John Wayne

[Kaleva]

For years, he was the number one box office draw and I enjoy watching his movies. He was, to me anyways, an actor whose every character he played could have been named "John Wayne" and it would have been believable. It wasn't Davey Crockett who fought at the Alamo, it was John Wayne.

[Captain Hilts]

1. I loved him in "They Were Expendable." A war movie with a sad ending...nt

[elshiva]

2. But what about his teeth?

[Ptah]

3. John Wayne's Teeth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJUjwJfjd80


:hi:

[elshiva]

4. Thank you!

:hug: They never answered the question what they were made of...

[Drunken Irishman]

13. Hey...it's Tommy Flute from Big Love!

[denbot]

9. .

My favorite modern Indian song.

[begin_within]

5. He was perfectly cast in "The Flying Leathernecks," and

anyone who claims he couldn't act should watch "The Searchers."

[Kaleva]

6. "The Searchers" is my favorite John Wayne movie.

I have yet to watch "Sands of Iwo Jima" for which he was nominated for an Oscar as Best Actor.

[RushIsRot]

12. My first cousin who was in the Marines at the time wound up as an

extra in one scene of Sands of Iwo Jima. I own the DVD and was finally able to pick him out, but he was in a distant shot.

[Kaleva]

15. Cool!

[RushIsRot]

16. I think "old" would be more appropriate...

:-)

[Kaleva]

17. I may be 51 but my wife says I often act like a 15 year old.

[RushIsRot]

18. Until I hit 61, I thought the numbers needed to be reversed, but that

cousin of mine is 10 years my senior, and now 78.

[WCGreen]

54. That's a great movie....

the Searchers....

[rurallib]

7. Marion Michael Morrison

I always felt he played the same guy in different clothes, times and places. For some reason that never seemed like he was a very broad or deep actor.

[Kaleva]

8. I agree with your first statement.

He successfully played pretty much the same character over a career spanning decades. And while I would consider him to be a very good actor, he couldn't be considered a Johnny Depp.

[Captain Hilts]

19. The studios discouraged actors stepping out of type. nt

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[edbermac]

11. Only John Wayne film I enjoy is The Quiet Man

[Kaleva]

14. Nominated for Best Picture. John Ford won for Best Director.

[Captain Hilts]

20. Sugary sweet and sexist. Ugh! Roger Moore is working on getting a movie made

about the making of the movie.

[MiddleFingerMom]

23. Maureen O'Hara WAS marginally more attractive as a sidekick...

.
... for John Wayne than Gabby Hayes.
.
John Wayne WAS sexist. He shoulda been spankin' Gabby, too.
.

[Captain Hilts]

37. But O'Hara works well with Wayne,in part because she's physically big. nt

[frogmarch]

51. Same here. I have

it on DVD.

I enjoy watching the movie, but the part where he drags O'Hara through the field makes me cringe. No longer are movie scenes like that considered okay and thought of as funny, thank goodness.

[Zomby Woof]

21. Draft-dodging reactionary racist piece of shit

Piss poor actor, and mythologized beyond reason.

The Drive-By Truckers took dead aim at him:


"The Sands of Iwo Jima"

George A. was at the movies in December '41
They announced it in the lobby what had just gone on
He drove up from Birmingham back to the family's farm
Thought he'd get him a deferment there's was much work to be done
He was a family man, even in those days
But Uncle Sam decided he was needed anyway
In the South Pacific over half a world away
He believed in God and Country, things was just that way

Just that way…..

When I was just a kid I spent every weekend
On the farm that he grew up on so I guess so did I
And we'd stay up watching movies on the black and white TV
We watched "The Sands of Iwo Jima" starring John Wayne

Every year in June George A. goes to a reunion
Of the men that he served with and their wives and kids and grandkids
My Great Uncle used to take me and I'd watch them recollect
about some things I couldn't comprehend

And I thought about that movie, asked if it was that way
He just shook his head and smiled at me in such a loving way
As he thought about some friends he will never see again
He said "I never saw John Wayne on the sands of Iwo Jima"

Most of those men are gone now but he goes still every year
And George A's still doing fine, especially for his years
He's still living on that homestead in the house that he was born in
And I sure wish I could go see him today

He never drove a new car though he could easily afford it
He'd just buy one for the family and take whatever no one wanted
He said a shiny car didn't mean much after all the things he'd seen
George A. never saw John Wayne on the sands of Iwo Jima

[CBGLuthier]

25. He was 34.They don't draft 34 year olds. How did he dodge?

Have any proof about the racist thing? Woody Strode was one of his best friends and did not think he was racist.

Yes,he was a conservative. If you are so childish as to think every single conservative is a piece of shit then that is a shame.

[whistler162]

26. Chicken Hawk is more like it....

while he didn't evade the draft he did decide, unlike John Ford/Jimmy Stewart/Henry Fonda/Ronald Reagan, noit to volunteer to serve citing his family responsibility. Pissed John Ford off.

