John Wayne . Just the name brings up images of dusty trails showdowns and that iconic swagger. But there is so much more to the Duke than just westerns. Sure he practically defined the genre but he also made some seriously interesting and surprising movies beyond the cowboy hat. Let's unpack some of the cool stuff about Wayne from his legendary westerns to some little-known facts about a classic you might not expect.
'Rio Bravo' and Its Unofficial Trilogy: How John Wayne Responded to 'High Noon' and Created a Western Vibe
So here is a fun fact. John Wayne actually hated the movie 'High Noon'. Like really disliked it. He thought it was "un-American" and even helped get the writer blacklisted. Crazy right? Wayne and director Howard Hawks felt 'High Noon' betrayed what westerns were supposed to be about. They thought westerns should be about honor bravery and tough American guys not some guy begging for help.
That dislike led them to make ' Rio Bravo ' in 1959. It was their answer to 'High Noon'. 'Rio Bravo' is all about a sheriff John T. Chance played by Wayne who is not gonna back down. He arrests a bad guy and then has to hold him in jail against a whole gang of other bad guys coming to break him out. Chance is surrounded by his buddies his loyal crew who are gonna stick with him no matter what. Think classic white hats versus black hats good guys standing tall. 'Rio Bravo' was a hit and it became one of Wayne's best westerns and get this it even launched an unofficial trilogy of sorts!
The movie itself is a classic setup. Dean Martin is Dude the town drunk and deputy who needs to get his act together. Ricky Nelson is Colorado Ryan a young gunfighter. Walter Brennan is Stumpy the quirky old guy. And Angie Dickinson is Feathers a woman who catches the eye of Wayne's character. They are all stuck in this jail outnumbered facing down a gang. 'Rio Bravo' is not about fast action it takes its time letting you get to know these characters and their loyalty to each other. It builds up the tension slow and steady leading to a big showdown. Some even call it the ultimate "hang-out movie" because it's just cool to spend time with these characters.
What's even wilder is that 'Rio Bravo' basically inspired two other movies with Wayne and Hawks 'El Dorado' in 1966 and 'Rio Lobo' in 1970. These three movies are like an unofficial trilogy all with the same basic vibe of a tough sheriff and his loyal friends standing up to bad guys. 'El Dorado' is considered a worthy follow-up with Robert Mitchum joining Wayne. 'Rio Lobo' is seen as the weakest of the bunch and was actually Hawks' last film. But 'Rio Bravo' and 'El Dorado' are definitely worth checking out if you want some classic John Wayne western action.
5 Fun Facts You Might Not Know About John Wayne's 'The Quiet Man'
Now for something totally different let's talk 'The Quiet Man'. This 1952 movie is not a western at all. It's a romantic comedy-drama set in Ireland and it is a total classic especially around St. Patrick's Day. John Wayne plays Sean Thornton an American boxer who moves to Ireland and falls for a fiery Irish woman Mary Kate Danaher played by Maureen O'Hara. Wayne and O'Hara made five movies together and this is probably their most famous one.
Here are some little-known facts about 'The Quiet Man' that make it even more interesting:
- Studios Thought It Would Bomb: Get this major studios thought 'The Quiet Man' was a "silly stupid little Irish story" and turned it down. Republic Pictures finally agreed to make it but only if Wayne Ford and O'Hara made a western 'Rio Grande' first. Talk about underestimating a movie!
- O'Hara Got Injured During That Kiss Scene: You know the big kiss scene in the cottage? Maureen O'Hara actually hurt her hand filming it! She was supposedly mad at Wayne that day and planned to punch him in the jaw for real during the scene. Wayne blocked it and she ended up with a hairline fracture in her wrist. Ouch!
- The Score Played at O'Hara's Death: Victor Young's music for 'The Quiet Man' was super important to Maureen O'Hara. When she passed away in 2015 at age 95 her family played the score as she died peacefully. That's how much the movie meant to her.
- There's a 'Quiet Man' Society: Yep there is a whole group dedicated to this movie. The Quiet Man Society is a group of Irish ancestry guys who get together every year to watch it. They even invite other fans to join them online for trivia and fun especially around St. Patrick's Day.
- E.T. Watched 'The Quiet Man': In Steven Spielberg's movie 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' E.T. is actually watching 'The Quiet Man' on TV during the famous kiss scene between Wayne and O'Hara. Elliott then hilariously recreates the kiss. Spielberg is a huge John Ford fan and said Ford inspires him so much he tries to watch one of his movies before starting any of his own projects.
So 'The Quiet Man' is not just a fun romantic movie it has all these cool stories behind it too making it even more special. And yes it's a perfect movie to watch around St. Patrick's Day!
John Wayne: More Than Just a Western Star a True Hollywood Icon
Whether you are into classic westerns or romantic dramas John Wayne has something for you. From the tough sheriff in 'Rio Bravo' to the charming boxer in 'The Quiet Man' Wayne proved he was more than just a cowboy. He became a true Hollywood icon for a reason. So next time you are looking for a great movie night consider checking out these John Wayne classics. You might just discover a new favorite side of the Duke beyond the dusty trails.