1935 - John Wayne

[Puma]

Just for fun, my husband and I watched a 1935 John Wayne western tonight. We grew up watching westerns, but, watching this one, especially after all the discussions on here about westerns, was a bit of a surprise.

1) The amount of fist-fighting far outweighed the gunfighting.

2) The horses were always at full gallop (except the team hitched to a wagon).

3) The gun slingers could knock a man off a horse with one shot at what had to be over 500 yards.

4) The fair lady's hem was a good six inches above her ankles (date? - sounds more like close to 1920).

5) The slung fists didn't connect and talk about round-house punches.

6) The bad guy wore the white hat.

It sure wasn't what I was expecting with my memories of the westerns when I was a kid (Hopalong Cassidy days). But it was fun to watch. Puma

[dpaterso]

Yup, that was the Wild West, that was!

It's easy to look back analytically and poke fun at the howling historical inaccuracies these films contained, but what the heck, they were always entertaining.

My mother jus' loved The Duke. Never missed a film whenever it showed on TV.

-Derek

[Vanatru]

Tsk tsk. Disparaging the Duke. What have the kids these days come to?

[Festus]

Yep. Ol' John got his start doing a lot of hookey westerns. I remember one in which he was dubbed as a singing cowboy, the voice over of a another man singing was used and it was truly horrible and an ordeal to watch!

But movies such as that are more than made up for by his later works which are true classics.

[davids]

yup and the good guys always wore there holsters way high up-just under ther elbows-there pants were always creased and tucked neatly into their bootys-they never ever ran out of bullets and Lash Larue was not a stripper down to Pinky's

[Bo Sullivan]

I always enjoy a good John Wayne movie and he was always so entertaining! I wonder how many films he made? Last Sunday they showed two on TV, one of him when he was young and another when he was older. Both were excellent viewing.

B.

[julie thorpe]

I haven't watched all that many westerns (loved and wept over Shane as a teenager). Then I saw Cat Ballou, and Lee Marvin's wonderful portrayal of a drunken has-been gunslinger just finished it for me - made it impossible from then on to see the genre as anything other than comedy . . .

[Bufty]

I turned away from a bookshelf in a store during the Edinburgh Festival around 1960, I think, and bumped into Jack Palance. Unmistakable with that face, and he was bigger than I imagined he was. I'm 6'3" and he was that at least.

[Don Allen]

First, we must all bow at the greatness of the Duke, for his name and screen presence are of hollowed nobility. I don't have the time right now but I'm going to dig this thread up later and tell you a great John Wayne story, that actually happened to my dad in the fifties.....

[Festus]

Hey Don, I would love to read that story, I'll be waiting for it!

[Jim Colyer]

I never liked John Wayne back in the day. I would probably relate to him more now.

[Jordi]

I love John Wayne as a cowboy. I've lost track of the number of times I've watched Rio Bravo, Eldorado, McClintock. He made the West come to life for me. I also enjoyed watching Randolph Scott in Westerns. My favourite western author was Louis L'Amour and I enjoyed watching his Sackett series on tv with Tom Selleck and Sam Elliott (he also makes a good cowboy).

[Aragon]

John Wayne was truly the legend. His westerns are some of my favorite movies. I would say that his early ones are better for a film buff than for the normal viewer. Those old fims are a little rough, but they are good. I do enjoy talking about the man.

[JeanneTGC]

Rio Bravo's one of my favorites, but I have to admit it's because of Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, and Angie Dickenson, though I really loved the relationships John Wayne had with every character in the movie.

True Grit was probably my fave John Wayne performance, though. And I loved McQ (yeah, I know, not a Western).

[Appalachian Writer]

When I was growing up, I watched Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, but as I've grown older, I've become a dyed in the wool John Wayne fan. I loved him with Maureen O'Hara. She played his wife in McClintock(?) I'm not sure if that's the film's name, but I loved it. I also loved TIE A YELLOW RIBBON, especially the scene where he rides into the Indian camp and meets with the old chief.

[Ol' Fashioned Girl]

'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon'. ;) Excellent movie. Has a lot to say about discounting the contributions our elders can still make.

Rio Bravo's one of my favorites, but I have to admit it's because of Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, and Angie Dickenson, though I really loved the relationships John Wayne had with every character in the movie.

True Grit was probably my fave John Wayne performance, though. And I loved McQ (yeah, I know, not a Western).

"Stumpy, you're a treasure." has got to be one of the greatest screen kisses ever filmed. :D

And McQ was a Western... it was just set in a different year.

[Aragon]

Elvis wanted to be in a movie with John Wayne. The negotiationg by Tom Parker lost Elvis the Texas Ranger role in True Grit, but Tom Parker made it fall through with his demand for Elvis to have top billing.

He was also considered for Ricky Nelson's role in Rio Bravo, but was in Germany by filming.

[JeanneTGC]

Elvis wanted to be in a movie with John Wayne. The negotiationg by Tom Parker lost Elvis the Texas Ranger role in True Grit, but Tom Parker made it fall through with his demand for Elvis to have top billing.

He was also considered for Ricky Nelson's role in Rio Bravo, but was in Germany by filming.
Too bad for Elvis, but I loved Glen Campbell in True Grit, too.

[Aragon]

I have always wondered and never found proof of something, another interesting fact. Indiana Jones and John Wayne share a choice. Duke was the name of Wayne's dog when he was growing up.

[Don Allen]

Hey Don, I would love to read that story, I'll be waiting for it!

Sorry it took so long, but the story goes like this,

My dad was a young soldier on furlow in New Mexico early 1950's, well he wandered into this little town with a buddy of his and of course they were looking for a place to drink. Well it just so happens this town was a regular hangout for all the actors working westerns including the Duke and his posse. So my dad is in uniform at the bar with his friend about midnight when guess who and about five of his friends pop into this little cantina. Now both my dad and his friend know who's there but are just scared to death to say anything. Well, the duke and his friends get a table and start ordering booze and making noise like crazy when Wayne notices my dad and friend at the bar and tells the table to be quiet. He then calls out across the room to the two Soldiers, "Hey, you fellows at the bar!" (the way my dad use to tell it he needed a change of shorts just about then) So, they turn around and Wayne questions them in his iconic voice, "You fellows drink tequillia and eat peppers?" At which point my dad replied, "We sure do Mr. Wayne."
"Well then what are you standing over there for, come on over and grab a seat and help us finish off this bottle," he bellowed out. So, my dad and friend pulled up a chair and bullshit with the whole lot untill the wee hours of the morning, when the duke just stood up paid what according to my dad was an outrageous bill for the time, wished them both luck telling them how proud the country and he was for there service and left.

What amazed my father was the amount the man drank and never even batted an eye, but what john Wayne thought was great, is that my dad could keep eating hot peppers with him when the rest of the crowd gave up after just a few...

True story, kind of fun to think about from time ot time.

[Aragon]

Wow Don, that is an awesome story. I will need to file that away among all the other stories of that man. Thank you.

[Puma]

Hi Don - Do you have any idea where in New Mexico? I know the movies used Sedona, Arizona heavily for western sets but I'm not familiar with a set location in New Mexico (and I can't think of any military base in NM except maybe down around White Sands). I'm curious. Thanks, Puma

[JeanneTGC]

I have a second hand Wayne story, but I like it. Told to me by a female manager of mine, many years ago now and it illustrates the point that how someone of power treats the 'little people' shows a great deal about their character.

She was young, early twenties, tops, working as some kind of assistant on a movie set and she was supposed to bring John Wayne some coffee. She was dressed appropriately for the day (the '60's, I think), so she was in a skirt, nylons, heels, perfectly coiffed, etc. She was rushing, because she'd been told that the Duke was waiting and wanted his coffee. But the ground was uneven and she was in high heels. As she reached his trailer, he came out, she looked at him and tripped.

Coffee went flying everywhere, including onto the Duke, and she was on her hands and knees, nylons ruined, knees bleeding, etc. She was sure that she'd be fired and worse. She was crying and didn't know what to do.

The Duke went over, picked her up, put her on her feet, kissed her forehead, and said, "It's okay, honey." Someone tried to bawl her out, and he bawled THEM out. Then he called for someone to take care of her and they treated her just like she was his daughter. Then he went back into his trailer to change while she was taken to the set nurse.

Needless to say, she thought he was the greatest man, ever.

