The Big Trail Westward Ho! Born To The West Wayne and the “B” Westerns….. Before he caught the “Stagecoach” John Wayne’s earliest films consisted of brief walk-on parts. In “Hangman’s House” he simply stood before a judge to be sentenced. In “Men Without Women” John Ford needed someone to jump into a rough sea so fourth assistant property man Wayne obliged where stunt men feared to go. But director Raoul Walsh had to spend two weeks working the “ham” out of Duke for his first major part in “The Big Trail”. It was Duke’s meeting with Yakima Canutt, a rodeo rider and movie stuntman, that made big things happen. Marion Morrison had learned to ride and shoot on the back of his gentle mare, trotting through crop rows hunting snakes and rabbits.( as one biographer put it “ He learned he could get all the snakes but he could never get all the rabbits!”). But as John Wayne, he had to be taught by Canutt how to fall off a running horse without getting hurt, the right way to draw and shoot a gun and the technique of realistic barroom brawling. Not only Wayne but future western films in general, were the beneficiaries of this collaboration. The two broke the unspoken rule that western heroes could only use their fists when fighting… and picked up tables, chairs or anything handy to clobber their adversaries. Wayne made 16 5-reel westerns for Monogram including the series where he played “Singing Sandy” Saunders in perhaps the earliest “singing cowboy” movies. But his singing was dubbed because if there is one thing Duke Wayne could not do….it was sing! Stagecoach 1939 Directed by John Ford United Artists B/W The Ringo Kid and Dallas (Claire Trevor) This was Jack Ford’s first western in 12 years but he planned it to something much more…an American epic with unforgettable characters, breathtaking location shots and sweeping action. Based on a story for Collier’s Magazine by Ernest Haycox called “Stage to Lordsburg”, it dealt with a lonely gunfighter called the Ringo Kid. The producer Walter Wanger wanted Gary Cooper for the part but Coop was too expensive to fit the limited budget. Ford wanted Wayne for the role but realized he would need a lot of coaching. Wanger also wanted star billing to boost box office ratings so Ford cast Claire Trevor as the prostitute Dallas and Thomas Mitchell as the drunken doctor. Monument Valley on the Utah-Arizona border was chosen for the location….the first film ever shot there. Character actor Paul Fix was summoned to help Duke lose some of his nervousness so he could act and speak naturally in front of the camera. Ford himself took Duke through his paces in the dramatic and romantic scenes. Due to their expertise, Wayne’s opening scene was unforgettable. With their help, John Wayne “rode the stage” into 40 years of stardom. Also: The picture was nominated for Best Picture but lost out to “ Gone With The Wind”. Thomas Mitchell won the supporting actor Oscar for his role as Doc Boone. This picture was the beginning of the “John Ford Stock Company” a name sometimes given to the group of talented actors that appeared in many of Ford’s pictures ( Ward Bond, Victor McLaglen, Grant Withers among others). Reap the Wild Wind 1942 Directed by Cecil B. DeMille Paramount Color Because of the shoulder injury that ended his football career and the fact he was the father of four children, Wayne was exempt from military service. The end result was a career boost when studios lost many of their male stars to the armed services after Pearl Harbor. Wayne was much more assured when he was cast in this $2 million color opus and even dared to challenge the great C.B. to strengthen his role as Jack Martin from “plodding dollard” to a “bold, impulsive individualist”. Wayne also complained about DeMille’s treatment of the cast, especially Paulette Goddard. But the director liked him and even invited him to sit at his lunch table. The picture’s most memorable scene, the fight between Wayne, Ray Milland and the giant squid was the brainchild of scriptwriter Charles Bennett after several exhausting meetings between director and writers trying to solve the ending of the film. It suddenly occurred to him in the bathtub! Now the picture had romance, mystery, adventure ..and one very photogenic giant squid! Also: Wayne, who made $75 a week for “The Big Trail” now got $25,000 for this picture! It has been said that Duke’s inability to get into the military fueled his later superpatriotism and hawkish attitudes. The