Another thing I like about “The Duke”. He loved to sail. He was a man of the sea. If you put a gun to my head and made me pick my favorite John Wayne movie, it would probably be “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance”. One of the more underrated movies ever made. It had a lot of deep running themes that have relevance today.
“When the legend becomes fact, print the legend”
It’s too bad he died before Ronald Reagan became President. You can imagine he would have been over to the White House a lot yucking it up with Ronny about old time Hollywood. He died much too young. And I remember crying bitterly when John Wayne died. As a teenager close to joining the Marine Corps, it was a hard thing to do to cry. But cry I did.
Your remarks restore some of my faith in FR; I can perfectly well understand your tears at his death. I, myself, cried when Steve McQueen died...so young, aged 49.
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is my favorite as well. I always say that as a woman who loves Westerns it’s because most of it takes place in a kitchen, lol. Remember the Duke’s great love in the movie, Vera Miles? But, of course, its themes about truth versus fiction, character over success, are beautifully presented.
Over the years, I’ve become a major fan of Rio Bravo - so entertaining, so funny, so well-acted, directed by the great Howard Hawks. And has one of my favorite songs: My Rifle, My Pony and Me.