[Appalachian Writer]

I have a second hand Wayne story, but I like it. Told to me by a female manager of mine, many years ago now and it illustrates the point that how someone of power treats the 'little people' shows a great deal about their character.

She was young, early twenties, tops, working as some kind of assistant on a movie set and she was supposed to bring John Wayne some coffee. She was dressed appropriately for the day (the '60's, I think), so she was in a skirt, nylons, heels, perfectly coiffed, etc. She was rushing, because she'd been told that the Duke was waiting and wanted his coffee. But the ground was uneven and she was in high heels. As she reached his trailer, he came out, she looked at him and tripped.

Coffee went flying everywhere, including onto the Duke, and she was on her hands and knees, nylons ruined, knees bleeding, etc. She was sure that she'd be fired and worse. She was crying and didn't know what to do.

The Duke went over, picked her up, put her on her feet, kissed her forehead, and said, "It's okay, honey." Someone tried to bawl her out, and he bawled THEM out. Then he called for someone to take care of her and they treated her just like she was his daughter. Then he went back into his trailer to change while she was taken to the set nurse.

Needless to say, she thought he was the greatest man, ever.

I wonder what would have happened if the recipient of the coffee spill had been Johnny Depp or Orlando Bloom or any of the other "little boys" that play act these days.

[Aragon]

He was truly a great man before he was anything else. Nowadays you expect to hear that the actors mistreat people. But then, the paparzi would irritate me.

I do know Fred Thompson is a nice guy to meet.

[Appalachian Writer]

He was truly a great man before he was anything else. Nowadays you expect to hear that the actors mistreat people. But then, the paparzi would irritate me.

I do know Fred Thompson is a nice guy to meet.

Fred Thompson is a nice guy, but I bet he made movies with the Duke! He comes from different stock that the new guys.

[Don Allen]

Hi Don - Do you have any idea where in New Mexico? I know the movies used Sedona, Arizona heavily for western sets but I'm not familiar with a set location in New Mexico (and I can't think of any military base in NM except maybe down around White Sands). I'm curious. Thanks, Puma

I don't, and to be honest my dad passed away in 1989 and the last time he told the story was a couple of years before he died, I believe it was N.M but I could be mistaken on the exact location, BUT the story as he related it I'll never forget, for my dad it was all about those damn hot peppers.....

[JeanneTGC]

I wonder what would have happened if the recipient of the coffee spill had been Johnny Depp or Orlando Bloom or any of the other "little boys" that play act these days.
Well, I haven't heard anything negative about either one of them. There are some others, however who don't come off as well.

My FIL can go on for hours about Michael O'Keefe (who was someone for a brief period of time) and how, on "The Slugger's Wife", all the crew ended up calling him "The ACTING Man!" because he was such a jerk about always being "in character". "Please leave me alone, I'm an ACTOR." Shockingly, the crew didn't think much of him.

The Duke wasn't alone in being a gentleman. It's a pity that it seems like it, so often, though.

[Vanatru]

I was in France awhile back training with some elements of the French military, and happened to meet Mr. Depp. He was actually very nice. Down to earth, and seemed rather normal. :) I'd give him a thumbs up.

As for the Duke, there's very few modern movie personalities that even come close to him, IMO. My dad met him in California when he (my dad) was in the Corp and always thought him a nice guy and that says something to me. Really, few classy, non-bat-F'ing'-crazy actors out there these days.

[Higgins]

Hi Don - Do you have any idea where in New Mexico? I know the movies used Sedona, Arizona heavily for western sets but I'm not familiar with a set location in New Mexico (and I can't think of any military base in NM except maybe down around White Sands). I'm curious. Thanks, Puma

John Ford liked to shoot in Monument Valley...which is in Arizona but close to NM. They could have been in Gallup which would have been the biggest town in NM close to that and on route 66 and the railroad too close to where the old route 666 used to parallel the Chuska Mountains.
I can't think why the military would be up there particularly.

There were a fair number of other bases: Kirtland in Albuquerque and Cannon near Hobbs I think for example.

Of course there are plenty of other scenic spots in NM where they could have been and they all would have been pretty rough and ready well into the 1960s.

Or even the 2000s if you go to the right scenic spots.

[Puma]

Thanks for the New Mexico thoughts, Higgins. Puma