all the way to the battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. John Wayne played Sergeant John Stryker, who the men in his squad greatly disliked. He put them through rigorous training, which they eventually learned to appreciate as the battles escalated.

“The U.S. Marine Corps claims today that that film is the reason why the Marine Corps is still existent,” says Patrick. “They have a special place in their heart for John Wayne.”

According to Ethan Wayne, apparently John Wayne was the Armed Forces’ “greatest recruiting tool.” He says that it’s possible General Douglas MacArthur actually wrote to John Wayne to tell him “not to change a single thing he was doing.” John Wayne made most of his war films during the actual war, so it’s no wonder they were great for morale.

When speaking of why so many people come back to his father’s films, Ethan Wayne says, “He led us. He gave us an example to follow.” And ain’t that just the way, pilgrim.

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.