Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Sergio Leone’s Gamble: Unveiling Clint Eastwood’s Breakout Role for a Mere $15,000
Clint Eastwood, the man, the myth, the legend, who stood with a cigar in his mouth and a revolver in his hand has been the star of many iconic movies. Getting his fame from starring in Italian director Sergio Leone’s The Dollars Trilogy, there was a very specific set of events that landed Eastwood with…
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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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The Unthinkable Almost Happened: Willem Dafoe Almost Took Val Kilmer’s Iconic Tombstone Role
It’s impossible to imagine anybody else besides Val Kilmer playing the role of Doc Holliday in the western biopic Tombstone, but he wasn’t the first actor the producers wanted for the part. Tombstone depicts real-life historical events from the frontier, like the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. It was one of the most commercially successful…
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Heat, Costumes, and Tuberculosis: The Untold Story Behind Val Kilmer’s Tombstone Ordeal
Val Kilmer’s hard-drinking Doc Holliday can be seen sweating all throughout the western biopic Tombstone, but there’s a historical reason – and a behind-the-scenes reason – for all the sweat in the movie. Set in Southeast Arizona in the 1880s, Tombstone depicts such real-life historical events as the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and the…
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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…
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Spaghetti Western Revolution: Clint Eastwood’s Gritty Transformation Under John Wayne’s Watch
Movie star John Wayne was no stranger to Westerns. He starred in some of the greatest films ever to grace the genre, but he also starred in his share of war and drama movies. Wayne talked about the importance of Westerns to moviegoing audiences when the genre was at its peak. Fans of all ages…
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