Few actors compare to John Wayne, both in terms of ability and popularity. Here are The Duke’s most memorable movies.John Wayne or simply “The Duke” is one of the greatest actors of all time, appearing in over 150 movies and starring in over 70 movies during his career. He was brilliant in every single role, whether he was a cowboy, a marshal, a colonel, or any other type of character. Fans of all ages love The Duke for his commanding presence on-screen and good heart off-screen.

1: The Green BeretsJohn Wayne plays a Green Beret colonel in “The Green Berets”Despite its critical failure and protests about its subject matter, The Green Berets was a commercial success when it was released in 1968. Based on a 1965 novel, the movie was also directed by Wayne, who wanted to show the positive side of those who served in South Vietnam at the time.
Wayne plays the colonel of a Green Beret unit who’s sent to Vietnam to support various operations. He’s joined by a cynical newspaper reporter, played by David Jansen. His unit goes on an espionage mission and shores up a front-line camp with help from a character portrayed by George Takei.

2: The Searchers“The Searchers” is considered one of the most classic movies made.John Ford’s The Searchers was not only a commercial success when it premiered in 1956. It also became one of the most influential films of the 20th century. It has been named one of the best Westerns and top movies of all time.
Wayne plays a Civil War veteran who goes on a hunt for his niece, played by Natalie Wood. He’s joined by his adoptive nephew, who is played by Jeffrey Hunter. Along the way, the pair encounters numerous obstacles in their search.

3: Red RiverJohn Wayne and Montgomery Clift in “Red River.”Gunslinging wasn’t the only thing John Wayne did in his Westerns. For the most part, that was a small part. The rest of these films focused on the human condition and how they conquered the harshness of the land at that time.
Red River is an example of this type of film. Directed by Howard Hawkes, it’s loosely based on the first cattle drive from Texas to Kansas along the Chisholm Trail. Most of the tension comes from the relationship between Wayne’s character and his son, played by Montgomery Clift. The movie was preserved by the National Film Registry thanks to its historical significance.

4: StagecoachJohn Wayne was beginning to get his acting chops in the 1930s, working as an extra and starting to star in a few B movies. In 1939, he got his break as Ringo Kid, a young outlaw out for revenge for his father and brother’s death in John Ford’s Stagecoach.
Stagecoach focused on a diverse group of individuals who were all aboard the same stagecoach and are forced to go through several trials and tribulations together, including the birth of a baby. The role set the young actor on a path to success and Wayne soon became a household name.

5: El DoradoThe 1960s were full of great western actors such as John Wayne, Steve McQueen, James Stewart, Clint Eastwood, and Robert Mitchum. Having John Wayne and Robert Mitchum in the same movie proved to be a wise decision, with 1966’s El Dorado became a huge hit among western fans.
John Wayne played Cole Thorton, a gunslinger for hire, who returns to the town of El Dorado as he was hired by wealthy landowner Bart Jason. But when Cole realizes he would have to fight his old friend the drunken sheriff, J.P. Harrah played by Robert Mitchum, he turns down the offer. Cole joins forces with J.P. to protect the town from the bully Bart Jason.

6: The ShootistJohn Wayne had a career that spanned for 4 decades, with his big break coming in 1939 as Ringo Kid in Stagecoach and his last role being J.B. Books in the 1976 film The Shootist. J.B. Books is an old gunslinger who finds out he has cancer, but this old gunfighter isn’t going out without a fight.
The American hero, John Wayne, passed away in 1979, only a few years after filming his final movie. That said, his legacy will never be forgotten. As they say, “when the legend becomes fact, print the legend.”