John Wayne

Kurt Russell Is Secretly Playing John Wayne In Big Trouble In Little China

In Big Trouble In Little China, Kurt Russell is essentially playing John Wayne playing Jack Burton. Director John Carpenter and Russell made five movies together, including TV film Elvis. Whilst The Thing and Big Trouble In Little China are considered genre favorites now, both films bombed upon release and received mixed reviews. Big Trouble In Little China was particularly hyped as a major potential blockbuster, but its strange mix of genres and the fact Russell’s hero Jack Burton was a dimwit turned audiences away. The film found a fanbase thanks to VHS and TV viewings, and it’s now clear what the duo was attempting to make.
In Escape From New York, Russell was riffing on Clint Eastwood in his performance, which can be heard in Snake’s raspy drawl. Both Russell and Carpenter are Western fans and reckoned that since Big Trouble In Little China’s Jack was a loudmouth American who assumed – incorrectly – he was the hero, that Russell should play it as Western icon John Wayne. Recounting this choice in interview book John Carpenter: Prince Of Darkness, the director stated “Jack Burton is John Wayne, and Kurt is playing it blow-hard John Wayne.” Jack’s “sidekick” Wang Chi is the real hero and performs all the martial arts, while Jack doesn’t do much to affect the story.
Big Trouble In Little China Was Originally A Western

In fact, Jack has a habit of getting knocked out or otherwise incapacitated when the action kicks in. This was one of the subversive comic elements of Big Trouble In Little China that many viewers just didn’t get, and even 20th Century Fox was angered by this creative choice, having expected an Indiana Jones-style movie. Many of Russell’s line deliveries mirror that of Wayne too, with the character’s wild overconfidence in his own abilities just making the gag funnier when he constantly fails. Even when Jack succeeds in delivering the killing blow to the main villain, it feels like dumb luck than by design.

The Wayne parody would have made even more sense had Big Trouble In Little China been shot as a Western, as originally written. The story was set in the 1880s, with Jack being a cowboy who arrives in Chinatown and has his beloved horse stolen. The film was designed as a mix of Chinese martial arts movie and Western, but fears over its cost saw Fox order the screenplay rewritten as a contemporary adventure. Carpenter pictured another Western icon as Big Trouble In Little China’s lead too, as he wanted to cast Clint Eastwood as Jack Burton; the star was busy on other projects at the time.
Is The Rock’s Big Trouble Reboot Still Happening?

Dwayne Johnson in Jumanji The Next Level

In 2015, it was announced that Dwayne Johnson was developing a Big Trouble In Little China remake, though it was later revealed that the planned film would actually be a legacy sequel. While Johnson once seemed very interested in pursuing the film – and having Carpenter creatively involved in some capacity – there’s been little reported about this Big Trouble In Little China revival since 2018. With Johnson busy on other franchises, including more planned appearances as Black Adam and a Red Notice sequel, the odds of it coming together seem to fade with each passing year.

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.