John Wayne on Blu-ray

[glennstl]

I’ve wanted to get into some good John Wayne titles for awhile. I’ve only seen parts of most of them over the years on TCM.

I completely appreciate Wayne’s legacy as an actor. My issue has been that I’m just not a Western fan, so that’s why I haven’t seen hardly any of his films.

However, I would like to try to check some out.

Can anyone recommend some of his greatest movies for someone new to John Wayne? Where would be good to start?

Also, can anyone please recommend any of his non-westerns, such as maybe some of his war movies?

Thanks!

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by glennstl

I’ve wanted to get into some good John Wayne titles for awhile. I’ve only seen parts of most of them over the years on TCM.

I completely appreciate Wayne’s legacy as an actor. My issue has been that I’m just not a Western fan, so that’s why I haven’t seen hardly any of his films.

However, I would like to try to check some out.

Can anyone recommend some of his greatest movies for someone new to John Wayne? Where would be good to start?

Also, can anyone please recommend any of his non-westerns, such as maybe some of his war movies?

Thanks!

A-Tier Westerns:

Stagecoach
Red River
The "Cavalry Trilogy" (Fort Apache/She Wore a Yellow Ribbon/Rio Grande)
The Searchers
Rio Bravo
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
True Grit
The Shootist

B-Tier Westerns:

The Big Trail
The Comancheros
Big Jake
The Sons of Katie Elder
El Dorado
The War Wagon

War Movies:

They Were Expendable
The Sands of Iwo Jima
The Longest Day
In Harm's Way

Best Non-Western/War Movies:

The Quiet Man
Island in the Sky
The High and the Mighty

[dommie]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

A-Tier Westerns:

Stagecoach
Red River
The "Cavalry Trilogy" (Fort Apache/She Wore a Yellow Ribbon/Rio Grande)
The Searchers
Rio Bravo
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
True Grit
The Shootist

B-Tier Westerns:

The Big Trail
The Comancheros
Big Jake
The Sons of Katie Elder
El Dorado
The War Wagon

War Movies:

They Were Expendable
The Sands of Iwo Jima
The Longest Day
In Harm's Way

Best Non-Western/War Movies:

The Quiet Man
Island in the Sky
The High and the Mighty

I would add a couple of good westerns that are quintessential Wayne:

Hondo
The Horse Soldiers

Wayne could also be very funny. He did a couple of decent comedy westerns:

McLintock
North to Alaska

Another interesting dramatic film of Wayne's was with Lauren Bacall, called Blood Alley.

Finally, you might also check out his personal pet project that he produced, directed, and starred in which is the 1960 epic production of The Alamo.

All are available on Blu except, unfortunately, The Alamo, which is a shame. Never get tired of watching "The Duke." Since you are unfamiliar with Wayne, that was his given nickname.

[glennstl]

SeanJoyce and dommie:
Thanks so much for your recommendations! Really appreciate them!

I went on a John Wayne Christmas spending spree on myself tonight.

Ordered the following:

True Grit
El Dorado
Stagecoach ( Criterion)
Red River ( Criterion)
Fort Apache
The Longest Day
Rio Bravo
The Comancheros
The Searchers


Figure these should be a good introduction to Wayne for me. I also noticed all these titles have ample extra supplements, so those will be awesome to watch to learn more about Wayne and his genres.

Should tie me over for awhile. Can’t wait to get watching them!

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by dommie

I would add a couple of good westerns that are quintessential Wayne:

Hondo
The Horse Soldiers

Wayne could also be very funny. He did a couple of decent comedy westerns:

McLintock
North to Alaska

Another interesting dramatic film of Wayne's was with Lauren Bacall, called Blood Alley.

Finally, you might also check out his personal pet project that he produced, directed, and starred in which is the 1960 epic production of The Alamo.

All are available on Blu except, unfortunately, The Alamo, which is a shame. Never get tired of watching "The Duke." Since you are unfamiliar with Wayne, that was his given nickname.

Rooster Cogburn is fun also. Strother Martin is great in his limited screentime in each of the Rooster movies.

[RCRochester]

You should also check out McQ... the Duke's attempt at making a Bullitt / Dirty Harry style movie. He seems a little out of place at times and it sometimes gets a bit corny, but it's still a good 70s cop movie, if you like that sort of thing.

