John Wayne trivia

[Thomas (Tom) Horn aka James Hicks]

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Every body who loves cowboy and the cowboy movies... Here is one for you...

What movie did the Duke first use the "Big Loop Lever" Winchester '92?   This type lever action will be used "later" in most of Wayne's cowboy movies... most noted in "True Grit" where he sling cocks the rifle on his horse with the immortal line..."Fill your hand you sob".

Here is one that I do not know the answer to... Anybody who is more informed know the why?

In a lot of the John Wayne cowboy movies after the mid-1950s when Wayne finally settled on his "own" cowboy persona... i.e., the leather vest, SAA in 4.75" barrel, Levi jeans (sometimes with belt and suspenders); which went against Wayne's sometimes quote, "You can't trust a man who wears a belt and suspenders." One notices that Wayne always has what appears to be either one 45-60 or one 45-75 cartridge in the center of the gun belt. BUT he is never shown with that type of rifle... his rifle of preference was the '92 in revolver cartridge and with the "big loop lever".

[Major 2]

Stagecoach

[Thomas (Tom) Horn aka James Hicks]

You are correct.  Stagecoach released in 1939.

[Judge Roy Bean]

1st the .45-70 in the belt half way round the belt is suppose to be an indicator you only have what ammo left in your belt.
2nd the large loop 92 appeared next in The Shepherd of the Hills, but not again till Rio Bravo, then in most of his westerns after that.

[Thomas (Tom) Horn aka James Hicks]

JRB, you are correct ref "the second film the large loop lever appeared in" i.e., Shepard of the Hills.  Well, now I know why the large caliber in the belt.... never heard of that before.  In my first post I spoke of when John Wayne defined his "cowboy persona" and again you are correct ref: Rio Lobo. With exception to a few, after Rio Lobo, Wayne is basically the same as far as character and dress.  By that time he was "well established" as an American Icon. A lot of folks feel that his best performance was in True Grit, the academy felt so, because he got the Oscar for that performance. But for me, I feel his "best" was in the "Shootist"... even though the "typical JW character was there"... I feel his character was more befitting... he was not bigger than life in that movie... Wayne was battling the big "C" when the Shootist was filmed. I thought his acting was the best in  this movie. But that is my opine. I thank all who responded.  I love the line in the shootist where Wayne says... " I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, I won't be laid a hand on, I do not do these things to others, and I require the same from them."

[Steel Horse Bailey]

I agree that IMHO, his best performance was in the Shootist.

[Major 2]

I'd have to say IMHO his best were..

Red River, The Searchers , True Grit , and the Shootest , Maybe Blood Alley
in no special order....

He had some stinkers to .. Jet Pilot  The Conquerors 

Comancheros & El Dorado were not much better

[Crossdrawnj]

I believe the his best performance was in "The Searchers".
Crossdraw.

[Texas Lawdog]

I would have to agree that "The Searchers" was his best performance and "The Searchers" is one of the best, if not the best Western ever made. Duke should have received the Oscar for his performance.

[Old Doc]

I like Wayne and enjoyed him in the Shootist although I thought the "I will not be wronged..."specch was a little over the top. As for the Oscar in True Grit, he was up against among others, Dustin Hoffman in Midnight Cowboy. I was watching the show and they gave out the best actor award to Wayne and later the Best Picture award was the last one of the night. They showed clips from each movie including the scene of Dustin Hoffman terminally ill on the bus in Midnight Cowboy. I remember thinking, they have a lot of guts to give the best actor award to Wayne and then show that clip of Dustin Hoffman, which so clearly out-classed the Rooster Cogburn character.

[Johnny McCrae]

IMHO the Cavalry trilogy Fort Apache, She wore a Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande along with The Searchers, Red River, True Grit and The Shootist were his best films. I even enjoy watching Rio Bravo. Some of his later films were stinkers.

It's not Cowboy but don't forget Sands of Iwo Jima. Wayne received an Academy Award nomination for this one. When I was a youngster we used to argue who would play Sgt. Stryker.

[buttebob]

Well, for what it's worth I knew the answers to the '92 and the 45-70. I saw an interview he gave where talked about putting the 45-70 in his belt. Missed the prize again.
His best movie was "The Searchers".  My favorite is not a western, but one in which I didn't think he was playing John Wayne; "The Quite Man".
He got the Academy Award for "True Grit" because of all his work, and he was getting older. He died 10 years later. He made over 250 movies in his career. Today people talk about making 40 movies as a lifetimes worth of work.
When he appeared in "The Longest Day" all the big name actors were paid $25,000, except the Duke he demanded and got $250,000. Box office power.