Though John Wayne's legacy will be forever entwined with that of his most frequent and beloved director, John Ford, the two really didn't start collaborating in earnest until well into Wayne's career. By 1947, Wayne had already appeared in over 100 films. True, eight of those were directed by Ford, but Wayne only starred in one of them: 1939's "Stagecoach," which turned him into a star.
The 1940s were a turbulent decade for Wayne. He began it on a high note, celebrating the critical and commercial love for "Stagecoach" at the Academy Awards. But as the '40s wore on, Wayne began to have serious doubts over what kind of star he wanted to be: did he want to write, produce, even direct, or just act? With World War II underway, Wayne starred in war picture after war picture -- would he ever return to the Western that proved so successful with audiences?...
The 1940s were a turbulent decade for Wayne. He began it on a high note, celebrating the critical and commercial love for "Stagecoach" at the Academy Awards. But as the '40s wore on, Wayne began to have serious doubts over what kind of star he wanted to be: did he want to write, produce, even direct, or just act? With World War II underway, Wayne starred in war picture after war picture -- would he ever return to the Western that proved so successful with audiences?...
- 1/8/2023
- by Ryan Coleman
- Slash Film
Who doesn't love John Wayne? The tough-talking cowboy dominated the silver screen for decades, captivating audiences with his endless charisma and dynamic swagger. Growing up, I saw many of the Duke's films — my mom loved him — but only later discovered some of his greatest adventures, including "The Searchers." All told, Wayne appeared in over 250 films, earned three Academy Award nominations, and took home an Oscar for Best Actor ("True Grit"). One need only glance at his resume to notice a handful of classic films: "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," "Sands of Iwo Jima," "The Quiet Man," "Rio Bravo," "The Shootist," and "Stagecoach," among many, many others.
Each of these films comes with a plethora of memorable scenes. Be it a line of colorful dialogue, a well-executed action sequence, or a simple character beat in which Wayne shows off his effortless charm, there are plenty of unforgettable Duke moments to choose from,...
Each of these films comes with a plethora of memorable scenes. Be it a line of colorful dialogue, a well-executed action sequence, or a simple character beat in which Wayne shows off his effortless charm, there are plenty of unforgettable Duke moments to choose from,...
- 12/3/2022
- by Jeff Ames
- Slash Film
By the end of the 1940s, John Wayne was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, and could thus afford to be picky about his collaborators. He had a rotating company of actors and a number of preferred directors, but from 1947 onward there was one screenwriter he valued above all others.
If you're not a Wayne devotee, you're probably unfamiliar with the work of James Edward Grant. He was an Irish-American writer who, early in his career, rose quickly through the ranks of Chicago journalists during the 1920s. At the age of 21, he was covering the Windy City's ultra-violent organized crime scene via a column titled "It's a Racket." He fired off essays and stories for top publications like The Saturday Evening Post, but wasn't above churning out pulp yarns for low-aiming magazines like Detective Fiction Weekly. Grant fit the cliche of the prolific newspaperman to a T; he was a hard-drinking,...
If you're not a Wayne devotee, you're probably unfamiliar with the work of James Edward Grant. He was an Irish-American writer who, early in his career, rose quickly through the ranks of Chicago journalists during the 1920s. At the age of 21, he was covering the Windy City's ultra-violent organized crime scene via a column titled "It's a Racket." He fired off essays and stories for top publications like The Saturday Evening Post, but wasn't above churning out pulp yarns for low-aiming magazines like Detective Fiction Weekly. Grant fit the cliche of the prolific newspaperman to a T; he was a hard-drinking,...
- 10/13/2022
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
There is no more precarious moment in a movie star's career than the day they wake up, flush with box office success, and declare, "What I'd really like to do is direct!" Slightly less dangerous is a star's inclination to produce –- i.e., to diversify their career by generating material that reflects their taste or broadens their brand.
Two years after the end of World War II, John Wayne, who'd sat out the civilization-saving conflict while colleagues like James Stewart and Henry Fonda served, realized he was the biggest star in Hollywood and ought to start calling his own shots. Rather than direct, he found a quaint Western called "Angel and the Badman" written by James Edward Grant, in which a Quaker woman nurses a wounded gunfighter back to health. For an actor who'd made his name as a kickass, take-charge hero in Westerns and war movies, this was an oddly anti-violent movie.
Two years after the end of World War II, John Wayne, who'd sat out the civilization-saving conflict while colleagues like James Stewart and Henry Fonda served, realized he was the biggest star in Hollywood and ought to start calling his own shots. Rather than direct, he found a quaint Western called "Angel and the Badman" written by James Edward Grant, in which a Quaker woman nurses a wounded gunfighter back to health. For an actor who'd made his name as a kickass, take-charge hero in Westerns and war movies, this was an oddly anti-violent movie.
- 10/12/2022
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Budd Boetticher’s excellent semi-autobiographical film may be Hollywood’s most uncondescending depiction of high-end Mexican culture. Robert Stack is the pushy Gringo who only slowly understands Latin society’s definitions of loyalty and machismo; his rocky relationship with Joy Page’s cultured señorita is as important as the bullfighting story with Gilbert Roland. It’s Boetticher’s best film, presented for the first time in two encodings, the 87-minute release version and the UCLA Film and TV Archive’s restoration of the full 124-minute seen South of the Border. The extra commentary and featurettes are welcome too.
Bullfighter and the Lady
Region B Blu-ray
Powerhouse Indicator
1951 / B&w / 1:37 flat Academy / 124 + 87 min. / Torero, Muerte en la arena, Tarde de toros, L’amante del torero, El torero y la dama, Death in the Sands / Street Date , 2022 / available from Powerhouse Films UK / £15.99
Starring: Robert Stack, Joy Page, Gilbert Roland, Virginia Grey,...
Bullfighter and the Lady
Region B Blu-ray
Powerhouse Indicator
1951 / B&w / 1:37 flat Academy / 124 + 87 min. / Torero, Muerte en la arena, Tarde de toros, L’amante del torero, El torero y la dama, Death in the Sands / Street Date , 2022 / available from Powerhouse Films UK / £15.99
Starring: Robert Stack, Joy Page, Gilbert Roland, Virginia Grey,...
- 7/30/2022
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
John Wayne, Robert Ryan and some thrilling color combat footage grace this Howard Hughes WW2 aviation epic, that’s famous for being the odd-title-out in the filmography of Nicholas Ray. Just how did the politically diverging Ray and Hughes get along so well? The Wac’s sensational Technicolor restoration does the real combat footage a big favor: minus scratches and dirt, it looks better than ever.
Flying Leathernecks
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1951 / Color / 1:37 Academy / 102 min. / Street Date September 15, 2020 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: John Wayne, Robert Ryan, Don Taylor, Janis Carter, Jay C. Flippen, James Bell, Adam Williams, Barry Kelley, Gordon Gebert, Lynn Stalmaster, Mona Knox.
Cinematography: William E. Snyder
Film Editor: Sherman Todd
Original Music: Roy Webb
Written by James Edward Grant, Beirne Lay Jr. story by Kenneth Gamet
Produced by Edmund Grainger, Howard Hughes
Directed by Nicholas Ray
This by-the-numbers Naval aviation epic — more precisely the Marine Corps.
Flying Leathernecks
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1951 / Color / 1:37 Academy / 102 min. / Street Date September 15, 2020 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: John Wayne, Robert Ryan, Don Taylor, Janis Carter, Jay C. Flippen, James Bell, Adam Williams, Barry Kelley, Gordon Gebert, Lynn Stalmaster, Mona Knox.
Cinematography: William E. Snyder
Film Editor: Sherman Todd
Original Music: Roy Webb
Written by James Edward Grant, Beirne Lay Jr. story by Kenneth Gamet
Produced by Edmund Grainger, Howard Hughes
Directed by Nicholas Ray
This by-the-numbers Naval aviation epic — more precisely the Marine Corps.
- 9/8/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
John Wayne, Robert Ryan and some thrilling color combat footage grace this Howard Hughes WW2 aviation epic, that’s famous for being the odd-title-out in the filmography of Nicholas Ray. Just how did the politically diverging Ray and Hughes get along so well? The Wac’s sensational Technicolor restoration does the real combat footage a big favor: minus scratches and dirt, it looks better than ever.
Flying Leathernecks
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1951 / Color / 1:37 Academy / 102 min. / Street Date September 15, 2020 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: John Wayne, Robert Ryan, Don Taylor, Janis Carter, Jay C. Flippen, James Bell, Adam Williams, Barry Kelley, Gordon Gebert, Lynn Stalmaster, Mona Knox.
Cinematography: William E. Snyder
Film Editor: Sherman Todd
Original Music: Roy Webb
Written by James Edward Grant, Beirne Lay Jr. story by Kenneth Gamet
Produced by Edmund Grainger, Howard Hughes
Directed by Nicholas Ray
This by-the-numbers Naval aviation epic — more precisely the Marine Corps.
Flying Leathernecks
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1951 / Color / 1:37 Academy / 102 min. / Street Date September 15, 2020 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: John Wayne, Robert Ryan, Don Taylor, Janis Carter, Jay C. Flippen, James Bell, Adam Williams, Barry Kelley, Gordon Gebert, Lynn Stalmaster, Mona Knox.
Cinematography: William E. Snyder
Film Editor: Sherman Todd
Original Music: Roy Webb
Written by James Edward Grant, Beirne Lay Jr. story by Kenneth Gamet
Produced by Edmund Grainger, Howard Hughes
Directed by Nicholas Ray
This by-the-numbers Naval aviation epic — more precisely the Marine Corps.
