Yesterday, June 11th was the anniversary (1979) of "The Duke's" passing. I watched "The Quiet Man" and "The Sons of Katy Elder". He was born in 1907, so next year will be 100 year anniversary of his birth, 5-26-1907.
John Wayne
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Boy I just caught my "senior moment". 100 years was 2007...A big DUH! No biggie...what's a decade here or there.
My father in Law and I first bonded, and continue to do so, via The Duke and old trucks. My favorites include El Dorado, The Cowboys, and Brannigan.
My Dad's college roommate worked on John Waynes boat in California. Only spoke to him once "So you're the new kid?" "Yes Sir" . And that was it.
Ernest Hemmingway once defined courage as, "...grace under pressure" and that is what Mr. Wayne exhibited during a visit to Harvard College during the Vietnam war. That visit is recounted in this article (The Day John Wayne Went to Harvard) which appeared in the July 27, 2003 edition of "The New York Post."
What a man!
What a man!
"Hey, you in the jail!!!...". My wife said, Sons Of Katy Elder... google says Rio Lobo. When I was searching I also ran into a bit that John Wayne couldn't get the line quite right and required upwards of 40 takes to get it! May be hooey or apocryphal... who knows?!
John Wayne has got to come out on top when facing down a bunch of "bratty" Harvard students. However, I have read he was firmly rejected by some hospitalized Vietnam soldiers who did not experience his visit as authentic. I think people loved the characters he played, and by association, the man himself. Actors often come off second best when they wade into current affairs, especially war situations. The real combat vets, James Arness (Anzio) and others mostly seemed to avoid advocacy, or at least exercised restraint, to their credit. But John Wayne did wonderful work on screen. It is a rare scene where he doesn't command the center, even when he's just to the side reacting. He was a natural.
They Were Expendable, again Ford and Wayne together but the real star of that flick was Robert Montgomery.
Jon :puffpipe: :puffpipe:
Jon :puffpipe: :puffpipe:
I wrote a paper on the Duke's films for grad school. And by coincidence saw True Grit the other night. Thanks for telling us about his birthday.
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