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by glennstl

SeanJoyce and dommie:
Thanks so much for your recommendations! Really appreciate them!

I went on a John Wayne Christmas spending spree on myself tonight.

Ordered the following:

[Show spoiler]True Grit
El Dorado
Stagecoach ( Criterion)
Red River ( Criterion)
Fort Apache
The Longest Day
Rio Bravo
The Comancheros
The Searchers


Figure these should be a good introduction to Wayne for me. I also noticed all these titles have ample extra supplements, so those will be awesome to watch to learn more about Wayne and his genres.

Should tie me over for awhile. Can’t wait to get watching them!

Great start to your collection. Don't hesitate to come back here with your thoughts on each of them!

If I may make a suggestion, I'd start with the "4 essential" westerns, and watch them chronologically: Stagecoach, Red River, The Searchers, Rio Bravo. You can really see Wayne's evolution not only as a star, but an actor.

Wayne was never the most talented or diverse guy, but he's the very embodiment of a "movie star". He did what he did exceptionally well, which was to use his presence and larger-than-life persona to lend gravitas to everything he did. A lot of rote, routine "oaters" were significantly elevated by his iconic brand of charisma. Hopefully you gain a new perspective on him and westerns in general with this pursuit.

Cheers

[Talal86]

there’s something unintentionally hilarious about McQ, I have to see it

[ltb2.0]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

You should also check out McQ... the Duke's attempt at making a Bullitt / Dirty Harry style movie. He seems a little out of place at times and it sometimes gets a bit corny, but it's still a good 70s cop movie, if you like that sort of thing.

In McQ he made an earnest attempt at a gritty and grimy cop movie, and he was clearly uncomfortable playing up the dirtier side of his character. So he's a bit obviously uncomfortable in some scenes.

Personally I prefer Brannigan, which is a buddy movie with the Duke heading to England and teaming up with Richard Attenborough. A fun light hearted adventure through with John Vernon as an delightfully slimy villain. Enjoyable performances all around.

A John Wayne version of Rush Hour.

It's one I highly recommend.

[Tom Sharky]

I purchased the Green Berets\the Dirty Dozen Blu-ray double feature recently. I haven't watched the Dirty Dozen yet but have watched the Green Berets several times and enjoyed it.

It didn't get good reviews back then or even now, partly because it didn't present the popular stance of Americans being in a place that they shouldn't be, fighting a war that they shouldn't be fighting and committing atrocities in the process. Instead, Wayne stuck to his familiar formula with the American soldiers as stoic & honorable people. I liked it, though I know it is distinctly different in tone than other Vietnam War movies.

https://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Dozen-G...e+green+berets

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by ltb2.0

In McQ he made an earnest attempt at a gritty and grimy cop movie, and he was clearly uncomfortable playing up the dirtier side of his character. So he's a bit obviously uncomfortable in some scenes.

Personally I prefer Brannigan, which is a buddy movie with the Duke heading to England and teaming up with Richard Attenborough. A fun light hearted adventure through with John Vernon as an delightfully slimy villain. Enjoyable performances all around.

A John Wayne version of Rush Hour.

It's one I highly recommend.

I liked Brannigan too. It probably works better overall because it doesn't try to imitate Dirty Harry / Bullitt, but I still have a soft spot for McQ. I think these types of cop movies work best on American streets.

[El_Fez]

A couple of weeks ago I wound up renting The Conqueror - which admittedly has a ludicrous premise of the whitest guy in america playing Genghis Khan, so my expectations were already calibrated to "goofy as F" - but dear god, even with my Bad Movie googles on full, he can't act. Not even in the slightest. Everyone in that movie was so wooden, but good ol' Marion was king of that wood covered hill.

Being my first movie of his I have nothing to judge against - is he usually that terrible?

[ltb2.0]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

I liked Brannigan too. It probably works better overall because it doesn't try to imitate Dirty Harry / Bullitt, but I still have a soft spot for McQ. I think these types of cop movies work best on American streets.

I love McQ as well, it's an interesting movie he made in the twilight of his career that shows he was willing to try and expand his repertoire but ultimately this and Brannigan didn't do much in terms of Box Office so he returned to the familiar confines of Westerns for his final 2 movies.