Spoilers 1942 Directed by Ray Enright Universal B/W There would be 6 more movies starring John Wayne in 1942. This was the second one and also the second with Marlene Dietrich as his leading lady and off-screen romance of the moment. Marlene had virtually stalked Duke and he let her catch him! The movie was shot on location around Lake Arrowhead and the cast included Randolph Scott, Margaret Lindsay and Harry Carey. Scott would join Wayne again in “Pittsburgh” later that year. After this film, John Wayne was an authentic star with his handprints in cement in front of Graumann’s Chinese Theater and his face on countless fan magazine covers. But the new star was tense and depressed over his separation from wife Josie and the children. After this movie for Universal. Duke went back to Republic for 2 pictures including his first war film “Flying Tigers”. The Fighting Seabees 1944 Directed by Howard Lydecker Republic B/W This is Duke’s second war movie and his second death scene. It profiled the construction battalion of the U.S.Navy, an action-packed melodrama with Susan Hayward as Duke’s leading lady and Dennis O’Keefe as the naval commander who helps him form the new division. As hot-headed Wedge Donovan, Wayne is told to ignore the Japanese snipers and get on with the building. But when O’Keefe (as Lt. Comdr. Yarrow) takes a bullet all bets are off and Wedge orders his men to take ‘em out! They are soon surrounded by the enemy and the wounded Yarrow tells him to save the oil tanks at all costs. Wedge uses one tank to take out the Japanese, saves the Americans and the rest of the oil but dies in the attempt. But on the home front, Josie has entered her divorce suit charging him with extreme mental cruelty. Also: Screenwriter Edmund Hartmann recalls talking to a nun at a studio event shortly after WWII. She told him”You know, our most decorated soldier was John Wayne”. Hartmann replied “I think you are wrong. …John Wayne never shot anybody that didn’t get up and go for coffee afterwards.” The nun walked off, shaking her head in disbelief. They Were Expendable 1945 Directed by John Ford MGM B/W Considered by many to be Wayne’s first really outstanding war movie, it was based on William L. White’s best seller and tells the story of a squadron of PT boat at Manila Bay in the Philippines. They stood up to the enemy in the Pacific against terrific odds during MacArthur’s evacuation of the islands. Ford put Wayne in the lead role but backed him up with Lt. Robert Montgomery who was on military leave at the time. Donna Reed, Jack Holt and Ward Bond rounded out the cast. The location selected was a still undeveloped Key Biscayne in Florida and problems were all nature-driven until the cast returned to the studio. Then Ford fell and broke his leg and Robert Montgomery took over his duties for a week. Since Robert disliked Ward Bond he rode him roughshod, incurring Duke’s wrath in defense of his buddy. Everyone was very happy to see Ford return to the set, leg cast and all The film would later be recognized as one of the top war movies ever made but, at the time, audiences were weary of war stories. Fort Apache 1948 Directed by John Ford RKO B/W Duke returned to Monument Valley for the opening segment of Ford’s cavalry trilogy. He had filmed “Red River” there in 1946 but it was on hold for later release due to legal problems. This film was shot on a Navajo reservation with Shirley Temple, Anna Lee and Irene Rich as a distaff trio added to spice up the otherwise totally macho cast that included Henry Fonda, Pedro Armendariz, Ward Bond and John Agar ( Shirley’s new hubby ). The script was based on James Warner Bellah’s tale “Massacre” published in the Saturday Evening Post. It was also Ford’s version of the George Custer legend with Fonda playing the Custer-like character. Duke’s son Michael tagged along with his father on location but he never developed the same relationship with director Ford and they were often at loggerheads. Duke told him that Jack Ford was hardest on those he liked but that excuse didn’t fly with Michael. This film would be followed by the second in the series, “She Wore A Yellow Ribbon”, in 1949 and the third, “Rio Grande”, in 1950. Red River 1948 Directed by Howard Hawks United Artists B/W A Western classic in the making, this film proved Duke’s ability as an actor. It was also a coup for method actor Montgomery Clift newly arrived from Broadway to play Wayne’s stepson and benefit from the