Category: John Wayne
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John Wayne’s Quirky ‘Superstitions’ – Triggers That Made Him ‘Fly Off the Handle’
John Wayne was an American actor and filmmaker who became one of Hollywood’s most popular icons through his starring roles during the ‘Hollywood Golden Age’. He is especially known for his appearances in Western and war films, his career having flourished from the silent era of the 1920s through the American New Wave that began…
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Outcry at USC: Students Declare It’s High Time to Remove John Wayne’s Exhibit!
A longstanding exhibit honoring former University of Southern California student John Wayne should be taken down, according to student activists at the school. The legendary Hollywood actor, who attended the school in the late 1920s under his birth name, Marion Morrison, has had a collection of movie posters, memorabilia, awards and personal correspondence on display…
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Delving into the Uncomfortable Layers of John Wayne’s Character in the Wild West
The American actor, director, producer and cultural icon, John Wayne, is as much part of the myth of the old American West as a creaky saloon, a bouncing ball of tumbleweed and a cowboy on horseback doffing his hat to the local sheriff. Inextricably linked to the country’s quintessential genre of filmmaking, Wayne starred in…
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Spielberg’s Cinematic Oddity: Unveiling the Untold Story Behind 1941’s Unconventional Journey
Is Steven Spielberg’s ‘1941’ Based on Real-Life Events? 1941 loosely draws inspiration from real-life events during World War II, particularly the panic that followed a rumored threat of attack on the continental U.S. by then Imperial Japan after the Pearl Harbor attack, including the Great Los Angeles Air Raid of 1942 and an attack by…
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Oscar Winner’s Confession: Daniel Day-Lewis Opens Up About His Dislike for John Wayne
John Wayne left behind an enduring legacy; it is one that is firmly rooted in the world of Western and war movies. The late legendary actor has never declared his love for science fiction or fantasy settings, so you would not expect to see him in one. Therefore, it was a huge shock to learn…
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John Wayne’s Grand Finale: A Cinematic Bang That Closed His Western Chapter
It was only fitting that Wayne’s final screen appearance would be in a Western, but The Shootist is an essential film regardless; both a reflection on Wayne’s career and a study of the cyclical, all-consuming nature of violence that he had been so eager to distribute. In ‘The Shootist,’ John Wayne Gives a Matured Performance…
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Red River: How Howard Hughes Battled John Wayne’s Oscar-Nominated Masterpiece
Howard Hughes Accused Howard Hawks of Plagiarism Hawks is one of the most significant Western directors, and Red River challenged preconceived notions about heroism with its subversive depiction of a major historical event. The film examines America’s first cattle drive through the perspective of the Texas rancher Thomas Dunson (Wayne) and the trail hand Nadine…
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John Wayne’s Last Frontier: The Weariness Behind ‘Rio Bravo’ and the Quest for ‘The Alamo’
John Wayne had been working steadily in movies for over 30 years when principal photography wrapped on Howard Hawkes’ “Rio Bravo” in 1958, and the miles were beginning to wear on the screen legend. At the age of 52, retirement was out of the question. He’d launched Batjac Productions only six years prior, and had…
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Behind the Reins: The Shocking Horse Incident That Almost Ended John Wayne’s Career
Actor John Wayne put himself in harm’s way on several movie sets, including She Wore a Yellow Ribbon. It’s one of his favorite performances of his career, but he didn’t earn an Oscar nomination for his work. Wayne once recalled when he blacked out and nearly died on the set of She Wore a Yellow…
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Beyond the Cowboy Image: John Wayne’s Hidden Desire for a Bold Career Transformation
Movie star John Wayne became closely intertwined with Westerns over the course of his career. He also dug into the war genre, but he was deeply associated with the image of a tough cowboy. Wayne once admitted that he felt “ashamed” of starring in Westerns and wanted to make a big career change. He desired…