- 9/8/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Hondo (1953), which is set to play June 13 - July 4 at the Museum of Modern Art as part of their "3-D Summer" series, was John Wayne's first Western in three years. It was produced by his own Wayne/Fellows Productions (later named Batjac), founded just the year prior by Wayne and producer Robert Fellows. And James Edward Grant, who had already written several Wayne features and had a particular flair for writing classic John Wayne dialogue, penned the screenplay. All told, one gets the sense that everything about this exemplary return to the genre was a carefully conscious decision by the iconic American star. Hondo is a definitive Western. Moreover, it's a definitive John Wayne Western.When Wayne made Hondo, his masculine persona was already firmly established. After viewing the film at one point, Wayne supposedly declared, "I'll be damned if I'm not the stuff men are made of." Such a comment,...
- 6/12/2015
- by Jeremy Carr
- MUBI
Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: July 30, 2013
Price: DVD $24.95, Blu-ray $29.95
Studio: Olive Films
Robert Stack plays to the crowd in Bullfighter and The Lady.
The 1951 film drama-romance Bullfighter and The Lady was the breakthrough movie for filmmaker Budd Boetticher (Seven Men From Now).
Robert Stack (TV’s The Untouchables) stars as Chuck Regan, a brash American skeet shooting champion whose visit to Mexico introduces him to two irresistible forces: the exotic Anita de la Vega (Joy Page) and the lure of the way of the matador. Unflinching in his confidence, Regan sets out to conquer both, learning bullfighting from an icon of the Mexican corrida, Manolo Estrada (Gilbert Roland). But Regan’s headstrong assertiveness and desire to impress Anita gets the best of him when he debuts in the ring and knows there’s only one way and one place he can redeem himself.
Written by James Edward Grant from a story by Boetticher,...
Price: DVD $24.95, Blu-ray $29.95
Studio: Olive Films
Robert Stack plays to the crowd in Bullfighter and The Lady.
The 1951 film drama-romance Bullfighter and The Lady was the breakthrough movie for filmmaker Budd Boetticher (Seven Men From Now).
Robert Stack (TV’s The Untouchables) stars as Chuck Regan, a brash American skeet shooting champion whose visit to Mexico introduces him to two irresistible forces: the exotic Anita de la Vega (Joy Page) and the lure of the way of the matador. Unflinching in his confidence, Regan sets out to conquer both, learning bullfighting from an icon of the Mexican corrida, Manolo Estrada (Gilbert Roland). But Regan’s headstrong assertiveness and desire to impress Anita gets the best of him when he debuts in the ring and knows there’s only one way and one place he can redeem himself.
Written by James Edward Grant from a story by Boetticher,...
- 6/14/2013
- by Laurence
- Disc Dish
Chicago – If you haven’t picked up a cheesy tie or a new pair of socks for dear old dad, may we suggest a movie? Paramount has released a beloved John Wayne classic, “Hondo,” on Blu-ray for the first time to coincide with the day in which you’re supposed to give your pops a little more respect than usual. What dad doesn’t love John Wayne?
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Well, I’m a dad and I’m not a huge fan of “Hondo.” It’s not my favorite Wayne by any stretch of the imagination but it is iconic Wayne and therefore an interesting film to add to your collection. It is classic settlers vs. Indians material as Wayne plays a cavalry rider who protects a woman (the great and Oscar-nominated Geraldine Page) and becomes a father figure to her son. Hondo is a variation on the Wayne archetype — tough enough...
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Well, I’m a dad and I’m not a huge fan of “Hondo.” It’s not my favorite Wayne by any stretch of the imagination but it is iconic Wayne and therefore an interesting film to add to your collection. It is classic settlers vs. Indians material as Wayne plays a cavalry rider who protects a woman (the great and Oscar-nominated Geraldine Page) and becomes a father figure to her son. Hondo is a variation on the Wayne archetype — tough enough...
- 6/15/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Chicago – Two of cinema’s most iconic actors appeared on Blu-ray new release shelves this week with excellent HD transfers and hours of special features for 50th Anniversary Editions of Paul Newman’s “The Hustler” and John Wayne’s “The Comancheros.” History has well-documented that the Newman is one of the best films from one of the form’s best actors. The Wayne film may have a more niche audience but they’re surely be satisfied with a very solid release.
Blu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0
Packaged like hardcover books with photos and essays included in the actual packaging, the releases of “The Hustler” and “The Comancheros” are appealing before the disc has even been put in your machine. There’s not a lot of information in the books but they get you in the mood to watch the movie, not unlike leafing through a program before a play.
The Hustler was released...
Blu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0
Packaged like hardcover books with photos and essays included in the actual packaging, the releases of “The Hustler” and “The Comancheros” are appealing before the disc has even been put in your machine. There’s not a lot of information in the books but they get you in the mood to watch the movie, not unlike leafing through a program before a play.
The Hustler was released...
- 5/20/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
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