One of John Wayne’s finest movies, AND every BOY should see it. With the ORIGINAL ending, not sure though, lol.
I think it was his best job as an actor. It remains a favorite of mine.
“C&I: Were you at all intimidated by The Duke?
Dern: I might have been. But right at the start, he says to me, “I want you to do us a favor.” He was including himself, [director] Mark Rydell, and the scriptwriters. He said, “From now on, consider me to be somebody you can publicly kick the shit out of 24 hours a day on the set. Because I want these little kids [playing the cowboys of the title] to be absolutely terrified of you.” He gave me carte blanche to just treat him like a turd. So I was on him, talking back to him and stuff, for the few days I was there. And he would do things like call out: “Hey, Mr. Dern, would you get over here?” I thought, Hey, John Wayne gives you a “mister” status. My first day, he’s calling me mister. How about that? That’s pretty cool.”
https://www.cowboysindians.com/2015/12/the-dastardly-bruce-dern/