And can’t use Quiet Man
Thanks all
McQ and The Sands of Iwo Jima.
Dang, you're fired up this morning.
John Wayne was kinda a azzhole in real life.
But then again many actors and actresses were or are.
People put em up on a pedalstel and kinda wanta emulate them in their role persona and hero worshipp them.
What was that one movie they made in like a nuclear test site or nuclear fall out area???
Ghengis Khan movie???
That would be my fave non western " Duke" movie then.
Hellfighters or Hatari......it's a toss up between those for me.
The Conqueror is the movie about Genghis Khan.
Wake of the Red Witch...Joe
Wings Of Eagles - 1957, directed by John Ford.
I was 13, and it was long my favorite.
Haven't seen it since.
No wonder. Nobody got their kneecaps drilled, nobody planted a bomb in the pub, nary a Black and Tan anywhere and hardly a word about the English.
It sucked.
+1.
didn’t the same cast of characters play in alot of the JW movies?
They Were Expendable
Hatari
The Green Berets
+1.
didn’t the same cast of characters play in alot of the JW movies?Pretty common back in the old 'Studio contract' days...
CASTING IN THE STUDIO ERA During the Hollywood studio era, each company cast its films in-house, using mostly contract players. Sometimes, if the unit making the film felt that certain roles could not be cast with studio personnel, they looked outside for actors unattached to a studio, actors with nonexclusive studio contracts, or those whose home studio was willing to loan them out. The casting of the Hollywood-on-Hollywood classic Sunset Boulevard at Paramount in 1949 is instructive. For the role of the delusional former silent movie star, director Billy Wilder (1906–2002) and producer Charles Brackett (1892–1969) looked for someone who actually had been as big a star as the fictional Norma Desmond. After interviewing a number of 1920s movie queens, Wilder and Brackett cast Gloria Swanson (1899–1983), who had retired from the screen in 1934. For the role of Max, Norma's servant, ex-director, and ex-husband, Erich von Stroheim (1885–1957) was cast. The former director, who supported himself in the sound era as an actor and had acted for Wilder in Paramount's Five Graves to Cairo (1943), returned to play a role almost humiliatingly like himself. Most of the other parts were cast in-house. William Holden (1918–1981), a journeyman leading man in routine pictures who had joint contracts with Paramount and Columbia, took over the role of the gigolo writer Joe Gillis after Montgomery Clift (1920–1966), the hot young free-lance actor who had first been signed, backed out. Sunset Boulevard , released in 1950, made Holden a major star. Betty Schaefer was played by Nancy Olson (b. 1928), a contract ingenue. In a film that called for real-life Hollywood personalities to play themselves, the most important of these roles could be cast with a contract employee, namely Cecil B. DeMille (1881–1959), who helped found Paramount and nearly thirty years before had made Gloria Swanson a star at the studio. The result is as perfectly cast a film as one can find.
The studio with the largest stable of actors, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), boasting of 'More Stars Than
Erich von Stroheim and Gloria Swanson in Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard (1950).
There Are in Heaven," worked its contract stable like a self-contained stock company. The "major minors," Columbia and Universal, relied upon and benefited the most from other companies' contract players. James Stewart (1908–1997), an MGM contract player from 1935 until his induction into the US Army in 1941, was mostly ill-used by his home studio, which could not determine his "type"—comic actor or romantic lead. Frank Capra (1897–1991), the anomalous star director at Columbia, asked to borrow Stewart for the male lead opposite house star Jean Arthur (1900–1991) for You Can't Take It with You (1938). Capra and Columbia borrowed Stewart for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), again opposite Arthur, in a film that turned out to be a star-maker for Stewart. Also in 1939, MGM loaned out Stewart to Universal for Destry Rides Again , a western comedy that launched the new career of Marlene Dietrich (1901–1992), the former Paramount star whom Universal had just signed. Both films clicked, confirming Stewart's comic gifts, his unique bashful magnetism, and his ability to project emotion, sincerity, and visionary passion. MGM, having been shown Stewart's value by the smaller studios, put his new stardom to proper use in The Shop Around the Corner and The Philadelphia Story (both 1940).
Sometimes, when seeking to duplicate the success of another studio, MGM was not above borrowing supporting actors whom a rival studio had made known in certain types of roles. Gene Lockhart (1891–1957) and Charles Coburn (1877–1961) played businessmen to whom the hero appeals for help in Twentieth Century Fox's Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939), a major hit. MGM borrowed Coburn and Lockhart for its own biopic of an American inventor-industrialist, Edison the Man (1940).
