American Titan: Searching for John Wayne (41 page)

John Ford’s masterpiece, 1956’s
The Searchers
, Wayne’s 132nd feature.

John Wayne in his greatest role, the existential wanderer Ethan Edwards.

A French poster for
The Searchers
. An international hit, the film was ignored by the Academy, dismissed by most critics as just another Western, despite the fact that many consider it the best Western ever made.

With the backdrop of Monument Valley, the Ford company stands over the body of a dead Comanche.

Wayne’s spectacular acting misfire as Genghis Kahn in Howard Hughes’s production of Dick Powell’s 1956
The Conqueror
(with Susan Hayward). