I gotta let you know about a comment you made. My late Pop, RIP, was military. He retired military, Army. He was on a ship and Elvis Presley was on that ship too. Pop said, Elvis did not act like he was too good. He would mop up vomit just like anyone else. That earned my respect for the man. It may have been a publicity stunt for the money makers stealing from him, but for Elvis, he was serious.
100% Many people got to meet and serve with Elvis and my Uncle Kenneth Lightfoot had that honor and every single person that ever served with him could not say enough about Elvis and how normal and nice he was. He was no celebrity while he served and didn't like being treated like one.
I have another Elvis story for you, Olivia. Years ago, I listened to a radio interview with Max Baer Jr.(Jethro from The Beverly Hillbillies). He said early in his career, he and some of his aspiring actor friends used to gather in one of L.A.'s parks and play touch football. None of them were working much at the time and that was about all the entertainment they could afford. He said Elvis would show up occasionally. Elvis had the flashy car, all the money and all the girls. Baer said that touch football would always turn into tackle football, and poor old Elvis would bear the brunt of the other's jealousy. He said they would hit Elvis as hard as they could and it didn't matter. He'd jump straight back up and come back for more.
I'm 47 and John Wayne is hands down my favorite actor and always will be. McClintock is 100% my favorite film and I watch it at least once a month. True Grit wasn't my favorite John Wayne movie but I don't think it was because of him at all I just didn't like how it was wrote vs the book. The book was amazing. I'll take any John Wayne movie over the crap they have on tv today. I don't even watch tv. I have my old movies and shows that I'll stick to.
@@janetbaker645 Yvonne De Carlo was absolutely gorgeous too. People my age associate her with The Munsters and had no idea she was in other films. Maureen O'Hara I absolutely love too. Firey red head. The McClintock movie had a bit of everything in it. Nothing to do with John Wayne but "4 For Texas" it's a tradition on New Years that I watch and then McClintock before midnight. Both movies make me laugh like a fool.
@@alanmarsden4422 When I was at Disney in Florida there was a ride I was on that had a John Wayne statue (so life like) but we couldn't get out of the moving cart we were in. (A BIG NO NO!) I begged the guy to please let me in there after it closed so I could get a picture standing next to John Wayne. No one had ever requested that but as promised he walked me through the back when the ride was down for the night and took a picture of me standing next to the Duke. I was elated! Best part of my vacation.
My& my sisters favorite JW movie: Donovan’s Reef. My mom’s: the Quiet Man. My Dad’s : the Searchers. (My dad appeared as an extra in a couple of Wayne films notably Red River) 2 underrated Wayne films: McClintock & the Undefeated.
My parents were rabid John Wayne fans. My Dad's company, while serving in the Marines was used as extras. He's in the scene where Marines are marching down a dock towards a troop ship. He said they had to do that march about a dozen times. They collected a copy of every movie he ever did on VHS tapes. Dad would sit for hours watching John Wayne movies. I like to think my Dad was just like John Wayne's persona. Me, I will forever be a John Wayne fan. Hard to pick a favorite movie. But a top ten list would include, In no particular order, The Quiet Man, McClintok, The Sands Of Iowa Jima, They Were Expendable, Flying Leathernecks, The Alamo, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, The Searchers, The Undefeated, and The Horse Soldiers.
He was truly an international icon. Loved around the world. I'll never forget the night in Barcelona, Spain when I (an American) came home to the Argentine family I lived with and they were all around the TV crying and wailing. Word of John Wayne's death shocked the world. He was a great man.
Thanks for sharing memories of John Wayne. I remember driving home from west Texas in the late 1970s and hearing news of John Wayne being on his death bed. It was clearly a sad story.
In all roles he played, he played John Wayne. I admit, I have kind of a hero worship complex when it comes to this man. He was the 1st man that I saw on the big screen sitting with my grandfather who was a World War II veteran. He taught me what American values are. He showed me what that when the chips are down you can always stack them back up. In short, John Wayne was a surrogate father to me. He was one of the great ones and I don't think we will ever see his likes again. If you want a movie that is not quite as popular as all of his other stuff, watch Hatari!. Nothing like the Duke in Africa.
He was a draft dodger, not a hero. He coward in fear and stayed home while real heroes fought for our country like your grandpa, don't diminish what he did by shining a false light on what Wayne did,
How do you pick just one, this man made you believe. You thought you actually knew him. He was the man I shared with my father on Sundays. Sitting with my dad watching one of his films. Special moments with two wonderful men.
