Why I don't like John Wayne

Im not a big fan of the Duke but thought he was outstanding in the Searchers, then theres Red River, The Cavalry Trilogy and my Personal fave The Shootist, that he could play an ageing character in She Wore A yellow Ribbon and another in The Shootist nearly 30 years later shows he had more range than people credit him with.

It depends on whether people judge him for his politics, lack of participation in the war or his film roles. But I guess he became an icon because he represented on screen what most people consider to be honourable virtues, courage, humanity and self sacrifice.

Despite what I said at the beginning of this post I now sound like a John Wayne fan, im not but like a lot of his movies.

 

Damn 4 posts and ive only posted 3 thats inflation for you.

 

OK, Ill give you the horse soldiers Carl..If thats the one where they kids from the military acadamy attack the union forces throught the woods?

He starred in a good one black and white about a seaman on a tramp steamer in his early days which was quite good too.

Qute liked his movies if truth be known, cant name em all, but you always remember his movies.

One western with Dean Martin too, guarding small town jail house.

But one he cannot ever ever be forgiven for again dont know the name of it, but he is a US cop sent to UK, and with Richard Attenborough of Ghandi fame in tow, proceeds to push all the old London Cockney images the US must have of London. Aghhh..

 

Okay, not to be a smart aleck, but have you ever seen the one where he plays Kubla Khan (sp?)? Soooooo funny!!!! Sooo terrible!!! John Wayne as a Mongol!! He has a fu-man-chu and everything! I don't know who's idea it was, but it was a baaaaad one!!! THAT is hollywood!!!!

 

Hi Urgh--and thanks. The movies you are talking about are and you are correct about the chilkdrens acadmey attacking his Cavalry was in "The Horse Soldiers." The song played is VMIs theme song. I dont recall the songs name.

I know the name of the other movie you talk about--the one he is on the steamer--but cant recall it at the moment. Next you are talking about the great: "Rio Bravo."

Dean Martin was with him in "Sons of Katie Elder" too. Rio Bravo also had Ward Bond, Gonzales Gonzales, (A Very young) Angie Dickenson, A very young (Ricky Nelson as Colorado) also had Walter Brennan as Stumpy. A kind of remake of Rio Bravo was Rio Lobo--set during and just after the Civil War. Its another of my all-time favorites.

The last one your talking about is either Brannigan or that other forgettable "cop" film--cant think of its name at the moment.

Doc your a bit harsh on The Duke arent you? He tried to enlist--but was refused--he was no backstabber nor a traitor. True--some of his earlies acting efforts werent candidates for winning an Academy Award with early roles like: "Singin Sandy" you cant blame him for what those writers wrote for him to say. What say you about "Stagecoach?" which did win him an Oscar.

Still-- John Wayne will always be an American Icon and classic personality--like it or not. I happen to like it--you dont--what can I say?

I will ALWAYS watch a John Wayne movie over all this new drabble that is being put out by hollywoodland--any time ant day.

Speaking for myself--I hate horror flicks--I cant stand crap like "The Crow" "The Mothman Prophicies" "The Red Corner" "Fried Green Tomatoes" "Triple X" or that recent tom cruise futeristic piece of garbage--I forget its name.

At least you dont need a censor of anykind to watch any John Wayne movie--except maybe for his last film: "The Shootist."

 

I think the other one was 'McQ'.

Although I agree with all the negative remarks about Wayne and yet... and yet....

As a kid I alays loved the Wayne 'Christmas film' on TV and still enjoy Rio Bravo, The Comancheros ( 'monsewer' ) , Sons of Katie Elder and The Searchers.

Can't help it !

 

Yeah, I was a little hard on him, and I never thought of him as a traitor. I never saw stage coach (although I know MY favorite "Raiders of the Lost Ark ripped of the scene where the hero goes under the "truck"). And like I said, I do like his movies. There have just been so many times where I honesly cringe when he says something. I don't know, maybe it's just me.

 

Thank you Doc.

 

I think Wayne is best with the very short lines.

Sort of like : -

'The hell ya will!' Blam ! Blam !
'Fill yah hand, yah son of a bitch !' Blam ! Blam !
'I ain't your friend !' Blam ! Blam !

And so on...

 

Yakima Canutt …the stuntman under the coach in stagecoach…..just thought I’d mention it?

Love him or hate him, you’ve got to admit no one can play John Wayne like John Wayne, and whatever role he was given, he never played anyone else but John Wayne.

No.9



The hell I did, Pilgrim!

 

Yakima Canutt was the worlds greatest stuntman of the times. Thanks for mentioning him

 

You’re welcome Carl, it’s reflex reaction with me. Mention ‘Stagecoach’ and John Wayne and instantly I get a flashback to an elder cousin of mine saying, “That’s Yakima Canutt”, which he did every time the film was on, over and over and over and………….

Another indelible is Dr Kildare, (yes I know this is ancient history), or rather the old doctor (Dr Zorba?) played by Sam Jaffe. Every time he appeared the declaration was made; “He played Gunga Din!”.

When you’re young and impressionable (as I once was), edicts like this delivered ad infinitum appear to be essentials for life, so become ingrained.

No.9


(thinks; should have hung out at the Pool Hall?)

 

Speaking of Sam Jaffe--he is also one of my old-time favorites. I liked him in Gunga Din with Cary Grant, Victor McLaglen and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Also he was the Italian Soldier in the Humphrey Bogart war movie: Sahara. Another fav.

 

Wasn't he in Ben Casey too?

 

Quite right Smoke, it was Ben Casey wasn’t it because the senior doctor in Kildare was Raymond Massey? Kildare was the soft charismatic one and Casey was the tough nut. A case of not really being a fan of either but having to be in the room when they were on.

Now, put Raymond Massey with Carl’s Cary Grant, add Peter Lorre = Arsenic and Old Lace!. In my video collection marked ‘do not erase’. Classic character of ‘Teddy Roosevelt ‘ Brewster played by John Alexander

No.9

 

Lear something new every day--I didnt know he was in Ben Casey?

 

I am a purveyor of all sorts of useless information like that Carl, but ask me what my bank balance is and i haven't a clue

 

Im also full of these kind of facts. Scary isnt it?

 

Why does he have to be a woman? Why does he have to be single? OK. That's enough for Friedrich's degenerated moral...

I liked this, but... What the h...?

Phil C: don't worry! That's the only way you'll catch Carl and me up! Welcome to the forums by the way!

Ha! That's nice and true!

 

"F" You know why he would have to be really a female--you didnt see the pic Kai posted of the VERY beautiful woman from Sweden--I guess she was of royal birth?