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Duking it out over John Wayne
New York Daily News ^ | 7/19/03 | Kay Gardella

Posted on 07/19/2003 1:45:34 AM PDT by kattracks

Maureen O'Hara summed up John Wayne best.

Explaining to Congress why the actor merited the nation's Medal of Honor, his frequent co-star said: "John Wayne is the United States of America."

Not everybody will agree with O'Hara's summation of the actor's long career in films. That's pointed out in tomorrow night's PBS special, "John Wayne - The Unquiet American," airing on WNET/Ch. 13 at 10 o'clock.

In archival interviews - Wayne died June 11, 1979 - the actor emerges as a man determined to shape his life and image to reflect his conservative values and belief in the United States.

He scoffs at politicians "who kowtow to minorities for the vote."

Filmmaker Oliver Stone says of Wayne: "There was no sexuality, but there was honesty. You knew what you were getting."

So did the public, since Wayne remains the most popular American movie actor in history.

The one nick in his armor was putting career above the country he loved during World War II. He shirked a call to arms when other actors such as Clark Gable, Robert Taylor, Henry Fonda and Tyrone Power entered the service.

Wayne's life is traced from childhood (he was born Marion Morrison) to his death, using home movies, archival footage, photographs and insights from family and friends.

"What he was creating was an image, not only of manhood or of a particular actor, but [of what] many came to think of America," says Garry Wills, author of "John Wayne's America."

Helping to shape that image was director John Ford, with whom Wayne had a long and fruitful collaboration on such classics as "Stagecoach," "The Searchers" and "The Quiet Man."

They both were drinkers, and shared the same values and love for this country. To the macho actor, Ford was a mentor and father figure who helped shape his career.

Produced by Martin Davidson and directed by James Kent, "John Wayne - The Unquiet American" is a collage of pieces of this beloved star.

It doesn't pull punches, nor does it set out to destroy the heroic image.

Originally published on July 19, 2003



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: johnwayne
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To: Perfesser
"Cold-blooded murder, but I can live with it. . . . "

Tom Doniphon (John Wayne) telling Ranse Stoddard (Jimmy Stewart) who really shot Liberty Valance.

61 posted on 07/19/2003 7:54:08 AM PDT by RGSpincich
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To: RGSpincich

Oh, Yeah.

One of the true values of John Wayne is the body of work that you can show to your children as an example of what a man should be and what you want them to become.
62 posted on 07/19/2003 8:00:42 AM PDT by Perfesser
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To: kattracks
I just love the Duke- my husband and I are in our early 30s and we've recently "discovered" John Wayne (we never watched much of him when we were younger)

We have been trying to see all his movies... since he made over 120 of them, we have a long way to go! We love the westerns some have already mentioned on this thread, and we particularly enjoy "Wings of Eagles" ...delightful and funny.

63 posted on 07/19/2003 8:07:25 AM PDT by Ferret Fawcet (Trust God's authority, not man's majority.)
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To: aomagrat
"I'm looking at a tin star with a drunk pinned to it."

Rio Bravo? Or Rio Lobo? They were the same film with different sidekicks. Dean Martin and Robert Mitchum to be precise. Both great films. My personal fav is Rio Lobo for Jennifer O'Neil

64 posted on 07/19/2003 8:54:10 AM PDT by ExSoldier (M1911A1: The ORIGINAL "Point and Click" interface!)
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To: ThomasMore
Your tribute to John Wayne on your About Page is awsome. I sobbed endlessly just listening to this man's voice wishing somehow he was still here. What a Man. A Man's Man, A Woman's Man and what a Man to represent our country. Gosh, I miss him.
65 posted on 07/19/2003 9:10:10 AM PDT by jhw61
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To: mommadooo3
Wonderful post, thanks.
66 posted on 07/19/2003 9:17:09 AM PDT by vetvetdoug
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To: kattracks
John Wayne was a poser.

Y'all flame away now.