He was actually exposed to nuclear ☢️ radiation contamination in the 1950s. He, his own son, Agnes Moorehead, Susan Hayward, and also others while making a movie called the Conqueror. At a Utah and Nevada desert from a nuclear ☢️ weapon that the government knew about it and refused to tell them about it.
Yes! I was waiting for this very life changing event to pop up and was surprised it didn't. That's where the cancer and health issues started. Very sad for them all!
Of the 220 crew members, 91 (comprising 41% of the crew) developed cancer during their lifetime, while 46 (or 21%) died from it. When this was learned, many suspected that filming in Utah and surrounding locations, near nuclear test sites, was to blame.
@@Weezie_TJ_919 The people in the film had no variance in cancer rates and health compared to people in the same lifestyles who never went to Nevada. It's always been a false equivalency passed as fact.
@@Weezie_TJ_919 they actually blame his lung cancer from smoking but yet it could have came from being exposed to nuclear ☢️ radiation. He played as Genghis Khan in the Conqueror.
My Dad looked just like John Wayne, people would do a double-take when we were out in public. My Father as well, was a strong patriot as well as fair as the day was long. When my Dad became ill we bought every John Wayne VHS and would play them for him. Good memories of good men
I have always put John Wayne at the top of my favorite actors. He was from a time of what I consider a more admirable time in motion pictures, and many great actors and actresses. Not so much nowadays. He wasn't perfect, but his dedication to patriotism and morals, and his direct approach to right and wrong with no apologies, will keep him at the top of my favorite actor list. I can't make a list of favorites, too many great ones.
@user, As long as it didn't get in the way of his making a buck or taking advantage of a situation. My family knew a guy just like him, an opportunist. Morrison would wave the flag all day as long as there was no danger and people were paying him for it.
As an old deactivated Marine, I miss John. To me he was the Old West and a hero galore ! In my day, most Marines loved him, I guess because patriotism was what we had in common. Goodnight Mr. Wayne and Chesty, I'll be seeing you both someday soon !
I was a big fan of The Duke. I have the Courage quote in two places in my house. I have most of his movies. I was 23 when he passed away. I remember his album on America is, back in the 1960s. I had a friend whose grandfather was friends with both Wayne and Ward Bond, and he said they were pretty much the same on and off screen. Jim passed a few years ago, so I can't ask him for more details. That is a rough part of getting old losing good friends you can count on
And he was too scared to enlist, so he made a deal to get let off his enlistment, and with a yellow streak that large, he would’ve made an easy target…….
He died of radiation poisoning from the location shoot for "The Conqueror." It was near a fresh atomic test site. Many of the cast and crew suffered because of it.
@@AITreeBranchesThat story is all theory. There is no proof that the numerous deaths that occured after the filming on the Nevada Test Site were conclusively attributed to the radiation at that particular site. Although I myself believe it - there are many who say it is coinsidental. We'll never know.
@@michelleprice5097 When I was at Memphis State, I worked part-time at Memphis Funeral Home. I met an old cowboy there. He had worked 35 years for Gene Autry. He had a Zippo lighter John Wayne had given him engraved "stolen from John Wayne". When Elvis died Autry and Wayne came to Memphis and my old cowboy pal picked them up at the airport. Autry fussed at him cause he was still driving and old 63 Ford he had when he worked for Autry. He also introduced me to Minnie Pearl when she came to Memphis for a friend's service. He knew everybody.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is the greatest western ever made, and the sound track for it is too the greatest movie sound track ever made. 💥🔫🤠 Yeehaw
As a John Wayne fan, picking a favorite is very hard. Some ones to not miss are the Quiet Man, Daktari, They Where Expendable and Big Jake. An underrated one people don't think about is Hell Fighters with Jim Hutton.
Yes all Great movies. I agree about Hell Fighters and Hatari too. He worked with Jim Hutton in a few movies they had a great Chemistry. I love the Searchers and Chisum.
It not Daktari but Hatari, in which he played as a hunter of life animals, to stock zoo’s. This movie has a great storyline full of humor and beautiful scenes!
My 3 best Wayne movies are:- 1. The Searchers 2. The Man That Shot Liberty Valance. 3. The Shootist. Always better in Westerns ( I feel) than in War movies . He was in many ways ",The Cowboy". A truly great contemporary would be James Stewart. Argueably, Jimmy had more "breadth" and variety. Clint Eastwood changed the whole Western Genre with The ,"Dollar" films. Giving Westerns a much harder edge. 2 roles Wayne should have turned down were:- The Roman Centurion in "The Greatest Story Ever Told" And :- "The Conqueror" where he played Genghis Kahn. He was ridiculous in both. Appalling casting !! This is my view only, therefore very subjective. There will be others with different view points. Wayne was extremely good "Box Office" for the studios and made them, and himself, a lot of money. He was "Old School" Hollywood Super Star. You cant take that away from the man.
