Tag: True Grit
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Masters of Reinvention: How The Coen Brothers Redefined True Grit, Surpassing John Wayne’s Legacy
It’s incredibly rare that a remake manages to outdo its classic predecessor, but the Coen brothers’ True Grit is superior to the John Wayne-starring original. Remakes are usually a pointless endeavor, because if a movie is beloved enough for a remake to be financially viable, then it’s probably a timeless gem that can’t be improved…
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Scandalous Beginnings: John Wayne’s Start in ‘The Big Trail’ and the Shocking Label of ‘Alcoholic Orgies’
In the dusty world of the films of the old west, there’s one leading man who possesses the sheer prowess to dominate all those who would come to take his mantle: the towering and inimitable John Wayne. With some of the most memorable star performances Hollywood has ever known, Wayne is a true icon of…
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The Duke’s Defiance: John Wayne Ignites Sparks by Ignoring ‘True Grit’ Source in Sequel
It’s rare that an iconic Western such as True Grit would find itself with a sequel. Most classics in the genre didn’t get a traditional sequel, least of all with John Wayne reprising his role from the original. But that’s exactly what 1975’s Rooster Cogburn did, with Wayne back in the saddle as the titular…
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The Final Stand: John Wayne’s ‘Borrowed Time’ Struggle in Cahill US Marshal Shoot
Back in 1959, critics were already asking if John Wayne was too old to be playing gunslinger leads. Rio Bravo was released that year and the romantic age gap between the 51-year-old and his 27-year-old co-star Angie Dickinson received negative reactions in reviews. Nevertheless, the Hollywood star found ways to play older cowboys over the…
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The Struggles of Hondo: John Wayne’s Stormy Temperament and the Harsh Realities of Filming
Through his starring roles in westerns and war movies during the golden age of cinema in America, John Wayne became a cultural icon. His performances in the epic western The Searchers, as well as Rio Bravo, True Grit, and Red River, are probably what the actor is best known for, but Wayne also had a…
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John Wayne’s Unforgettable Pain: Despite Tragedies, Film Remains a Massive Failure Criticized by Both Contemporary and Modern Reviewers
Hollywood has given us many icons over the years, some considerably more likeable than others. John Wayne has always been one of the industry’s most controversial stars due to his incredibly racist and generally bigoted views. A leading man in many westerns, such as The Searchers and True Grit, Wayne came to represent all things…
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Did John Wayne Say Native Americans ‘Selfishly’ Tried to Keep Their Land?
In 1971 John Wayne, the iconic movie star who had “charged the beaches at Iwo Jima, beaten back the Indians at Fort Apache, and often bloodied his fists in the name of frontier justice” was at the height of his popularity: Having appeared in over 200 films to date, he’d been listed among Hollywood’s top…
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John Wayne’s Secret Struggles During The Shootist
John Wayne suffered from ill health for the last 15 years of his life, being hospitalised for two weeks with influenza on his last movie The Shootist. At one point, doctors were even unsure if they would allow Duke to complete his final picture, in which he played an old gunslinger with cancer opposite James…
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Untold Stories: The Shocking Episode of John Wayne’s On-Set Bullying During ‘Hondo’ Production
Through his starring roles in westerns and war movies during the golden age of cinema in America, John Wayne became a cultural icon. His performances in the epic western The Searchers, as well as Rio Bravo, True Grit, and Red River, are probably what the actor is best known for, but Wayne also had a…
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Unveiling 1968’s Legendary Onset Prank: How Rock Hudson Earned John Wayne’s Respect on The Undefeated
Back in 1968, having shot his Oscar-winning performance as Rooster Cogburn in True Grit, John Wayne made another Western with Rock Hudson. The Undefeated followed the French Imperial intervention in Mexico during the 1860s and was loosely based on a Confederate General’s real escape south of the US border after the American Civil War. Originally…