Why I like John Wayne.

Duke is still doing well for a man who has been dead for at least 30 years. Not only does he still reign in in the Nr.1 spot for most popular of all-time, but also his films make more money for his estates than anyone else in Hollywood history.

And speaking of The Searchers. Both AFI (American Film Institute) and AMC (American Movie Classics) both have picked (by popular vote-no dimpled and hanging chads bit ;-)) that The Searchers is the most beloved Western of all-time and as well-Duke is the most popular Cowboy of all-time. Not bad eh? ;-)) One thing I can't remember for sure is that I THINK his character of Ethan Edwards-was also voted as the most popular Western character of all-time.

BTW, his youngest son is named Ethan ;-)) Also, The Searchers was one of Dukes all-time favorite movies-next to The Quiet Man.

 

Richard, Gordon, all I can say with your choices are-double thumbs up. Also, that line he said was when he was playing the part of a Roman Legionary and was the only line he had in The Greatest Story Ever Told. However, he did have at least one other appearance in the movie-but I can't remember where?

 

hey you Duke fans where you been as for my fav film i have to say the Cowboys is up ther but i really got to pick North to alaska, Sons of katie elder or Mclintock as for my not so fav im not sure there really is one each part of the dukes career was a work in progress so if you dont like the early Duke you maybe like the maturing Duke or maybe then again the elder Duke each to his own i guess

 

The Cowboys is a great film-one I don't get to see often-well that is until I bought the DvD last year ;-))

I always thought Mr. Nightlinger was a cool character. Oh and, did you know that when Bruce Dern was hired for hie role in that movie, that he was taken aside and was told that he was going to be the most hated person in Hollywood, because he killed the Duke. Thankfully he took the role, and I couldn't imagine anyone else in said role.

McLintock is great. I love that big fight scene at the waterhole. Oh and, this is another pairing of Duke w/ Maureen O'Hara.

As for which age Duke was that I liked the most-is hard to say. I like his look and personna from the late 1940's to late 1950's the most but, I grew up with the very matured Duke 1960's till his death. I never was much of a fan of The SHootist, that is untill I saw it played several times on AMC over the months. It took time but, now that i've seen it several times recently, I like it more and more with each showing. However, the only thing besides his death that I don't like about that film, is Ron Howard. I like Ron Howard as both actor and director but, just somehow, I don't feel he was right for that role. I think the role should have gone to Robert Carradine instead.

 

As i have a shortage of that stuff needed to buy important items such as duke films i have recorded this very day the Shootist, saw it once years ago when i do believe it was shown on british tv for the first time.Of course this was the duke's last film and after so many years i look forward to seeing it again.

 

Luckily here, The Shootist is shown on several stations I recieve. I finally bought the DvD several months ago along with: The Sea Chase, Hatari, Blood Alley and one other. On my near future "to get" list is Jet Pilot, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon, Without Reservation, Reunion In France and a few others.

 

Hatari i love that film and it is in a local shop by my mums im going to see her this week if it is still there it's MINEhey Carl Jet pilot is on the shelf in our local asda walmart im pretty sure it is one duke i aint seen tell me more buddy.

 

I too always thought Hatari was a very good film. Red Buttons (Pockets) was a hoot in that movie. One thing you will notice is that Red Buttons is also wearing the uniform pants in Hatari, that he wore in The Longest Day. Those pants he wore in The Longest Day, was one item he took as something to keep since he liked them so much.

I have to order Jet Pilot from Deep Discount to get it. The only Duke movies our local Wally-Worlds (aka) Wal-Mart, carry are: The Undefeated, McLintock, North To Alaska, Big Jake, Rio Bravo, The Alamo, Hondo, The Searchers and I think one or two others. The good thing is, is that I already have all of them-with the exception of North To Alaska.

On Jet Pilot, this movie was made in the 1950's during the "Cold War," and has that kind of sentiment in it-same as Big Jim McClane (SP?) Duke is a USAF Pilot who is really undercover for the govt and though nobody else knows about his assignment, he flies an American fighter Jet-I think is a Sabre Jet fighter? and makes it look like he's defecting to Russia.

Duke lands the jet on some Russian airfield after being escourted by a Russian Female fighter pilot-who he eventually falls in love with even thought she is made to spy on him to really see if he's defecting for real. I hate to give away the ending but will say that she finally gets to enjoy a steak dinner ;-)) This movie also has Paul Fix in it.

 

Cheers Carl nice review and shame on you for not having one of my fav duke films North to alaska, repeat after me i must buy at soonest moment in time even if it means i must forsake food and drink.And Red Buttons gotta love that name! he cracks me up but plays it good straight as well. Now Carl you know what must be done

 

Heh heh, oh I plan on buying North To Alaska, but the copy for sale at W-M is one of those Double-features and I THINK it's doubled up with The Undefeated-which I already have. Also, I THINK this double feature for sale is a single DvD w/ both movies on it-and I don't like buying those. I made that mistake when I bought the Bataan and Back To Bataan double feature-both on one DvD. When I can replose singly, whomever wants the double feature-please let me know and i'll give it to you free if you would send me a postage-paid envelope for it. I'd send it paid postage had it not been for my medical bills that are now starting to come in. Oy vey, starting tomorrow-i'll have to whip out the Mastercard.

 

Finally after posting on this a while back, bought today the Horse Soldiers,and also means i bought some Duke after serious withdrawl symptoms were setting in

 

Great choice. I always loved the music in it-all of which was by: Stan Jones. The theme to this one is: "Yellow Stripes." Later on after they take that Southern Belle as a temporary "Hostage," and after she tried for the 2nd time to escape-you can see some of our boys-a whole Regiment of them-on the opposite bank of the river and they are singing another favorite of mine: "Bonnie Blue Flag." BTW, that's a real US Civil War song.

 

It's like buses just after i have posted saying i recorded the Shootist i walk in a charity shop and there it is all neat and tidy calling to me buy me, buy me, so i did along with another classic but that is for another thread

 

Good show ;-)) I'm about to send off for a ne worder of movies too including a couple of his older Westerns with him as a Three Mesquiteer. In those Mesquiteer movies, Duke was with Ray "Crash" Corrigan and I forget the name of the 3rd Mesquiteer at this time. Anyway, Dukes character was called: Stony Brooke.

Oh and for your info, I THINK there were some 27-odd Three Mesquiteer movies made-only eight of them included Duke.

 

Bloody typical! for weeks i check the films on that week on tcm and film 4 the week i dont i miss a duke film the Barbarian and the Geisha.I to my knowledge have not seen this one either hopefully it will come round again.

 

I haven't seen this movie either. Luckily this morning, I got to see most of Hatari, when played on AMC. SOmetimes late nights on the Encore Westerns Channel, we get to see older 1930's Duke Westerns played.

 

Well if you aint seen it i guess we will just have to wait and see who now see's it first

 

Heh heh, it's on my "to-get" list. It's always nice to get to see an old film of Dukes-for the first time.

 

Has enyone seen the movie were J.W. playes the part of a roman legionare in conjunction with some sort of Jesus Christ involvment? i guess it is the only movie with J.W. I never came across.

Regards
Kruska

 

The film in question is the Greatest story ever told in which the Duke utters the immortal words "Truly this man is the son of god" whilst stood next to jesus on the cross,If i have made any mistakes in this description im sure Carl will correct me