If you look up the history of the conquer he made the studio make that movie he wanted to star in it They didn't even wanna make it He found the script they threw out
My mother died in 1979 at 56 years of age and the only thing I was able to deal with her death was the fact that she and the duke were both able to meet
God bless our mothers and The Duke, and may they rest in peace. Mine also got to meet him (on set somewhere); my GM took her. JW wanted to whisk her off to Paris to get engaged... but my GM said No! He was gentlemanly enough to ask my GM to go with and be chaperone. My Mom was sweet 16 at the time. When we used to watch movies at the drive-in or at home, my Mom would say "He could've been your father, but your granny wouldn't let me elope / marry him!" - my granny would say ' but you were too young '. My Mom would then play up, saying, "...and how old were you when you married grandpop!?" "Oh hush your mouth!" 😁 😂 ... It was like a well established theatrical performance! 😁 My, my, how I miss my old folks - they had so many neat stories, and they were great actors and good old fashioned family and fun-loving too!
I’m not a John Wayne fanatic but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen ever movie he ever made at least a dozen times and his picture hangs on my bedroom wall. Second thought maybe I am a fanatic.
In his early years, he performed almost all his stunts. In the last scene of True Grit that is Wayne jumping a 3-rail fence on the back of his horse. McLintock and the Cowboys he did all his own stunts. A true-blooded American hero.
When Wayne filmed Hatari in 1960 in Arusha Tanganyika East Africa, I lived in Arusha with my family. His double came a few months earlier than Wayne & did all the dangerous catching of the wild game. When Wayne arrived, he did every scene, Ted White his double, has already filmed . What a man! I miss him!
One of the only actors I have shed a tear for upon hearing of his death. John Wayne was a big man in so many ways and there will never be another like him again. Thank you for bringing him back into our lives again and again showing how human yet immortal he truly was.
And I'd like to add this. John Wayne gave us some of the greatest Westerns of all time. What would have happened if he'd gone to war and been killed? There was no other western star like him. He made those westerns and I have many of his movies and I never grow tired of watching them.
John Wayne did not have to serve he was a husband and had children they were exempt from serving. He also tried to join several times. They said he was better serving by acting He still is one of my great hero’s. The did the quiet man in cong and ashford castle my great grandfather worked there as a wheelright one of my fav film. They even show it in the cinema in the castle
@@rhondae8222 Maybe his personal relationship life wasn't of the highest standards but at least to the public his outside example was, and that is what people were exposed to him as a role model that influences society's values. The standards that he presented were very different and the polar opposite of the Hollywood stars role models and values today.
Mark. A friend is a tour guide in Europe. She frequently does tours in Ireland and sometimes the tour includes the location of The Quiet Man (my favourite John Wayne film). The locals claim that it was a maid at the hotel they were staying at who saw them together in one of their rooms early in the morning. Whether it was true or not … ? But it is a local rumour to this day.
@@MrYatesj1 they tried to draft Wayne, and he was afraid he would be too old to advance his career much when he returned after serving , so had the studios pull some strings and get his draft status changed, multiple times.
I grew up watching John Wayne films, and he helped me form my sense of strength, patriotism, and masculinity, although I purposely did not attempt to emulate him. One of the best biographies of his life is "John Wayne: The Life and Legend" by Scott Eyman. One interesting story from that book is that he never responded when anyone called him "John" because that for him was a character name. He went by "Duke", a name given to him by some neighborhood firefighters when he was still a kid. According to Eyman's book, his dog was named Duke and the firemen referred to him as "Little Duke". As he grew to manhood, the "Little" part of that name was dropped, for obvious reasons.
Elvis was drafted. It may have given the Army publicity, & they made the best of it, but I doubt that it was a "publicity stunt", since that insinuates, that it was planned from the start.
Right, Elvis was drafted. But not by any random method or process. It was done by governmental fiat, for social reasons. I offer no evidence, but that's what I've always suspected.
I am now 89 and have enjoyed and admired this man, great American who has inspired so many, since I was a young lad. I am pleased that so much he did is still being viewed, please keep up the grand job you are doingkto keep this memory alive. Thank you Mr. John Wayne,
I am 89 also. We lived in the days when actors and citizens were patriotic, joining the military, and movies were great, as Turner Classic Movies testifies. Love Wayne and all our VETS.
