John Wayne

Tarantino’s Bizarre Perfect Date Movie Is A John Wayne Western

Quentin Tarantino once cited John Wayne Western classic Rio Bravo as a deciding factor when it came to starting a new romance. Wayne wasn’t a fan of 1952’s High Noon, where a Marshal is left to fend for himself by the townsfolk he’s trying to protect from a returning outlaw. The film was acclaimed upon release and is considered a masterpiece now, but Wayne hated its “Un-American” depiction of a lawman begging for aid, the townspeople in return refusing to help or its subtextual critiques of the Hollywood blacklisting happening during this time.
In turn, Wayne later reunited with collaborator Howard Hawks to make Rio Bravo. Wayne – who appeared in 80 Westerns – was cast as Sheriff Chance, who is tasked with guarding a dangerous prisoner while hired guns besiege his town. Rio Bravo is a pointed rebuke to High Noon – with Chance never once asking for help but receiving it anyway – but the 1959 Western is also viewed as a genre great. It also has some auteur fans; it’s one of John Carpenter’s favorites, with the filmmaker having riffed on its themes in Assault On Precinct 13 and Ghosts Of Mars.
Another admirer is Tarantino, who has cited it as one of his all-time favorites. One major element his work has pulled from Rio Bravo is its “hang out” vibe. Despite the movie’s simple setup, its runtime is nearly 150 minutes, with many scenes of Wayne just hanging out with Dean Martin’s Dude or Angie Dickinson’s Feathers. This is the same dynamic QT was aiming for with Pulp Fiction or Jackie Brown, where the main characters talk sometimes talk about burgers or music instead of things directly related to the story. While Rio Bravo has a romantic subplot it wouldn’t be anyone’s idea of a date movie, but Tarantino himself has used it as a way to measure the success of a potential romance.
Tarantino Claimed He Couldn’t Date Anybody Who Hated Rio Bravo

Dean Martin dressed as a cowboy in Rio Bravo

Tarantino has said of Rio Bravo that “When I’m getting serious about a girl, I show her Rio Bravo and she better ****ing like it!” While no doubt said with tongue in cheek, he’s made no secret of his abiding love for the Wayne – who was nicknamed “Duke” – Western, and he’s watched it so often over the years he has no clue how many times he’s watched it. While introducing Rio Bravo during a screening at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007, he stated at one point in time it was his favorite movie.
Getting a little more personal, Tarantino recalled that as he grew up without a father, he took to viewing Hawks’ view of “manhood” in the movie as the rules of conduct men from all walks of life should aspire to. Hawks himself would eventually make two semi-remakes of Rio Bravo with Wayne: 1966’s El Dorado and 1970’s Rio Lobo. Sadly, the latter had the opposite effect on Tarantino, who disliked Hawks’ final movie so much he used it as an example of reasons filmmakers should retire while they’re ahead.

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.