tv star collector
11-28-2007, 07:56 AM
Off screen or on, John Wayne had style. He was able to identify completely
with the straight-talking characters he played. His real-life remarks earned him
as much attention as his performances. The following are typical of Duke's style:
"I figure legends are people who aren't around. Hell, I'm no legend. I'm here and planning to stay around a while longer."
"I'm 53 years old and 6'4". I've had three wives, five children and three grand-
children. I love good whiskey. I still don't understand women, and I don't think
there is any man who does."
"I am proud of every day in my life I wake up in the United States of America."
I always look for a story with basic emotions. A dog, a kid, a woman's love, a
man's love."
[Duke's career spanned over forty years and more than 200 films. In fact,
"Stagecoach" (1939)--the picture that made him a star--was the 65th film
that he made.]
"I've been in more bad pictures than just about anyone in the business."
"I stopped getting the girl about ten years ago. It was just as well. By then,
I'd forgotten what I wanted to get the girl for."
"You don't have to act, you react. And you always make 'B' pictures if you
deviate from that theory. Look at any 'B' picture. The actor has to come in
and explain everything with words. In an 'A' picture, you do it with a look."
"I don't care what the critics say. It's a hell of a lot harder to act naturally
than it is to act theatrically. So what if I do play John Wayne? Why in the
hell shouldn't I? I know him better than anyone else. And I can play him
better than anyone else."
Once a man shouted out from the crowd, asking if Wayne spoke Spanish.
"Not too well," admitted Wayne.
"What?" replied the man, anxious to show off his knowledge about Wayne.
"You've had three Spanish wives and you can't speak Spanish?"
"Waal," drawled Wayne, "I guess I just never listened to 'em."
**********
"If today John Wayne is a legend, it is not only because of his work as an
actor, but through his life as a man. In his life--as in few others--the legend
has become the reality."
-- Biographer Mike Tomkies
with the straight-talking characters he played. His real-life remarks earned him
as much attention as his performances. The following are typical of Duke's style:
"I figure legends are people who aren't around. Hell, I'm no legend. I'm here and planning to stay around a while longer."
"I'm 53 years old and 6'4". I've had three wives, five children and three grand-
children. I love good whiskey. I still don't understand women, and I don't think
there is any man who does."
"I am proud of every day in my life I wake up in the United States of America."
I always look for a story with basic emotions. A dog, a kid, a woman's love, a
man's love."
[Duke's career spanned over forty years and more than 200 films. In fact,
"Stagecoach" (1939)--the picture that made him a star--was the 65th film
that he made.]
"I've been in more bad pictures than just about anyone in the business."
"I stopped getting the girl about ten years ago. It was just as well. By then,
I'd forgotten what I wanted to get the girl for."
"You don't have to act, you react. And you always make 'B' pictures if you
deviate from that theory. Look at any 'B' picture. The actor has to come in
and explain everything with words. In an 'A' picture, you do it with a look."
"I don't care what the critics say. It's a hell of a lot harder to act naturally
than it is to act theatrically. So what if I do play John Wayne? Why in the
hell shouldn't I? I know him better than anyone else. And I can play him
better than anyone else."
Once a man shouted out from the crowd, asking if Wayne spoke Spanish.
"Not too well," admitted Wayne.
"What?" replied the man, anxious to show off his knowledge about Wayne.
"You've had three Spanish wives and you can't speak Spanish?"
"Waal," drawled Wayne, "I guess I just never listened to 'em."
**********
"If today John Wayne is a legend, it is not only because of his work as an
actor, but through his life as a man. In his life--as in few others--the legend
has become the reality."
-- Biographer Mike Tomkies