Entertainment

John Wayne’s Stagecoach Stunts Sparked A Battle With The Studio – My Blog

It’s rare to see John Wayne back down in a standoff, but that’s exactly what happened when shooting one of his most revered films. By 1939, Wayne was no stranger to Westerns, though he wasn’t yet a household name. Wayne had already appeared in a string of uncredited roles in films by the legendary director John Ford in the late ’20s. So, when Ford made his triumphant return to the Western genre with “Stagecoach” he tapped Wayne for the lead character, Ringo Kid.Casting Wayne was the first of a lengthy series of battles with United Artists. The studio wanted a big name for the film, but Ford had a feeling about the charismatic 32 year old and insisted on him for the role. Ford introduces viewers to Wayne in dramatic fashion, with a zoom-in on a rifle-wielding Ringo Kid in front of a gorgeous landscape of Monument Valley plateaus (where many of Ford’s Westerns were shot). When Marshall Curley says, “Hello, Kid” to Ringo, he might as well have been speaking collectively for U.S. film audiences. We called it Wayne’s best movie moment ever.The fight to secure Wayne for the role of Ringo Kid wasn’t the last for Ford or Wayne in the production of “Stagecoach.” Behind the scenes, a standoff between Wayne and the studio took place that rivaled a climax from one of his films. Only this time, The Duke didn’t come out on top.Wayne was doing nearly all of the stuntsUnited ArtistsAlthough not considered a single-location film (movies with narratives that take place entirely in one location), much of “Stagecoach” takes place inside the cramped confines of the titular horse-drawn carriage. It’s there that Ford introduces us to a collection of flawed characters traveling from Arizona to New Mexico. To get there, they must pass through what was labeled dangerous Apache country (in an unfortunate but common classical Hollywood stereotype of Native Americans as bloodthirsty savages).The stagecoach group includes a prostitute, a drunken doctor, a crooked banker, and a whiskey salesman. Along the way, they pick up Ringo Kid, who recently escaped from prison to avenge the murder of his father and brother. When they lose their cavalry escort, Ringo leads the group to their destination and exacts revenge against the men that killed his family. That’s where the typical Western shootouts and action sequences ensue.In the John Wayne biography “Shooting Star,” author Maurice Zolotow explains that a battle raged behind the scenes over Wayne’s stunt work in the film. Zolotow writes:“Ford permitted Wayne to do many of his own stunts, though he took the risk of Wayne breaking a leg and holding up production. He did it against the opposition of [United Artists producer Walter] Wanger because he knew it would give Duke a better sense of reality, though he insisted on [stuntman Yakima] Canutt doing the most hazardous stunts.”But Wanger pushed back, setting up a real-life standoff that was befitting of a dusty Old West thoroughfare.‘I’m not an actor … I’m a stuntman’United Artists“Stagecoach” could be considered as much a drama as it is a traditional Western. Even so, there was plenty of action to keep Wayne and stunt coordinator Yakima Canutt busy. But the sight of their budding star jumping onto roofs made United Artists nervous. According to Zolotow:“Visiting the set one morning, out in Monument Valley, producer [Walter] Wanger was shocked to see Duke playing a scene in which he leaped out of the stagecoach and climbed on the roof. ‘Jack,’ he said to the director, ‘I want you to get Wayne to stop stunting. He is too valuable to lose.’”Ford told Wanger that he’d have to tell Wayne himself. The veteran producer didn’t back down. “Duke, you are going to be an outstanding star. I do not want you to do any more of these stunts,” Wanger told Wayne. “My God, if you broke a leg or an arm it would hold up the picture for weeks.”The young actor, starring in his biggest film to date, boldly responded to the producer as only The Duke could. “Now, Mr. Wanger, there is no need for you to worry,” Wayne answered, as if in character. “I can handle myself. I been ridin’ horses and stuntin’ for years. I’m not an actor. I don’t act. I react. I’m just a stuntman.”Despite Wayne’s protest, Wanger persisted. Ford eventually stepped in so they wouldn’t lose production time and convinced Wayne to let his stunt double do most of the work. It was a rare defeat but ultimately a win for The Duke. The film cemented his status as a Western icon and is included on the U.S. Library of Congress National Film Registry for its cultural significance.

Entertainment

NCIS star Pauley Perrette now unrecognisable after quitting acting

For 15 seasons, Pauley Perrette was synonymous with her character Abby Sciuto, a forensic specialist on NCIS.

