Searchers? The Darkest Wayne, indeed!
I believe his only Oscar winner, True Grit he was just having fun doing his impression of Wallace Beery.
Also I love ‘The Shootist’
I think you are correct, he looked like he enjoyed playing that role...it suited him, I never picked up on the Walter Beery aspect! Hahahahahaha...no kidding, I just watched a clip of “Treasure Island” and Wayne was spot on!
I love the old “True Grit”, and I thought the new one did a nice job of paying tribute to it and keeping the faith.
But to me, Rooster Cogburn will always be John Wayne!
I remember seeing it at the Officer’s Club in Yokosuka, Japan. My parents would take us out to eat there, and on certain nights, they would show a movie, and diners would have coffee and dessert...
I remember seeing “The Green Berets”, “Hellfighters”, and “True Grit” there!
Loved it.