coaching Wayne gave him. There was also great chemistry between Duke and director Howard Hawks. Hawks liked Duke’s power on the screen and Wayne responded to the director’s penchant for allowing the actors to be spontaneous giving them the feeling that they were part of the creation process. After the film’s first showing, Hawks had decided it was too long and asked John Ford to oversee the editing. Ford decided to let Walter Brennan narrate the picture and cut out the extemporaneous scenes. The release of the film was held up by a lawsuit Wayne filed against the production company, Monterey Productions. He claimed they had promised him $75,000 plus a percentage of the take and he hadn’t seen penny one. He wanted the film shelved until some money crossed his palm. This was Wayne’s first “tragic hero” and it allowed him the scope to work with a complex character rather than the formula western cowboy hero he had played previously. It is also considered Hollywood’s first adult western. Also: It was Brennan who taught Monty Clift how to roll a cigarette, light it and hand it to Wayne in one scene. Howard Hawks had to disclipline John Ireland for taking his actors out on drinking sprees and they were perfectly willing to let him take the blame. Rio Grande 1950 Directed by John Ford Republic B/W The third and last part of Ford’s cavalry trilogy is noted more because it was the first time Duke Wayne was teamed with Maureen O’Hara. It would be the best combination of both their careers with Maureen proving she was his equal in every way. They became best friends off the screen, too where Wayne treated her like his other buddies and even told friends she was “the greatest guy I ever knew”! The film was done on location near Moab, Utah, a small Mormon town with little to offer in modern conveniences. The heat was so unbearable that the crew dug a huge pit in the ground, put cots down in it and covered it with wet tarpaulin to keep it cool enough that the actors could rest between scenes. Duke’s 12 year old son Patrick came with him and even played a small part. The Quiet Man 1952 Directed by John Ford Republic Color This was the magic picture that won John Ford his 4th Best Director’s Oscar and was one of Duke’s most popular films. It was pure romantic comedy in an nostalgic Ireland setting with Maureen O’Hara again as Duke’s leading lady and a script written by Richard Llewellyn who wrote “How Green Was My Valley” . What made the film difficult for Wayne was that it depended more on the love story and less on the action. His chemistry with O’Hara was high voltage in this film even though Maureen hit him so hard after the first kiss that she actually broke her wrist! Duke claimed she almost broke his jaw. Only Herbert Yates was unhappy. He claimed the countryside was too green, disliked Ford’s Irish humor and and felt he was throwing money down the sewer. When Ford developed a stomach ailment and lost a day of work, the cast worried that Yates would pull the plug. As to what it was that Maureen whispered in Duke’s ear at the end of the film to get that shocked look on his face…no one ever told! It is still her secret! Also: After QM wrapped Wayne formed his own production company to end problems like the one with Herbert Yates. He and Robert Fellowes created Wayne/Fellowes Productions. In 1954 Duke bought Bob out and changed the name to Batjac Productions. The Searchers 1956 (pic#13) Directed by John Ford Warner Color This film is regarded by many to be Wayne’s greatest role ever. It was shot in Monument valley, a favorite place for both John Ford and John Wayne. Jack Warner was unhappy about the $3, 750,000 budget and almost reneged on releasing it until he got a letter from Duke threatening to boycott the studio unless he agreed to John Ford’s terms. The role of tormented Ethan Edwards was one of the greatest challenges of Wayne’s career to date. Cast members recalled he was “Ethan” even off the set so intense was his concentration. His leading lady Vera Miles fell a little in love with him but Pilar was on location, too, and pregnant with their first child. That cooled the situation. Duke became a hero off screen on the Navajo reservation when he offered his plane to fly a 2-year-old little girl very sick with double pneumonia to the nearest hospital. Rio Bravo 1959 Directed by Howard Hawks Warner Color Duke was now 50 years old and had just made two unsuccessful pictures (Legends of the Lost” and “ The Barbarian