67 posted on 07/19/2003 9:19:20 AM PDT by squidly
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To: kattracks
Pure BS.
68 posted on 07/19/2003 9:20:30 AM PDT by PatrioticAmerican (Helping Mexicans invade America is TREASON!)
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To: Redleg Duke
I thought the military wouldn't let John Wayne serve because they wanted him to remain in morale-boosting films?

I didn't know he had an old injury...correct me if I'm wrong.

69 posted on 07/19/2003 9:23:41 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (EEE)
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To: ExSoldier
Rio Bravo? Or Rio Lobo? They were the same film with different sidekicks. Dean Martin and Robert Mitchum to be precise. Both great films. My personal fav is Rio Lobo for Jennifer O'Neil

You come close, Pilgrim, but no cigar.

It is Rio Bravo and El Dorado. Also Rick Nelson and James Caan.

Rio Lobo was one of the poorer ones with George Plimpton, the WASP who tried out different professions ('Paper Tiger' as a Lions qb) with a bit part.

70 posted on 07/19/2003 9:42:22 AM PDT by RJCogburn ("All them Parmelees is teched. Harold's the worst.".......Lucky Ned Pepper)
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To: kattracks
As much as I detest PBS, I suppose I'll be watching tomorrow night to see how badly they treat a great American hero.

John Wayne's friendship with director John Ford was well-known, along with their drinking bouts, but how many FReepers know that Ford's son, Peter, is cut from the same cloth?

Peter Ford's Home Page

Not your typical Hollywood brat, that's for sure.

71 posted on 07/19/2003 9:57:28 AM PDT by logician2u
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To: RJCogburn
"El Dorado. Also Rick Nelson and James Caan."

Dang it! You're right...I stand corrected...but as I recall...then that Rio Bravo was still a Rio Lobo clone...I'm almost sure of it...which would make 3 versions of the same film. I remember they wanted Ricky Nelson because he was the hot new teen singer and Angie Dickinson for sex appeal....

Hey does anybody know what happened to the Duke's old gang of cronies? Edward Faulkner, Bruce Talbot (??), and there was another....?

72 posted on 07/19/2003 10:06:11 AM PDT by ExSoldier (M1911A1: The ORIGINAL "Point and Click" interface!)
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To: The Duke
John Wayne receiving fair treatment in a PBS production.

"That'll be the day"

73 posted on 07/19/2003 10:11:26 AM PDT by katana
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To: autoresponder
Here's one of my favorites from the Duke. "Laugh In" had a segment where Henry Gibson would come on stage and deliver a short funny poem while holding a large flower. He would start with "A poem. By Henry Gibson." One show they did the same set up, only the Duke came out. I think he even had the large flower. He then recited this;
http://happybaker.tripod.com/wayne2.wav
74 posted on 07/19/2003 10:24:48 AM PDT by Hillarys Gate Cult ("Read Hillary's hips. I never had sex with that woman.")
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To: ExSoldier
BRUCE CABOT!!! Not Talbot...that was the name of the Wolfman, as I recall...
75 posted on 07/19/2003 10:48:02 AM PDT by ExSoldier (M1911A1: The ORIGINAL "Point and Click" interface!)
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To: The Duke
Reporter: "There's still such a thing as Due Process".....COL Kirby: "Out here, Due Process, is a bullet!"
76 posted on 07/19/2003 10:53:41 AM PDT by ExSoldier (M1911A1: The ORIGINAL "Point and Click" interface!)
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult
Story has it that John Ford pleaded with the Duke to stay away from television. Said it would wreck his career.
77 posted on 07/19/2003 10:54:36 AM PDT by RGSpincich
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To: The Duke
Mister Nitelinger! We're burnin' DAYLIGHT!
78 posted on 07/19/2003 11:01:31 AM PDT by ExSoldier (M1911A1: The ORIGINAL "Point and Click" interface!)
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To: squidly
There's a squidly in the punchbowl.
79 posted on 07/19/2003 11:05:27 AM PDT by RGSpincich
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To: mommadooo3; All

Click the bttt graphic J
80 posted on 07/19/2003 11:10:24 AM PDT by Fiddlstix (~~~ http://www.ourgangnet.net ~~~~~)
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