John Wayne

The truth behind the relationship between Clint Eastwood and John Wayne.

Two Western icons walk into a saloon, one is John Wayne and the other Clint Eastwood … at least in our fantasies, since the two never did bless the masses with their idyllic jaw lines and enviously masculine dispositions side-by-side. And why not? Wasn’t Hollywood grasping at straw bales to get these legends in a quick draw together? Probably. But that oat opera never was because in the end, Wayne, aka The Duke, and Eastwood were perhaps just a little too big for their britches to be co-stars.

But these two beloved leading men shared a slew of similarities even if they decidedly never worked together. Both never planned to quit working — Wayne’s last picture, “The Shootist,” was in 1976, three years before his death, and Eastwood is still making films, notes Variety, at 91 years old. Both were conspicuously involved in politics: Eastwood was the mayor of Carmel, California, from 1986 to 1988, while Wayne was never shy about his endorsements for the GOP .

And John Wayne Clint Eastwood has and remains timeless from the numerous classics that have graced the silver screen. With so much in common, its a little bittersweet that they never teamed up and shot a bunch of outlaws like the good people always wanted. By the time Clint Eastwood came on the scene with the TV series “Rawhide”in 1959, John Wayne was just digging his spurs into an already legendary career.

As Eastwood was sharpening his acting chops as Rowdy Yates for the next eight years, Wayne was making plenty of classics, including “The Alamo” and “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance,” per History. Then in 1965 while Eastwood was on a break from “Rawhide,” he was offered to star in a Western with an up-and-coming Italian director in Spain. As Eastwood recalled on the Actor’s Studio, “Sergio Leone didn’t speak any English and I didn’t speak any Italian, so, I was kind of on my own,” when it came to the direction on “A Fistful of Dollars. “

It was the first Western of its kind. The dialogue was thin, the main character had no name and lacking the usual charm required from the protagonist. It was a box office hit, and not just in Italy. It was immediately made into a trilogy, with “The Good, the Bad and The Ugly” leaving a lasting imprint in the world of Westerns thereafter, per Britannica.

Despite its success, Wayne was evidently uninterested in working with Leone, although he didn’t come right out and say it. Wayne just didn’t ever consider having Leone direct any of his pictures, even as they sifted through a number of directors for “Rooster Cogburn” before landing on Stuart Millar, who was unquestionably inexperienced and not well liked by Wayne, per “John Wayne : The Life and Legend.”

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.