Hollywood legend John Wayne became a household name after he rose to fame starring in Western and war films such as The Searchers and Rio Bravo. In a recent Talking Pictures episode on the BBC, viewers got an insight into his well-established career on the big screen and life away from the cameras. In the documentary, John shared his candid thoughts about films that were “done with such bad taste”.
In archived footage, John was interviewed about filming traumatic scenes in movies as he had acted out death many times.
He explained: “The whole idea of our business is an illusion and they are getting away from that now.
“Putting electric squibs in livers and blowing them up in slow motion and having blood all over everything.
“I mean it’s not that there’s more violence in pictures today, it’s that it is done with such bad taste that people turn their stomachs, not their emotional insides are affected, it turns their stomach.
“I just don’t want to play anything petty, or small, or mean.
“I don’t mind being rough and tough and cruel but in a big way. No little petty things.
“I like a good personal story, I don’t care whether it’s armchair or stand on top of a building or jumping off of it.
“If they jump off it, I don’t do it anyway.”
The legendary actor died in 1979, aged 72, after battling cancer for more than a decade.
Two decades after his death, the acting icon was selected as one of the greatest stars of classic American cinema by the American Film Institute.
John’s enduring status as an iconic American was formally recognised by the US government in the form of the two highest civilian decorations.
The star was well-recognised during his lifetime, he admitted in the documentary he often struggled to find places to relax.
However, an unearthed interview with John revealed he found peace when he was on his yacht in Mexico.
He said: “I don’t have to dress up or be smiling shaking hands or if I am having any trouble with any of my family I don’t have to be sweet about it because there are a lot of people around.
“I can be a human being and not worry about my image.
“Of course, I haven’t had that much of an image where I have to worry about it anyway.
“And luckily I like people so I don’t mind going to shore.”
John starred in more than 80 films during his lifetime during Hollywood’s Golden Age.
The American actor, nicknamed The Duke, was among the top box-office draws for three decades.
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