You must have not done much research. He was classified as 1A (fit for service), and his movie studio got the classification changed to not eligible for service. They claimed his football injury was too crippling for military service, yet ol John was doing his own stunts...
@@TheStavros1001 Wrong. He was originally classified 4E, as he was 34 when the war began, with a wife and 4 dependents, and a shoulder injury that ended his sports career. The selective service has its own physicians. I have not seen any document claiming he was 1A. He would not have been 1A due to all of the issues mentioned above The "draft dodger" insult is a relatively recent invention of liberals. Nothing more. And nothing of any relevance or substance. Many of John Wayne's co-stars, such as Jimmy Stewart and Lee Marvin, and friends, such as Charles Bronson, served in World War II. To a man, they all respected and admired John Wayne, and none of them ever accused him of being a draft dodger. If they believed that he was, they had plenty of standing to make such an accusation. They never did.
John Wayne is my idea of a real man. Not necessarily the best looking, but he sure was sexy - its all about Attitude, Gentlemen! Practice what you preach and be a good example for others to follow. Don't let the current wave of evil sway you! You'll just become as ugly as many of them.
My Dad owned just about every John Wayne western ever made. He was a huge fan of both Wayne and westerns. I grew up on these films. My favorite is The Quiet Man but I also favor North to Alaska and McClintock. I don't always agree with his morals and politics but he was a hell of an actor.
Quite simply, I have never seen a John Wayne film I didn't like! The man was the epitome of a true Patriot American. I am a retired Marine, and I think John Wayne did more for the country by not serving in WWII, than he ever could have serving. RIP Patriot, JOB WELL DONE!!
Did a hell of a lot more to make sure he stayed out of WWII than he did to make sure he served in it. Much bigger stars at the time, who could have stayed out or gotten easy duty, chose to put themselves in harm's way. Jimmy Stewart, for one. It wouldn't have been so disgraceful if Wayne hadn't cast himself as a super-patriot in real life afterwards.
@@michaelpower4372 If he hadn't been a movie star, we'd never have heard of him doing--or not doing-ANYTHING. That wasn't my point, anyway. Which was his hypocrisy in wrapping himself in the flag and casting himself as the avatar of American patriotism after spending four years watching others march off to fight and die.
Now I have your hatred your a dem John was a rep. I sure if he was fit to go he would have went. Petty he was never President of the United states of America.
John Wayne made many great films, my personal favourites are "The Cowboys" and the last film he made "The Shootist". A great actor and played the parts perfectly, was a legend of the big screen, and still is. RIP John, we are still enjoying the films.
An Icon for sure - but he was Not a great actor ! A Great actor plays different characters and in different ways (like Alec Guiness) ! John Wayne Always played John Wayne, no matter in what movie he was in !
I have watched a great many of John Wayne’s movies. My favorite is The Searchers with Stagecoach running a close second. Others that I love are The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence, The Shootist, Rio Bravo, andThe Sands of Iwo Jima. If people want to see John Wayne in his early movies they should look for his Republic movies.
I loved John Wayne with Maureen O Hara in the Quite Man. It was a beautiful touching movie. John Wayne was a very tall very good looking man, he played the role in the Quiet Man brilliantly I think to perfection. I loved it, I expect everyone loved it. ❤❤❤.
John Wayne came here to England in 1974 to make 'Brannigan ' a rather underated film which ,none the less, was a very watchable yarn,like the best film actors Wayne played himself in his films no dodgy character acting and was admired for it, quite rightly , his beliefs and personal life were his own to which we're all entitled .
Simple music can make you sing, simple hug can make you feel better and simple thing can make you happy. i hope my simple "Hello" bring smile on your face 😊
John and Clint were a generation apart.,, Wayne born in 1907 and Clint born in 1930. Clint was young enough to be his son so you can't xay that they came along at the same time. Wayne's first starring role was in "The Big Trail" in 1929. a year before Clint was born.
My father adored John Wayne and have memories of watching TV with him. My father was a moral man that I have tried to incorporate in my life. My mother also loved John Wayne and both knew about his moral character. My father was in WWII and I remember wondering why he didn't serve in the war but if you look at his movies he served our nation without having to pick up a gun and our government gave him special status so he didn't have to serve. John was used his name and worked with others to help promote support for the war. John was not perfect but he was a human that tried so hard to live honorably. Just as my imperfect father tried to live after the war. The war hurt my Dad's mind in sever ways. I miss them all.
Quite Man Eldorado, Chisum, True Grit, Rooster Coburn, Cahill US Marshall. Sons of kitie elder, Rio Bravo, Tall in the saddle, and any other film John Wayne made. All my favourites.
