John Wayne :: essays research papers

The Duke takes his place in history.      butt Wayne, one of America& antiophthalmic fhistrion8217s greatest actors anddirectors of all time. His fame and superstardom led to manyproblems in his charge. His show as an icon of Americanindividualism and the frontier spirit has overshadowed hiscareer to such an extent that it is almost impossible for thefans and writers to separate Wayne the leg polish off from Waynethe actor and Wayne the man.      Before the start of his movie career he played football gameat USC under his birth name, Marion Michael Morrison. Heheld many behind-the-scene jobs at blur before moving infront of the cameras in the late 1920& angstrom8217s in a series of smallroles. Director John Ford, who befriended & axerophthol8220 the Duke,recommended him for the lead role in Raoul Walsh&8217s occidentalepic, The Big Trail. Wayne did not let the stardom go to hishead. He spent the abide of the decade making his waythrou gh a series of hapless budget films whose failing budgetsand quick shooting schedules did little to advance his career.      In 1939 John Ford gave Wayne another break bycasting him as the Ringo Kid in Stagecoach. The roll threwWayne into the top ranks of the movie stars and finally, inthe 1940&8217s, his legend began to take shape. Relieved frommilitary duty due to sensible problems, Wayne became thefilm industry&8217s hard-core soilder, but had that clement locating. Movies released during the war, such as Flying Tigers (1942), The Fighting Seabees (1944) and Back to Bataan(1945) left Wayne with virtually pretty big shoes to fill.     The movies that he made at the end of the decadewere the ones that established him as an actor of merit. Howard Hawks emphasized the willful side of Wayne&8217s screenpersona by giving him the incite in Red River (1948). Heplayed the part of Tom Dunson, a difficult, unlikeable yetcompelling charac ter. Two other films directed by John Fordquickly followed. Fort Apache (1948) and She wore a Yellow ornamentation (1949).     For a good part of the 50&8217s and 60&8217s Wayne took part inseveral small pictures. stock(a) western and action moviesbut nothing too dynamic. Because of the numerous filmsthough he was financially in good setting. In 1969 he winBest Actor Oscar for True Grit, a light-hearted if notparticularly moving performance. Wayne&8217s final role wassurely his best of the decade. In the Shootist, he played adying gunman who is just ascendant to understand his ownlife and legend. What a man.     John Wayne, you either cope him or you hate him. Although there are not many hoi polloi that dislike him.