During the studio era, and later on television, type-casting was the rule. Studio casting directors thought of Charles Coburn when looking for a wise, gruff, and lovable (or a roguish, gruff, and lovable) old man; Gale Sondergaard (1899–1985) fit the bill for an exotic or sinister "foreign" woman; C. Aubrey Smith (1863–1948) was Hollywood's embodiment of Merrie Old England; and so on. Marion Dougherty, one of the first independent casting directors in the 1950s and 1960s, compared casting in the studio system to "ordering a Chinese meal: one from column A and one from column B. That's why you'd see the same actor in the same kind of roles" (Kurtes, "Casting Characters," p. 40)
Too many that I like ro really pick one. I watched McQ and Brannigan last night. Another is Donavon's Reef.
PJ
My vote goes to this one as well
Flying Tigers. That's the one that made me dream of being "John Wayne: Fighter Pilot".
It's a cliche to claim that an actor was a jerk in real life, and that has been said here about the Duke. Nothing I've ever read even suggests he was anything but a great guy to know.
I’ve always read he was a gentleman, and bigger than life, a lot of people are just insecure with that personality, he didn’t have anything to prove.
Yep this one for me. Of course I’m an aircraft junkie! Especially radials!
Mark in GA
One that's rather obscure is Island in the Sky
He was great in Play Misty for Me.
One that's rather obscure is Island in the Sky
That was a good one, with a rare out of character role for Andy Devine.
But I'd vote for The High and Mighty.
Hatari,
But it got pretty ,western, in a couple of scenes
The man loved Tequila
--------------------------------------
1976 was the year of the Bicentennial, the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. Working in marketing at Paramount Pictures in NYC, I was responsible for a one-week publicity tour for the movie, “The Shootist” starring John Wayne.
To say that I was excited was a total understatement. We met at the Mike Douglas Talk Show in Philadelphia, where he was taping five shows with a live audience. When I shook his hand, it was almost as big as a baseball glove. Thank goodness I am tall, so we could look at each other eye to eye. He was a true professional answering questions for over 3 hours. We were staying at the Bellevue Stratford Hotel, which when it opened in 1904, was described as the most spectacular Hotel building in the nation. The hotel was hosting a Statewide American Legion convention while we were there but somehow, we avoided them.
John Wayne, the Duke, told me to meet him in the bar, and he came down with a bottle of tequila in each hand. He asked me if I ever drank tequila, and while I said no, he poured us two glasses with crushed ice and a sliver of lemon. We gave a toast to ” The Shootist”, while telling me all about tequila and shooting movies in Mexico. He said he only drank the good stuff, as he knocked back his drink and then I finished mine, as he poured another.
A couple hours into this serious drinking session, I had to ask him about his footprints in front of Grumman’s Chinese Theater, because they seem too small for his feet. He said I’m a 10 and ½, which I replied, “me too”.
We had finished the first bottle, when he asked me if I was hungry and if I liked caviar, which I had never tried. The Duke told the waitress “that this was a Day of First’s for me”, and he ordered the caviar. I did like the tequila, as I had quite a buzz, but one bite of the fish eggs on toast, with red onions, was enough for me. He snickered as he dug into the big bowl on ice with a mother of pearl spoon and opened the other bottle. Asking about dinner I told him we had reservations at Bookbinders, which was easily the best and most famous restaurant in town. The bill arrives and I’m thinking since we only had ice and lemon slices it would be nothing, but it was $897 worth of caviar, and remember, this was 1976. I freaked out on how I was going to submit $1,000 bar tab to Studio Accounting, knowing dinner was going to be almost twice that. Suddenly, Al Horwits, who handled the PR for the film, stood by our table. The Duke got up and said, “I’ll meet you in the lobby in 30 minutes and hang on to that bottle”. I was shocked when Horwits said he would take care of the bill. I waited to see his face when he looked at the check before I walked through the revolving door, to the street to get some air as I was a little wobbly. It was a classic color of red.
Outside we had a limousine and a motorcycle police escort. The Duke asked me to come up with something for him to give the policemen on the tour. He liked my idea of Zippo lighters engraved with “The SHOOTIST” on one side and “Stolen from John Wayne” on the other. Also, he always drew a crowd for autographs at the airports, so we had his business cards printed with his signature on the back to giveaway. He said, “they won’t realize it’s a printed signature till he’s long gone”.
We met his partners in Batjac Productions, the Duke’s production company, for dinner and we all had a good laugh at Horwits’ expense. Duke said, “he’s a sonuvabitch” and when I told him he was on the same plane with us flying to Atlanta in the morning, he said “find us a flight out tonight.” Leaving this marvelous dinner, I spent the next hour in a beautiful wood payphone trying to book first class tickets to Atlanta. Succeeding in getting everyone a seat but myself, and our entourage, with police escort, got everyone on the plane, while I had a 7:00 AM. flight in the morning.
When the alarm went off at 5:00 AM, after drinking almost two bottles of tequila, I thought I was dying. When I walked out of the elevator, and through the lobby with sunglasses, I saw Horwits. Not knowing what to say, I asked, “Do you want to share a cab?” We didn’t say a word in the taxi, but I knew I had a first-class ticket, and he was in the back of the plane, as I hurried off when we landed.
