Tag: John Ford
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O’Hara Unveils Dark Secrets: Stuntmen Tragedy and Unresolved Mysteries on the Set of Rio Grande
John Wayne filmed a classic Western with Maureen O’Hara in which cast members were killed and their bodies never recovered. Back in 1950, John Wayne starred in Rio Grande, the third of his Cavalry Trilogy (alongside Fort Apache and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon) with director John Ford. Cast and crew struggled terribly with the…
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Clint Eastwood’s Controversial View on John Wayne’s Acting Mastery in ‘Red River’ and ‘The Searchers’
Clint Eastwood believes two of John Wayne’s best Western performances can be found in his work with director John Ford. Eastwood was one of the last movie stars to make his name off the back of Westerns. He claims this was never his intention, but the fact he looked good on a horse meant he…
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John Wayne’s Studio Lot Encounter Reveals Tension in the Silent Dance Between Wayne and Director John Ford
Filmmaker John Ford and actor John Wayne made one of the best film collaborations in Hollywood history. They had a special bond as close friends that lasted for many years. However, Ford refused to even acknowledge Wayne after he made his first box office failure. The actor once tried to figure out the answer to…
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The Most Disturbing Deed Committed By John Wayne’S Ethan In The Searchers Is A Grim Foreshadowing Of His Eventual Fate
There’s little point in arguing that John Ford’s 1956 adventure isn’t one of the most influential Westerns ever produced. Its breathtaking shots of Monument Valley, mature storyline and Wayne’s haunting performance make it unforgettable. Steven Spielberg rewatches The Searchers every time he starts filming a new project, Martin Scorsese has proclaimed it one of his…
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John Wayne Wore Wet Suit Under His Tuxedo At Last Public Appearance Weeks Before Death
A heavy smoker, he was diagnosed with lung cancer in the mid-sixties, resulting in having one of his lungs and a couple of ribs removed. Determined to maintain his macho image, Duke often still insisted on doing his own stunts in his movies and continued to puff on cigars despite giving up cigarettes. Wayne, who…
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John Wayne: The Searchers Featured An Appalling Mistake By Ward Bond That Had To Be Covered Up For Years To Avoid The “Terrible Temper”
John Wayne and John Ford collaborated on some of the Hollywood Golden Age’s best-loved Westerns from She Wore a Yellow Ribbon to The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. Perhaps their most famous was 1956’s The Searchers which saw Duke play a Civil War veteran spending years searching for his abducted niece, played by Natalie Wood.…
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Barbara Walters’ Unforgettable Interview: John Wayne’s Last Interview with Barbara Walters – ‘A Must-Watch, But Be Prepared
In January 1979, six months before he died, Wayne gave his final interview to Barbara Walters, who died just before New Year’s Eve 2022. Reflecting on their conversation years later, she said of his days being numbered, “I think he knew it”, as a day later he was admitted to hospital and never recovered. After…
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Two Titans Of The West: Clint Eastwood Took Down All Of John Ford’S Films, Except For This One
While Clint Eastwood is undoubtedly one of the true icons of the western movie genre, he’s not without his competitors when it comes to taking the gunslinger throne of the desert. As for directors, it’s hard to look beyond the works of John Ford, widely considered one of the most influential directors of all time.…
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True Grit And Duds By John Wayne: He Worked Tirelessly But Had Two Of His Best Movies Stolen
Long before his breakout role in John Ford’s Stagecoach, John Wayne was a struggling young actor who fronted dozens of “Poverty Row” films. These were low-budget b-movies that were filmed quickly, with some notable examples from his career including Wayne’s sole “horror” Haunted Gold. He always appeared to be on the cusp of stardom, but…
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Why Did John Wayne Feel Unrecognized by John Ford Until After His Oscar Win?
Movie star John Wayne and legendary filmmaker John Ford made one of the most iconic actor-director duos ever. However, the director was infamously harsh on the actor, frequently coming down hard on him in front of entire movie sets. Ford didn’t open up about his positive feelings toward Wayne’s performances until after he won an…