The thing about Wayne was the scenes where he was fighting and shooting were good but it was the scenes were he was just so intimidating that people had the common sense not to mess with him that defined him. The restaurant scene with Lee Marvin in Liberty Valance and the card table scene in Tall in the Saddle being prime examples. Just like he was offended when asked to shoot someone in the back he always liked it when the scene gave the other guy a chance to walk away.
Great list! He was truly an icon. Personal thought: I enjoy the B&W format much more than color. It seems to me much more amenable to small mood changes. One example from these clips, the scene in Liberty Valance where Wayne is leaning against a wall to light a cigarette. His face is in shadow initially, then is revealed (by offscreen lighting of course) while the match is lit, then fades back into shadow again when he tosses the match. Not important to plot development, but one of many examples where the cinematographer and director combined to create an almost film noir mood in that scene.
My favorite John Wayne movies: “CONFLICT “(1936), “HELLFIGHTERS”, “West Of The Divide”(1934) “Reo Grande”, “In Harm’s Way “, “Reo Bravo”, ** “Idol Of The Crowds”(1937), Where he plays a HOCKEY PLAYER. 📻🙂
John Wayne’s movies were always the same movie. He would wear different costumes but his words and moves never changed. If you watched one movie it was like if you had watched all of them.
My fave is Ricky Nelson throwing him the rifle in Rio Bravo. Also his stupendous final shootout in The Shootist. It's incredible that he made quite so many great films. You've encouraged me to possibly revisit The Alamo. McQ is a great John Sturges film with a good final action scene and a good non-western for the Duke. Best wishes
I know this is about John Wayne, but Laurence Harvey lighting that cannon is cool as ice. The Duke’s look of surprise just makes it better and is a testament to his commitment to telling a good story and letting other characters sine as well.