Rushing to the Duke’s suite at the Omni Hotel, he opened the door standing there BALD! I was speechless when walking to the balcony, and someone handed me a Screwdriver cocktail drink, and I almost got sick. Hearing a commotion coming from the bathroom, I found the Duke sitting in a barber chair as his hair and makeup guy was fitting a toupee on his head. The hair guy said, “boy he’s pissed at you because you didn’t say good morning.” I responded, I didn’t know he wore a hairpiece, and they all broke out laughing.
On the television there was a news break about over a dozen Legionnaires who did not wake up at the Bellevue Stratford Hotel had died from a strange disease. We figured the tequila saved us! After three local TV shows, there was a press luncheon for maybe 80 people, and we caught another flight, where the Duke had dinner with the Dallas Morning News movie reviewer. More TV in the morning, another press luncheon for a hundred, and a radio interview in the limousine on the way to catch a flight to Chicago.
Of course, we ran out of Commemorative Reposado Sauza tequila, and since it wasn’t available in the United States, I had a friend drive across the Border into Mexico at El Paso to secure another case.
I was 26-year-old, and having a blast, while spending a week with John Wayne, and to this day I only drink good tequila.
He told me “Dave you’re a good kid. You’ve got the world by the balls and it’s yours to enjoy, don’t screw it up!”
Later, I got a call from him, and he asked how I knew so much about all of his films, and I told him about a book I had bought called “John Wayne And The Movies”. I sent it to him, and he sent it back to me signed saying “Our English friends have published one I didn’t know about”.
A few months later a box arrived at my office with a signed photograph saying, “Many thanks for making hard work a little easier”. The box had a pair of Lucchese Ostrich Cowboy Boots, at my 10 ½ size, which he remembered. I still wear them today, as you can see in the picture!
Hatari
North to Alaska (is it a western?)
Donovans Reef.
Wings Of Eagles - 1957, directed by John Ford.
I was 13, and it was long my favorite.
Haven't seen it since.
That's my wife's favorite John Wayne movie, so we watch it every couple of years.
I love “The Quite Man”. I guess purely for the chemistry between Duke and Maureen O’Hara. (She was always gorgeous)
Eliminating that movie, “Hatari” easily with “Donavans Reef” a very close second.
Reon
Maureen O'Hara showed up at our Army base in 'Nam one day, along with some azzwipe from The Virginian. He sat at the bar ignoring everybody and swilling free booze while she sang about a hundred dirty songs and had us all enraptured. Two months later, at a different base, the only movie we had for well over a month was "McClintock" and I smiled at seeing her again all 25 or so times I watched that flick.
1 - Hatari
2 - Donovan’s Reef
3 - North to Alaska
4 - Wings of Eagles
Not a fan of Marion Morrison.
Not a fan of Marion Morrison.
Well yeah, Marion was a womanizing drunk who may have even cheated at cards, not to mention questions regarding military service, but John Wayne was a heck of an actor and produced a few duds (Genghis Khan) but most of his movies were worth at least one viewing.
Any of those movies he made about fighting in WW2 while Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart were actually fighting in WW2 and the director, John Ford, who discovered John Wayne and made his career was on Midway filming the battle as it happened.
Any of those movies he made about fighting in WW2 while Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart were actually fighting in WW2 and the director, John Ford, who discovered John Wayne and made his career was on Midway filming the battle as it happened.
Yeah, but people like Ford, Stewart, Marvin, Douglas, etc. continued to do multiple pictures with him. None of us know the real story, but whatever it was, they still worked with him.
Any of those movies he made about fighting in WW2 while Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart were actually fighting in WW2 and the director, John Ford, who discovered John Wayne and made his career was on Midway filming the battle as it happened.
Yeah, but people like Ford, Stewart, Marvin, Douglas, etc. continued to do multiple pictures with him. None of us know the real story, but whatever it was, they still worked with him.
Got to work with who ever the boss hires, or who will do the best job.
I can't really blame John Wayne, in addition to his career just taking off, he was having an extramarital affair boning Marlene Dietrich at the time. I sure as heck wouldn't what to go off and dodge bullets if it meant leaving a fancy bedroom with a naked and willing Marlene Dietrich in it.
Its just that Marion Morison created the John Wayne persona that he presented in movies and in public life. The John Wayne persona of a brave hero, super patriot, family man, blah blah blah. In the end, it was utter B.S. That's fine, Hollywood is the land of make believe, its fun, but there was no John Wayne except in the imagination of Marion Morison and the people that want to buy into that fantasy with him.
All movies are fantasy. All actors are "acting". That's why they call it entertainment. I don't agree with the personal lives of most any actor, but many of them are good at their craft and are entertaining.
