Where's John Wayne When You Really Need Him?

Townhall.com ^ | July 9, 2007 | Burt Prelutsky

[jazusamo]

In this photo released by Warner Bros., actor John Wayne plays Ethan Edwards in the 1956 film "The Searchers." Director John Ford and frequent leading man Wayne forged one of Hollywood's most enduring partnerships. Wayne, born Marion Robert Morrison, would have turned 100 on Saturday, May 26, 2007. He died at the age of 72 of stomach cancer in June of 1979 after a career that spanned more than 170 films (AP Photo/Warner Bros.)

[goldstategop]

By common consent, that's his greatest film ever. When we think about The Duke, liberals can't still hold a candle next to the guy.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[jazusamo]

I agree completely, he deserved an Oscar for his performance and it was a great cast.

[neverdem]

BTTT!

[Inyo-Mono]

Although The Searchers was a great film, I still feel that True Grit was his greatest role. My brother was lucky enough to interview the Duke, when The Shootist was released. When asked about his "last" role in The Shootist, Wayne replied: "Hell, I hope it's not my last role." He died a year or so later.

[SierraWasp]

Well, how ‘bout puttin somma yer danged money on Duncan Hunter? He’s about as close as yer gonna git to the mighty John Wayne, without fallin for another shallow slick celebrity!!! (please excuse the interruption. we now return you to your regularly scheduled program of whistful stargazing...)

[jazusamo]

I’m backing a Hunter/Thompson ticket. :-)

[I see my hands]

Allah, Be Damned

[bajabaja]

Clint Eastwood was supposed to be the heir to Wayne, heck, that is what I heard anyway. Eastwood’s films seemed to include an aspect of self-worship or self-concern that I never found in Wayne. Which is why,to me, he is immensely more human and likeable than Eastwood.

I only watch Westerns. I have no formal training in film critique. I just watched the characters and compared.

Guess I won’t make everybody’s day.

[swatbuznik]

I love “The Searchers” but “True Grit” remains my favorite! I, too, miss John Wayne...and men like him.

[jazusamo]

Yes, I like Eastwood but IMO he can’t hold a candle to John Wayne in Westerns.

[Reagan Man]

The Duke lives on. Since John Wayne's death in 1979, he's the only deceased movie star to break into the Top-10 of favorite movie stars, according to Harris Interactive polling. 28 straight years! For many years Wayne was ranked either first or second. Simply amazing.

John Wayne was also ranked #11 in the 100 Most Influential People in the History of the Movies, according to the authors of the Film 100 Web site. Preceded only by WK Laurie Dickson, Edwin S. Porter, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Orson Welles, Alfred Hitchcock, Walt Disney, D.W. Griffith, Will Hays and Thomas Edison. Wow!

[SierraWasp]

Great ticket call!!! God will bless you I hope!!!

[jazusamo]

They were both really good movies and the difference in the characters he played in them blows the myth by some that he just played himself.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

(stolen from another FReeper) (FWIW : USO Show in 1967 I had duty,,,coverin' The Duke's Back,,,Me and the NCOIC "heard" the roar of the crowd from a few miles away,,,It made me very proud...WE GOT THE REAL DEAL "ON THE LINE NOW!!"...

[jazusamo]

I grew up watching John Wayne movies and still watch his reruns. He’s the only actor I consistently watch reruns of, he was one of a kind.

[jazusamo]

That’s a great caption and I can hear him saying it.

[jazusamo]

Thanks for that link! What makes that so good is he meant it.

[jtal]

There are many great Wayne movies to choose from - but my all time favorite is “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” - starting with the title and throughout the movie it is a suberb distillation of irony.