[Zomby Woof]

31. Garry Wills, author of "John Wayne's America"

Out and out called Marion Morrison a draft dodger on Bill Maher's old ABC show once. I thought that country music prickface Trace Adkins was going to crawl out of his skin. LOL

[sarge43]

27. Toward the end of WWII men in their 30's were drafted.

My father in his mid 30's at the time was receiving monthly draft deferments because his war work (factory, producing tank engines). At the end of WWII this country had 12 million men in uniform. With a total population o/a 130 million, we were running out of warm bodies. As memory serves at the end 42 was the high end draft age.

Wayne didn't step up as did Gable, Stewart, Fonda, Power and many others. Gable was 42 when he volunteered and he flew combat missions with the 8AF. So did Stewart who signed up in March 41; he was 33.

[Zomby Woof]

30. Ever hear his comments about Native Americans?

Speaking of childish, you just used the "some of my best friends are black!" defense by proxy.

Fuck conservatives. Every one of them IS a piece of shit. If you don't hate them, then why the fuck are you here on this board?

[cherokeeprogressive]

38. I didn't know hatred of EVERY person who considers themselves to be conservative was a condition of

membership at DU.

So on your side, you either hate members of your own family, or your family is SO enlightened that there are NONE who would identify with the conservative ideology. Is that about right?

I can't say as there are more than a handful of living people in the WHOLE WORLD that I hate. I'm not going anywhere, I like it here.

[Zomby Woof]

40. Yep, I even hate the members of my family who are conservative

Which aren't many, mind you, and mostly distant cousins and in-laws. They're fucking STUPID.

Fuck 'em. They are ignorant enablers and anti-choice zealots.

If you want to be fair and nicey-nicey with right-wingers, go join FR.

[Green_Lantern]

43. I'm not focused on who I should hate....

It doesn't fit into my philosophy of drawing more flies with honey than vinegar.

[cherokeeprogressive]

47. Lighten up Francis

I'm fair to everyone. While I don't make "nicey-nicey" (THERE'S an adult term for ya) with right wingers, I don't necessarily hate them either. I live my life on a case-by case basis in that regard.

No, I don't think I'll be joining FR, but thanks for asking.

Hatred doesn't make you a better person my friend, it limits who you are and what you can enjoy. It also makes you ugly.

[Zomby Woof]

55. Joke's on you

I always say over-the-top shit like that just to rile the moderates/DLCers like you on here. It worked once again. :rofl:

Feel better after that sanctimonious hissyfit? :D

[cherokeeprogressive]

57. Don't worry...

I try to walk it back like that when I make an ass of myself as well.

[Swede]

61. +1 gazillion

nt

[Zomby Woof]

76. If you couldn't tell that was deliberate

Your reading comprehension shortcomings aren't just limited to GD. But then, I knew that.

You must keep a rear-view mirror handy a lot then.

[elocs]

69. Damn, you're the easiest ignore I've ever had on DU.

What a sad and pathetic excuse for a person you are. Hate, you reap what you sow.

[Zomby Woof]

75. ROFLMAO

You took that over-the-top screed seriesly? :rofl:

It works like this: The humorless and self-righteous CRAVE posts like mine so that they can feel good about themselves. "Oooh! You're full of hate! I am such a kind and loving person!!"

I give them what they want to hear. Guess that includes you. :D

:hurts:

[raccoon]

50. In WWII, they drafted men a lot older than they did in later years.

Men who had kids, etc. It wasn't like Nam where they just drafted the young guys.

[quickesst]

59. Ha ha....

"If you are so childish as to think every single conservative is a piece of shit then that is a shame."

+100,000. The 99,000 are for the number of posts I've seen here that deserve the same criticism. Thanks.
quickesst

[Green_Lantern]

41. he wasn't racist...

All 3 of his wives were latinas.

He wasn't a racist, he just grew up in a time period when people weren't as sensitive about race.

Most people back then did say and think insensitive things, doesn't necessarily make them bad.

[Zomby Woof]

42. Lou Dobbs' wife is Latina

Next!

[Green_Lantern]

44. Lou Dobbs knows better though...

He grew up through the early to mid 60s when people of his age were more racially aware.

[Captain Hilts]

53. Correct. It's not fair to expect him to meet year 2000 standards. nt

[LynneSin]

46. that is some nasty fierce camel toe

:D

[flvegan]

77. Elvis was a hero to most

But he never meant shit to me, you see
Straight up racist
That sucka was simple and plain
Motherfuck him and John Wayne


Two names I hear that trigger that emotion and those lyrics from Public Enemy. Fuck 'em both.

[Arugula Latte]

22. Can't stand the guy -- can't even stand the sight of him.

Rightwing posturing macho asshole. Crappy actor.

Sorry.

[Skittles]

36. acting mediocre but that VOICE

irritating as FUCK

[Arugula Latte]

48. Well you nailed it, Pilgrim

[Ohio Joe]

24. My dad is a big John Wayne fan

He has a picture hung above his bed of John Wayne, it's him up on the cross like jeebus, all nailed in and the crown of thorns and a pearl handled six gun in each hand. It's... disturbing.