I liked him in "The Longest Day"
My favorite was Marcus Welby MD.
Any of those movies he made about fighting in WW2 while Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart were actually fighting in WW2 and the director, John Ford, who discovered John Wayne and made his career was on Midway filming the battle as it happened.
Yeah, but people like Ford, Stewart, Marvin, Douglas, etc. continued to do multiple pictures with him. None of us know the real story, but whatever it was, they still worked with him.
Got to work with who ever the boss hires, or who will do the best job.
I can't really blame John Wayne, in addition to his career just taking off, he was having an extramarital affair boning Marlene Dietrich at the time. I sure as heck wouldn't what to go off and dodge bullets if it meant leaving a fancy bedroom with a naked and willing Marlene Dietrich in it.
Its just that Marion Morison created the John Wayne persona that he presented in movies and in public life. The John Wayne persona of a brave hero, super patriot, family man, blah blah blah. In the end, it was utter B.S. That's fine, Hollywood is the land of make believe, its fun, but there was no John Wayne except in the imagination of Marion Morison and the people that want to buy into that fantasy with him.
If they had strong feelings, they wouldn’t have worked with him so much.
I don’t watch movies for who the actors really are, but who they pretend to be.
Tom Cruise is a nut, but usually makes a pretty good movie. Same can be said for most of them. Some might even be fun to have a beer with if the topic is on something other than them. I hear Harrison Ford is a real ass unless you are a pilot and talk flying.
If you are watching John Wayne, you are watching a movie, not reality TV. Most people get that.
US been at war pretty much since day 1. Lots of opportunities to serve.
Always interesting when those who didn't serve then call out others for not serving.
Not pointed at anyone here - just in general.
US been at war pretty much since day 1. Lots of opportunities to serve.
Always interesting when those who didn't serve then call out others for not serving.
Not pointed at anyone here - just in general.
Yeah, seems to be the case. Those that did serve in Hollywood didn’t seem to hold it against him, so why should we?
Any of those movies he made about fighting in WW2 while Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart were actually fighting in WW2 and the director, John Ford, who discovered John Wayne and made his career was on Midway filming the battle as it happened.
Yeah, but people like Ford, Stewart, Marvin, Douglas, etc. continued to do multiple pictures with him. None of us know the real story, but whatever it was, they still worked with him.
Got to work with who ever the boss hires, or who will do the best job.
I can't really blame John Wayne, in addition to his career just taking off, he was having an extramarital affair boning Marlene Dietrich at the time. I sure as heck wouldn't what to go off and dodge bullets if it meant leaving a fancy bedroom with a naked and willing Marlene Dietrich in it.
Its just that Marion Morison created the John Wayne persona that he presented in movies and in public life. The John Wayne persona of a brave hero, super patriot, family man, blah blah blah. In the end, it was utter B.S. That's fine, Hollywood is the land of make believe, its fun, but there was no John Wayne except in the imagination of Marion Morison and the people that want to buy into that fantasy with him.
If they had strong feelings, they wouldn’t have worked with him so much.
I don’t watch movies for who the actors really are, but who they pretend to be.
Tom Cruise is a nut, but usually makes a pretty good movie. Same can be said for most of them. Some might even be fun to have a beer with if the topic is on something other than them. I hear Harrison Ford is a real ass unless you are a pilot and talk flying.
If you are watching John Wayne, you are watching a movie, not reality TV. Most people get that.
Agree with all you've said. Except some people do tend to take the John Wayne persona a bit too seriously and reality TV is really pretty much contrived fiction also.
I wish I knew my grandfathers opinion on him. He was a WWII and Korean vet, and worked for 20th Century Fox for 25 years. He worked on a lot of movies but I don’t know if he ever did a Wayne film. When I was a kid he was doing TV shows. I would go to the sets of MASH, Charlie’s Angels, and Love Boat. I was really too young to know the people I met were famous.
My grandfather was about as conservative as it gets, and he loved Alan Alda and spent a lot of years working with him. Kinda surprises me, but maybe Alda was less liberal in those days. My grandfather didn’t give a crap about their status and pretty much robbed them all blind. Somewhere I’ve got Charlton Heston’s desk lamp that Grandpa liberated.
Hatari, since you wouldn't let us choose The Quiet Man.
They Were Expendible
Trouble Along the Way
The Alamo (obviously)
Hatari
The Longest Day (easily the best movie JW was in that wasn't a Western, but not as great of an individual performance as above)
Any of those movies he made about fighting in WW2 while Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart were actually fighting in WW2 and the director, John Ford, who discovered John Wayne and made his career was on Midway filming the battle as it happened.
Wayne and Stewart were friends and Stewart had nothing but good things to say about Wayne.
Pretty sure Wayne had a bad back from a football injury. That's why he walked that way.