McQ is a showcase for John Wayne showing what he could do if you set him loose in modern day streets, something they didn't do too often, which is a huge missed opportunity. I seriously think Duke could've had a series along the lines of Dirty Harry had they started just a few years earlier. Right after Big Jake for instance.

As for Brannigan I love the mismatched cop partner movies. John Wayne and Richard Attenborough made a great screen team with amazing chemistry. 2 vastly different movies that showed John Wayne could succeed on multiple fronts. They just came too late in his career.

[ltb2.0]

Originally Posted by El_Fez

A couple of weeks ago I wound up renting The Conqueror - which admittedly has a ludicrous premise of the whitest guy in america playing Genghis Khan, so my expectations were already calibrated to "goofy as F" - but dear god, even with my Bad Movie googles on full, he can't act. Not even in the slightest. Everyone in that movie was so wooden, but good ol' Marion was king of that wood covered hill.

Being my first movie of his I have nothing to judge against - is he usually that terrible?

You choose what is widely considered one of the worst movies of all time, starring a beloved icon like John Wayne and ask us if he is usually that terrible....

You completely started at the wrong end of the spectrum.

I'm speechless...

But no, John Wayne has far more range than people give him credit for, you should check out his work of the late 40's to the early 60's. 48-63 shows the most development in his screen character, there's a few clunkers along the way, but those years are where he solidified his place in history.

Fort Apache
Red River
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
Rio Grande
The Quiet Man
The Searchers
Rio Bravo
Donovan's Reef
McLintock!

True Grit and The Shootist from the last stage of his career are also worth checking out.

[monwobbbo]

Originally Posted by El_Fez

A couple of weeks ago I wound up renting The Conqueror - which admittedly has a ludicrous premise of the whitest guy in america playing Genghis Khan, so my expectations were already calibrated to "goofy as F" - but dear god, even with my Bad Movie googles on full, he can't act. Not even in the slightest. Everyone in that movie was so wooden, but good ol' Marion was king of that wood covered hill.

Being my first movie of his I have nothing to judge against - is he usually that terrible?

i'm shocked that anyone would pick that over one of his westerns as that is what he was primarily known for. JW certainly could act if given the material to work with. i would also point at The Quiet Man if you want something different that shows he had some range. in terms of westerns i really like Rio Bravo and The Cowboys. he was also good in The Green Berets

[RCRochester]

Yeah, the Conqueror is really not a good place to start with John Wayne movies.

Personally, I would recommend starting with Rio Bravo. To me, that is quintessential John Wayne. If you watch that and still cannot stand him, then he's probably not for you.

[Tom Sharky]

I have always really like "Cahill U.S. Marshall". It was basically John Wayne in his familiar western role but also had George Kennedy as a tremendous bad guy in the movie.

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

Yeah, the Conqueror is really not a good place to start with John Wayne movies.

Personally, I would recommend starting with Rio Bravo. To me, that is quintessential John Wayne. If you watch that and still cannot stand him, then he's probably not for you.

Rio Bravo is such a thing of beauty to me. Few movie pleasures more enjoyable than kicking back and letting yourself get sucked into its drawn-out, laid-back charm. I could spend all day with those characters, where despite the presence of danger there's an overriding sentiment that everything's going to work out and be okay.

Such an eclectic cast too; a young Dickinson as a leggy ingenue, two singers from different time periods with different styles representing the new vs. old, Brennan as the lovable, reliable old codger...and Wayne himself. I think that Rio Bravo was where his "movie star" persona firmly established itself and he could just show up and be John Wayne for a movie to work.

I think that any "coolest movies list" that omits Rio Bravo is tragically incomplete.

[atfree]

Big Jake is a favorite of The Duke's later films. Maureen O'Hara's introduction of Wayne's character is priceless.

Best Character Introduction in Cinema History - John Wayne - Big Jake - YouTube

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by atfree

Big Jake is a favorite of The Duke's later films. Maureen O'Hara's introduction of Wayne's character is priceless.

[Show spoiler]Best Character Introduction in Cinema History - John Wayne - Big Jake - YouTube

It helps that he's opposed by Richard Boone, continuing a line of excellent western villains that included The Tall T and Hombre. Wayne personally picked him to be his nemesis in The Shootist.