John Wayne: Difference between revisions

 

 

 

 

However, as said earlier, just about all of his movie roles were the same. He was a gruff man, world-weary and realistic, but definitely [[Determinator|not one to take no for an answer]]. He was probably harder on himself than anyone else was. He wasn't a fan of violence, but when the chips were down, turned out to be a spectacular fighter. He was at best confused about women and at worst saw them as a hindrance, but eventually would warm up to one and get over his prejudices.

If there is a trope in [[The Western]], odds are [[Trope Codifier|Wayne used it]] (or, almost just as likely, ''[[Trope Maker|invented]]'' it). He also did lots of things that are covered by the [[Rule of Cool]]. But above all, he just made great movies that men love to watch, full of suspense, silliness, fistfights, and down-home American values. No wonder his style is [[Eagle Land|often the caricature of America]] overseas, although nowadays his roles would likely be filled by a [[Boisterous Bruiser]].

 

 

Orange County, California's airport is named after him.

 

* ''[[Stagecoach]]'' (1939): The one that put Wayne on the map, in which he plays the Ringo Kid, a criminal who turns himself in to a sheriff protecting a wagon party moving westward so that he can avenge the murders of his father and brother.

* ''[[Fort Apache]]'' (1948): Wayne co-stars with [[Henry Fonda]] as Kirby Yorke, an officer long-experienced in dealing with the Apaches chafing under the martinetish ways of his new commander.

* ''[[She Wore a Yellow Ribbon]]'' (1949): Wayne is Nathan Brittles, an aging cavalry commander with one last duty before retirement: stop an Indian tribe from attacking a fort. Notable because he was playing a 65 year old man at the age of 35, and yet he's so convincing, many people born since Wayne died have a hard time placing it at the '''start''' of his career.

* ''[[The Quiet Man]]'' (1952): Transport the scene to Ireland, as Wayne plays Sean Thornton, a retired boxer who wants to live a simple life until a burly big brother prevents him from pursuing his romantic interest.

* ''The Conqueror'' (1956): Wayne plays Genghis Khan. Widely regarded as the worst movie he ever made, though little actual blame was directed at Wayne for this. The New York Times observed: "John Wayne as Gengis Khan -- history's most improbable piece of casting unless Mickey Rooney were to play Jesus in ''King of Kings''." Unfortunately, Wayne among others in the production paid a heavy price considering they shot this film in Nevada when the US military was conducting open air nuclear weapon tests and they were downwind of the fallout, resulting in fatal cancers.

* ''[[The Searchers]]'' (1956): Widely considered Wayne's finest role, as well as one of the greatest movies ever made, he is Ethan Edwards, out to avenge the apparent death (or worse) of his niece at the hands of savage Indians while combating his own internal bigotry (and not too successfully for the latter).

* ''[[Rio Bravo]]'' (1959): Teaming up with Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, and Walter "Old Codger Voice" Brennan, Wayne as "Sheriff John Chance" has to keep a criminal in jail despite the efforts of his rich, unscrupulous brother.

* ''[[The Longest Day]]'' (1962): Wayne is a Colonel in the 101st Airborne who breaks his leg landing in Normandy.

* ''[[The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance]]'' (1962): Wayne plays Tom Doniphon, a tragic rancher/gunfighter who may or may not have performed the title action. This is the film that codified "pilgrim" in the minds of John Wayne impressionists everywhere.

* ''[[Hatari]]!'' (1962): Wayne as "Sean Mercer" teams with Red Buttons as big game hunters in Africa forced to carry around [[The Load|a zoo photographer]] per orders in this character study.

** Also notable for not one, but ''two'' [[Spank the Cutie|spanking scenes]].

* ''[[Big Jake]]'' (1971). Wayne plays a [[Retired Badass]] named Jake McCandles whose [[Badass Grandpa|grandson]] is kidnapped by a group of violent thugs who demand a ransom. Jake, along with two of his sons, goes to get his grandson back. One of the Duke's later films, and set in the year 1909, it dealt with themes such as the closing of the American West and the end of the day of cowboy heroes like the ones Wayne had always played. Notable also for featuring two of Wayne's real-life sons, as well as the son of [[Robert Mitchum]], in prominent roles.

* ''[[Mc Q]]'' (1974): Wayne plays the eponymous Seattle detective. This film is notable for introducing the [[Cool Guns|MAC-10 submachine gun]] to the public and for its climactic car chase which features the first cannon rollover in film history.

 

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[[Category:Actors]]