Ring, Ring! When I decided to write an article not about a movie but about a legend, there was but one place to start. My brother. Why? Because he’s been retired for decades and now is the ultimate authority on all things “Western”. When you think of a cowboy, who do you see? None other than John Wayne, The Duke.
According to my expert, the very best John Wayne movies are the old black and white’s filmed in the 1930’s. The Duke was “Bigger than Life” but in real life he was big. He was 6’4” and weighed 240 pound and was a handsome devil. He had instant stage presence and even better, everyone seemed to love him.
Born in Winterset, Iowa in 1907, Marion Michael Morrison moved to Southern California when he was seven years old. He played football on a scholarship to USC for two years and then he lost his scholarship with a shoulder injury. He went to work in the backlot of a film studio. The rest is truly history. His first film was in 1930, and 140 movies later, in 1976, The Shootist became his last. John Wayne died of cancer in 1979. The Shootist was about an aging gunslinger dying of cancer.
Back to my brother, the expert. He explained to me that in the 1930s when The Duke was doing his best work, he became known for his work ethic. Back then, the studios would be on set and while the actors were shooting (quite literally) scenes to be added to the film, the writers would be on the set writing the dialogue. That’s an interesting process; it puts a whole new meaning to low-budget Westerns! Actors like Wayne made low budget possible. He showed up on time, knew his lines, did his best work and didn’t complain.
John finally won an Oscar for Best Actor in True Grit in 1969. Two of his 7 children followed in his footsteps. Patrick acted in many of his dad’s films as well as brother Michael became a producer. Both children had successful careers.
The Duke had a “Man of Action” persona that he carried into every film he ever made. He quite literally is an Icon. Years after his passing he is still alive and well. How could he not be? Most of us have flown into John Wayne Airport named after him in 1979. In 1985 his children built The John Wayne Cancer Institute and Patrick is Chairman of the Board of this prestigious medical center. Wayne was inducted into the California Hall of Fame in 2007. The list goes on, not only is his image on a 1990 stamp but again in 2007. That’s a legend. Oh, yes, I almost forgot, in 1979 he also received the Congressional Gold Medal. Not bad for Sandy, “The Singing Cowboy”!
John Wayne was a ‘died in the wool’ Conservative and anti-communist. He helped his friend, Ronald Reagan get elected, more than once. He even did promotional ads for him. After filming Green Berets he was asked to speak at the liberal Harvard Lampoon Club and receive the Brass Balls Award on January 15, 1974. He admitted he had no idea what kind of reception he would get but he showed up like it was a parade of one. He rumbled through a packed Harvard Square on a 13-ton Army Personnel Carrier to battle the liberal college students and they loved it! He loved his country, a true patriot. Do yourself a favor and look up his “America, Why I Love Her”!
Whether you talk to his children or his colleagues, you get the same answer; John Wayne was the real deal, a true 20th Century, bigger than life, Hero. As my brother told me about The Singing Cowboy, “he was comin’ and he was gonna to slap leather”! Thank you for all the hours a good wholesome entertainment. Rest in Peace, Duke, and may your memory last forever!
Email me at Carolyn@carolynhastings.com if you have any questions or comments…I’ll forward them to my brother!!
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