and the Geisha”). He felt he was too old for romantic leads but wouldn’t give up his star status. Howard Hawks liked his western pictures to feature male bonding so Duke felt comfortable taking on this project. In his scenes with Angie Dickinson, she was the aggressor. There were surprising performances from both Dean Martin (his best showing since “Some Came Running”) and Ricky Nelson (who had acting talent he never used on television’s favorite sitcom “Ozzie and Harriet”) Of course no one was surprised by Walter Brennan’s great job as the jailkeeper because he already had more Oscars than anyone in Hollywood. Also: Wayne was doing the scene where he walks into the saloon and says to villain Claude Akins “You’re coming with me”. Akins replies “I don’t think so. Look around”. At this point Duke was supposed to look around and find he was covered by everyone’s gun as Akins says “So what are you going to do now?” But instead Duke bellowed “Well, the first thing I’m gonna do is change the tone of my voice if all you assholes are going to talk like me”! It seemed everyone in the room was playing John Wayne! True Grit 1969 Directed by Henry Hathaway Paramount Color While Ethan Edwards in “The Searchers” was considered to be Wayne’s very best, “Rooster” Cogburn ran a close second and won Duke his only Oscar. The man with the patch over his eye was a hard-bitten, whisky-soaked one-eyed U.S. Marshal who eyes the reward on the head of his quarry and resents the Texas Marshal (Glen Campbell) with the same goal. The girl who hired Cogburn (Kim Darby) finds the villain first and gets into real trouble. Campbell dies, Wayne kills the bad guy and saves the girl’s life from a nasty rattler’s bite before he rides off into the sunse. But he made Rooster so popular he came back later in a movie called “Rooster Cogburn” with Katie Hepburn.. The big scene in the picture is when Rooster faces his enemy Ned (Robert Duvall) who enrages him with “I call that bold talk for a one-eyed man!” Rooster bellows back “Fill your hand, you son of a bitch” and, reins in his mouth, leaps into action. Duke, 61 years old, and not breathing too well in the mountain air, did the stunt himself…and repeated it until Hathaway got the shots he needed. Pilar was trying to get Duke to retire but to no avail. He was proud of this character and justly so. The Cowboys 1972 Directed by Mark Rydell Universal Color Arabella likes this one. It is not the usual John Wayne fare, certainly not the role we expect of indomitable Duke. But it has a new sensitivity to it that most western fans abhor but romanticists like me can appreciate. Wayne plays Wil Andersen, a rancher with 1200 head of cattle that has to be driven to a railhead 400 miles away. But a gold strike has siphoned off all the menfolk and he is left with only the trail cook (Roscoe Lee Browne). So he hires 11 young school boys to do the job. The trail is hard and the boys need seasoning which they get along the way from Wayne. They meet traveling prostitutes, experience the pangs of overindulgence and fight rustlers. When Wayne is killed (30 minutes before the movie even ends!) the boys have to recapture the herd, get rid of the bad guys in very creative ways and get the cattle to the railhead. In other words, boys become men the hard way. Now that is my kind of story! The Shootist Directed by Don Siegel Paramount Color Duke Wayne’s last picture was another great performance. As an aging gunfighter dying of cancer, the pain of the real thing was etched on his face. But the shoot was difficult for many reasons. There were heated arguments with the director whose approach was alien to Duke and his health was precarious to say the least. He had been so excited about making the movie he lost 10 pounds and even arrived at the location in Carson City, Nevada 5 days early. However he stayed in a hotel suite during the filming. In March an ear infection kept him off the picture and they shut it down for several days. Lauren Bacall noted that Duke was “ornery” but also insisted he “had always been ornery”. She could see he was struggling with his own mortality but even Bacall never realized this was his last picture. Ron Howard, award-winning-director-in-waiting, played Bacall’s son who made the gunfighter his idol. He avenges the old man’s death by using the gunfighter’s gun and then tossing it aside to show that more violence would just beget the same. The movie was a fitting eulogy to Duke’s career.