John Wayne

Was This John Wayne Classic Inspired by The Duke Not Enlisting During WWII?

By the time John Wayne reached the age of 34, he was one of the most recognizable faces in American culture. He championed himself as a patriotic citizen willing to do anything for his country. However, for Wayne, when the country declared war with Japan following Pearl Harbor, he was considered too old to be drafted.

Wayne was adamant about supporting the country during a time of unprecedented war. However, unlike many celebrities of the time, Wayne never enlisted himself. Instead, he stayed home to foster American support the best way he knew how, through the movie screen.

The western star dreamed about making a film detailing the famed battle at The Alamo. Surrounding the film are rumors that Wayne’s motivation for making it revolved around his own guilt for never fighting in the actual war.

John Wayne’s Troubled Road to Production for The Alamo

For the majority of his early career, Wayne signed exclusively with Republic Pictures. His parent company supposedly blocked any attempt for Wayne to enlist to avoid putting their biggest star at risk. A Slash Film report details evidence of Wayne’s frustrations with Republic Pictures. He wrote his friend, John Ford, many letters voicing his desire to fight for his country. But the day never came.

In 1945, the year the war ended, Wayne became fixated with telling the story of The Alamo where Texas forces defeated Mexican armies to gain independence. He sought to tell a patriotic story of his view of American values after being denied the chance to fight.

It wasn’t until he founded his own production company, Batjac, that Wayne could finally make the project his way. Wayne envisioned an epic, three-hour adventure. But studios hesitated to fund such a project. He gathered the money himself, including some of his own, and commenced production in 1959.

What Did Audiences Think of The Alamo?

The Alamo debuted to audiences in 1960. It is generally well-regarded for its epic scale and detailed battle scenes. However, criticism for its pacing and on-the-nose messaging has defined the film’s legacy.

Bowsley Crowther of the New York Times wrote in his 2005 review that the film features many crowd-pleasing moments that are “piercingly effective” to the audience, but contends the film is far too bloated.

“As his own producer and director, Mr. Wayne has, unfortunately, let his desire to make a big picture burden him with dialogue,” Crowther said. “His action scenes are usually vivid, his talk scenes are long and usually dull.”

In a retrospect on Slash Film, Jeremy Smith reflected on Wayne’s desire for making the film. Was Wayne truly motivated to share the story, or did he want to make up for his perceived inaction during the war?

“My most charitable read of The Alamo is that [Wayne] simply wasn’t a skilled enough director to effectively convey his angst,” Smith wrote. “Mostly, though, I think this is a bitter, boring movie by a man who resented the fact that he lacked the nerve to live up to his filmed 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.