By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
Born on this date—May 26—in 1907, Marion Robert Morrison remains an American icon today, better known to millions of fans as John Wayne, whose films still retain their popularity decades after they inspired generations of little boys who became grown-up men with “good guy” principles.
The popular magazine Cowboys & Indians is today circulating on social media a link to an article detailing what the editors call the “10 Essential John Wayne Westerns.” On this list, one will find some of the finest westerns ever filmed; classics in the true sense and still capable of drawing an audience to the television screen.
The list includes Stagecoach (1939), Red River (1948), She Wore A Yellow Ribbon (1949), The Searchers (1956), Rio Bravo (1959), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), El Dorado (1966), True Grit (1969), The Cowboys 1972), and The Shootist (1976). He won the Academy Award for Best Actor in True Grit, but some of his other roles were Oscar worthy, including Thomas Dunson (Red River), Capt. Nathan Brittles (She Wore A Yellow Ribbon) and Ethan Edwards (The Searchers).
His on-screen persona in a variety of films inspired leather gear among sixgun enthusiasts. For example, the trademark rough-out cartridge belt and holster have been copied/imitated by any number of gunleather folks, not only because it looked like The Duke’s gear, but because it turned out to be darned practical.
His various hat styles also remain popular, and boots…well, cowboy boots with good undercut riding heels that leave funnel-shaped tracks in the dirt are pretty hard to pass up.
Don’t forget that loop lever Winchester, another of Wayne’s typical props on screen. He could twirl that short-barreled Model 92 with the best of ‘em, and if one pays attention, he used more than one such rifle in his films.
For some reason, it doesn’t seem like he’s been gone 47 years. His final film, The Shootist, has become a cult favorite. Wayne’s John Bernard Books was an aging gunslinger, dying of cancer. Many consider this film Wayne’s testament to a life well-lived, on his own terms, right or wrong.
“I won’t be wronged, I won’t be insulted, and I won’t be laid a hand on. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.”—J.B. Books, The Shootist (1976)
