Tag: Oscar
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Howard Hughes’ Lost Battle: The Oscar-Nominated John Wayne Western That Defied Suppression
Although John Wayne starred in many of the greatest Westerns of all time, Howard Hawks’ 1948 epic Red River stands chief among them. Although Red River featured stunning visuals that made it enthralling on an aesthetic level, the film was significant because of its darker analysis of capitalistic greed, toxic masculinity, and the inherent violence…
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30 Years Ago: Clint Eastwood Demystifies His Legend in ‘Unforgiven’
Clint Eastwood was the Man With No Name, a taciturn, iron-willed and seemingly indestructible antihero whose implacable drive for vengeance/justice left heaps of dusty, bloody bodies strewn all over the unforgiving landscape. It’s a myth the ambitious Eastwood leaned into as much as he began to deconstruct it once he embarked on his directorial career.…
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1974 London Trip Turns Nightmare: John Wayne’s Battle with Pneumonia and Heart Issues During Brannigan
John Wayne suffered serious health problems while shooting Rooster Cogburn with Katharine Hepburn. Duke had struggled with pneumonia, relied on an oxygen mask and would have furious outbursts on set. After winning the Best Actor Oscar for 1969’s True Grit, John Wayne returned for a sequel with 1975’s Rooster Cogburn – which celebrates its 48th…
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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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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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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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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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Reconciling with the Duke: The Heartbreaking Attempt to Mend Fences in John Wayne’s Final Days
John Wayne’s Rio Bravo remake El Dorado had him co-starring opposite Robert Mitchum, with whom Duke became firm friends on the 1966 movie. When the director of both films Howard Hawks wanted to make the film about a sheriff defending his office from outlaws for the third time, he hoped he could convince his starring…
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From Open Range to Unforgiven: Kevin Costner and Clint Eastwood’s Impact on the Western Genre’s Oscar Triumphs
Clint Eastwood and Kevin Costner are among the most defining faces of the Western genre. Although the two stars have dabbled in other premises and varied endeavors, their names often come up in the list of people whose contributions to Westerns have made history. Kevin Costner’s uber-successful directorial debut, Dances with Wolves, is widely recognized…
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The Oscar That Slipped Away: John Wayne’s Rejected Role and the ‘Adultery’ Controversy
It would be some years before John Wayne would gain the Oscar he so deeply felt he was owed. Appearing in 150 movies in his career, the noted western icon would have to wait until the latter stages of his time in Hollywood before he walked away with the golden statue he so richly desired.…