John Wayne is almost always disregarded: a staunch, loud, unashamed conservative who made movies for the masses.
I would consider:
The Quiet Man.
The Searchers.
Red River.
James Stewart is my favorite movie actor. John Wayne is my favorite movie star.
Also “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” Actually Lee Marvin was also pretty great. I loved it when James Stewart popped John Wayne.
Actually, the best films I’ve ever watched were made by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. They have no peer.