[Zomby Woof]

32. In the book I referenced above

Supposedly there are more Americans who have shrines to John Wayne in their homes than anyone except Jesus or Elvis.

[mitchum]

28. He was a better actor than his detractors claim and a bigger scumbag than his admirers claim

[Zomby Woof]

33. By no means an unwatchable actor

Others have pointed out that he lent vulnerablity to his final role in "The Shootist" because he knew he was dying, and that added a dimension of mortality virtually absent in his career.

I just despise him so much ("We did the Indians a favor by putting them on reservations!") otherwise, I rarely allow fairness into my estimations of his acting.

[Green_Lantern]

45. almost as bad as the "noble savage" people...

Who think natives lived in peace and harmony before whites came.

[Zomby Woof]

56. I don't subscribe to that either

The truth about Native Americans is much more complex than the apologists for Andrew Jackson/John Wayne would have you believe, or what romanticizers like Neil Young want to believe.

[Captain Hilts]

35. Yes. nt

[jobycom]

39. That nails it perfectly. nt

[petronius]

58. I agree. I don't enjoy a lot of the hammy, 'funny' stuff, but that's what was

in vogue at the time. However, in some of his roles (Shootist, Liberty Valance, cavalry trilogy) I think he shows some serious talent - I wish we could have seen him in the later, grittier era of westerns...

[bookworm65t]

29. I love The Cowboys and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

n/t

[Skittles]

34. I never could stand him

he never served, but sure liked to act like he served on TV.....wouldn't that make him a repuke?

[raccoon]

49. I couldn't stand him. He was just a bully. nt

[Bucky]

52. The Searchers, the Shootist, True Grit, She Wore a Yellow Rose...

Some of his movies just give me goosebumpsl

The Alamo was pure cornball and his Ghengis Khan movie was well nigh unforgiveable (as was Green Berets for different reasons). But John Wayne defined masculinity for two generations of Americans. He may not have been a great actor, but he was almost always quite watchable.

[wysimdnwyg]

63. Ribbon, dude

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.

While many complain about Wayne's acting - and any serious commentator should acknowledge that many of Wayne's roles did lend to a fairly similar style - he DID have talent. For clear examples, I suggest the following:
Stagecoach - Wayne as a young man, this set the mold for many of his later roles as the strong, but vulnerable type.
Rio Bravo - This is Wayne in his prototypical role as good man in a bad situation. Strong, unwilling to compromise and the classic "man's man".
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon - Widely considered one of Wayne's best performances. Showing emotion and leadership, while giving the screen presence over to others frequently, which is something Wayne did not do in many of his movies (he liked to be center-screen at the focus of attention at all times)
Red River - Wayne as good man turned bad, then finally redeemed. The maliciousness Wayne showed in Red River is almost disturbing.
The Searchers - This is likely Wayne's best role and best performance. While the range of emotions is most noticeable, the small touches are most important to those "in the know". (An example of the latter is Wayne's pose at the end of the movie, standing alone with his right hand on his left arm, is a tribute to his old friend Harry Carey Sr.)
True Grit - Wayne's last, "great" role shows his as the aging hero. Wayne's only Oscar winning performance, this showed him coping with getting old, while learning to care about other people instead of only himself.

Are there commonalities to nearly all of his roles? Yes. But that could be said for almost all actors, including "the greats" like De Nero, Olivier, Gable, Stewart, etc.

[Kaleva]

64. commonalities

I think you are quite right in saying that many of the greats do have commonalities in many of their roles

[datasuspect]

60. was a nazi

he liked to play SS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCcMHy83B-I

[martymar64]

71. But not anymore

[Robeson]

62. America is weird.

[AngryAmish]

65. This is an interesting generational thing

Boomers hate John Wayne. He reminds them of their parents.

Others (who can look at it objectively) love John Wayne. They realize that he played only one character really, but it was a pretty good character.

"The Hell Fighters" is a favorite for one thing for me - the mid-century modern/prarieish architecture and interior design.

[Bucky]

74. Interesting point. I'd like to post a poll about that.

[Call Me Wesley]

66. Unfortunately, he wasn't a real green beret.

Otherwise, Vietnam would be an American state by now. He messed it up, and I blame him for that.

John Wayne. Ewwwwwwww.

[gmoney]

67. This scene from Repo Man always comes to mind when I hear John Wayne mentioned

Not PC at all, fwiw, but it was the 80s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uv_WGEHr4I

[Zomby Woof]

68. I still think that line is based on fact

[gmoney]

70. Well, "Repo Man" is a documentary, right?

[Gabi Hayes]

72. not the Alex Cox movie.

with harry dean stanton and emilio estevez

well worth watching

[gmoney]

73. of course it was a documentary!

Have you even SEEN Emilio Estevez since he ascended in the Malibu?

;)