From the way he was described here, we could use a few more John Waynes in the world. Thank you for sharing this. There were too many great movies for me to list here, so I will just say thank you for this lovely video. God Bless You & stay safe.
My favorite John Wayne film is "The Sons of Katie Elder". IMO he had 2 "best friends", Ben Johnson & Robert Mitchum. And I always thought it was curious that John Wayne was "America's Hero" but he was of Russian descent & his real name was Marion Michael Morrison.
I wouldn't say, that Frank Sinatra "walked away" from the "Dirty Harry" role. It was my understanding, that he could do the role, because he was sick or injured, maybe a broken arm or joint injury, where he wouldn't recover in time for filming. I can't recall exactly? Could have even been something which was otherwise minor, like he couldn't use a .44 magnum Smith & Wesson pistol, because of tennis elbow?
There's actually a library book on the making of the Conqueror it's actually called the Day We Bombed Utah. If you actually want to read it at your local library but if they actually don't have it there's actually a Inter Library Loan from another state that has it. Or maybe another library could actually have it in your city.
My favorite John Wayne film and probably a lesser known film is Riders of Destiny. John Wayne is singing Sandy , a tuneful but tough undercover agent out to help besieged farmers regain their water rights. This is one of the few films in which the Duke is a singing cowboy - truly a unique side of his early career ........... only John Wayne couldn't sing much like me he couldn't carry a tune if you put it in a bucket. They had to dub in someone else singing the songs.
Momma has passed too. She loved John Wayne, and called him her "boyfriend". Dad said, " Well Flossy, you have good taste." They never missed one of his movies.
My Favorite was "The Cowboys", followed by "Big Jake"! I was a Bit Young to be a Big fan of his earlier work, however, I joined the Marines the Year after he passed!! I have now seen "The Sands of Iwo Jima" more than 20 times!!
Dam I hate a man that whistles. He said to Glen Campbell in True Grit. I think Hepburn spoiled Rooster Coburn. That role should have went to Maureen Ò Hara.
So many good John Wayne films to choose from, I'd probably recomend any made after 1939. For me, the top choice has to be The Cowboys, followed closely by The Alamo. Wayne wasn't wrong in turning down Dirty Harry, it wasn't a good fit for him. Eastwood was perfect for the role. I could see Sinatra doing it fairly well, but it didn't fit Wayne's image. I read in some bio years ago that Wayne wanted to volunteer after Pearl Harbor, but the studio intervened. If Wayne had died in some Pacific battlefield in 1942, America would have been the looser. It worked out better as it was. Nice job on the video, thanks for the content.
I loved the DUKE, mostly for who he was, and what he stood for. Someone posted "IN EVERY ROLE THE DUKE - PLAYED THE DUKE" That pretty much sums it up for me. I never felt he was an exceptional actor, though he did make a few movies where his skill shined through. For me, it was the total package, THE MAN, more than any true acting skills. The ICONIC MAN, the straight shooter, a patriot in the purest sense, a man's man (and he lived it), and a truly iconic American treasure. For many around the globe, he represented what AMERICA "WAS", STOOD FOR, and what being an American meant, in my opinion, these are the true reasons for the Duke's greatness. HE WORKED HARD, the Duke, BOND, and FORD played harder, they were all loyal to each other, almost to a fault. Back then, America was blessed with so many great actors, actors who dropped their careers to serve our nation, and not for show or publicity either, they flew missions and fought in the thickest of war alongside their fellow Americans (Jimmy Stewart and Murphy come to mind) All these men were true heroes in my mind and as a young man they taught me many values, morals, and Americanism from the big screen. I was blessed to grow up at a time when Hollywood wasn't a cesspool of deviants, communist, self-centered Anti-Americans assholes, who think being rich or famous entitles them to critique and RULE the masses. The majority of Hollywood today will rush to the aid of other countries and aid foreign nationalists before they would ever support, help, or aid their own country or fellow Americans. I love watching movies, but for at least 40 years I see very few, I refuse to support these anti-Americans, these pious, heretics, full of themselves pieces of chit who think they're entitled to tell me how to live my life, and run-down the country I love. There have been movies I really wanted to see, movies with great actors and talent, but I will never support Communist Hollywood, nor their stable of Anti-Americans. Example- Danny Glover and Sean Penn who couldn't go visit, and support the Dictator Chaves and then come back stateside and tear my country down!! Anyway, to put it simply - THE DUKE WAS AND IS A LEGEND, for all the right reasons!