But in 2017, she shocked fans by announcing she wouldn’t be returning to the popular crime show. At the time of the announcement, Perrette said it was a decision made a year earlier.

Since then, she has only appeared in the now defunct sitcom Broke, going from a fixture on television to rarely seen. Perrette now says she’ll “never again” return to acting.

“I’m not ungrateful for the benefits that it gave to me,” she said in an interview with HELLO! “But I’m a different person now and I want to be here for it – the good and the bad and the painful.”

“I want to be me all the time,” she continued. “And it takes a good amount of courage for me to say that to myself, but it’s authentically how I feel.”

“At this point in my life I have this deep need to find authenticity in everything, and being an actor, especially at certain points in my life, was a great escape; it’s like a drug because I didn’t have to be me, I could be somebody else. My character didn’t have all of the problems that I was having.”

But Perrette hasn’t completely turned her back on the entertainment industry. She’s now producing films, specifically documentaries; her most recent project being Studio One Forever in 2023.

“It’s why I only watch documentaries, I want the truth. For me, going back to being an actor would be taking away from this life of true authenticity that I’m living 100 per cent of the time.”

Days after Perrette’s final NCIS episode aired in May 2017, she wrote on social media that she’d endured “multiple physical assaults,” implying that was the real reason she had exited the program.

Fans remained devastated, hoping she’d return, but the actress insisted she wouldn’t. In June 2019, Perrette implored the public to stop asking if she’d ever reprise her role, claiming she was “terrified” of former co-star Mark Harmon, “and him attacking me.”

There were reports that the two clashed on set because of a dog bite, but that has never been confirmed.

CBS later announced that Perrette had shared workspace concerns before exiting the show and that the network had investigated. Perrette expressed her appreciation for both the studio and the network.

NCIS is still on the air – its 22nd season premieres on screens this month.

Entertainment

Can you solve this puzzle?

### Puzzle Details:
1. **Frank says:** “I didn’t do it.”
2. **John says:** “Frank is lying.”
3. **Peter says:** “Frank is telling the truth.”

### Analyzing the Statements:
Let’s analyze the implications of their statements:

– If **Frank** is telling the truth (he didn’t do it):
– Then **John** is lying (since he claims Frank is lying).
– If John is lying, that means **Frank** is indeed innocent.
– **Peter** is telling the truth by claiming Frank is honest.

Thus, if Frank is telling the truth:
– Frank = Innocent
– John = Guilty (because he lied)
– Peter = Innocent

– If **Frank** is lying (he did it):
– Then **John** is telling the truth (as he says Frank is lying).
– If John is telling the truth, then Frank is indeed guilty.
– **Peter** is lying (as he claims Frank is telling the truth).

Thus, if Frank is lying:
– Frank = Guilty
– John = Innocent
– Peter = Guilty (because he lied)

### Summary of Scenarios:
1. **Frank is Innocent:** (Frank: Truth, John: Lie, Peter: Truth)
2. **Frank is Guilty:** (Frank: Lie, John: Truth, Peter: Lie)

### Conclusion:
– If Frank is innocent, John’s statement indicates he is guilty, which means Peter must be innocent.
– If Frank is guilty, then John is innocent but Peter must now be guilty.

**In both scenarios, we can determine that John cannot be guilty at the same time as Frank.**

Thus, the only consistent solution appears to be:
– **Frank is guilty.**
– **John is innocent.**
– **Peter is lying.**

Therefore, only one man is guilty, which is **Frank.**

Entertainment

Look closer, the photographer was not expecting this photo

For most couples, their wedding day is the happiest day of their lives.

A wedding is a celebration of love between two people who choose to spend their lives together. It marks the start of a new journey filled with shared experiences, personal growth, and mutual support.

A wedding is a happy time for the whole family to come together. From saying vows to sharing the first dance, weddings are full of special moments that create lasting memories. These memories are cherished by the couple and their loved ones for years.

When planning their wedding, couples carefully consider every detail to make sure it’s perfect. From choosing the venue to picking the décor and theme, weddings show the couple’s unique love story.

However, in trying to give their guests a unique experience, some couples do strange things. Whether they regret it when they look back at their wedding photos years later, we don’t know. But we do know that some weddings are so awkward they make us question the bride and groom’s sanity, while others are so fun they make us smile.

Check out the video below to see some of the most interesting weddings you’ve ever seen.