John Wayne

Without A Bit Of Blunt Advice, John Wayne Might Have Left Westerns Behind

Fandom is not an inherently bad thing. There’s nothing wrong with admiring a musician or movie star to the extent that you rush out to buy their new album or check out every film they make. It’s when you launch a petition to aggressively, belligerently lobby for artists to accede to your demands. At this point, consumers delusionally elevate themselves to the role of creator. That’s not how it should ever work, and it is frightening to see this mentality take hold in certain pockets of fandom.
It’s probably a good thing John Wayne lived in the pre-social media era. For starters, he would’ve had to reckon with a load of highly problematic statements (including that infamously racist observation in his Playboy interview). But had he somehow survived that firestorm, he probably would’ve never run afoul of his most fervent fans. Because he learned early in his career to give his audience precisely what they want.
Do not doubt Olive Carey
United ArtistsThroughout most of the 1930s, Wayne was a steady, if awfully stiff presence in a bunch of so-so B Westerns. He was a familiar face to most moviegoers but hadn’t made a film that lingered in memory after the house lights went up. This changed overnight with his larger-than-life performance as The Ringo Kid in John Ford’s “Stagecoach.” The 1939 Western launched Wayne to superstardom and established Ford as the genre’s top director.
Now that Wayne had broken through, he was keen to expand his big-screen horizons. When asked by Olive Carey, the wife of Western actor Harry Carey, what he’d like to do next, he said he’d like to play Edward the Black Prince in an adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Hundred Years’ War adventure, “The White Company.” As related in Ronald L. Davis’ “Duke: The Life and Image of John Wayne,” the outspoken Olive gave him quite the earful, which the newly-minted star took to heart:
“You are a big, dumb son of a b***h. The people have told you how they like you. They’re your audience. You give them what they want, not what you want.”And as Wayne’s son Michael Wayne added: “My father always followed her advice. He didn’t care about producers, he didn’t care about heads of studios, he cared about his fans.”
The upside of fan service
United ArtistsWayne basically did as Carey advised, though his best films over the next six years were war flicks crafted to boost the morale of Americans while their fathers and sons fought to save the free world. It wasn’t until his friend and frequent collaborator Ford returned to the home front after serving in the film unit of the Office of Strategic Services that Wayne solidified his stature as a Western icon in such classics as “Fort Apache,” “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” and “The Searchers.”
What would’ve happened had he ignored Olive and moved forward with “The White Company?” Even if it had been a hit, he probably would’ve received more than one irate letter imploring him to get back on a horse. And though their tone would’ve been uncalled for, they would’ve been right. Wayne belonged to the Western.
Read More: https://www.slashfilm.com/621081/batman-movies-ranked-from-worst-to-best/?utm_campaign=clip

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.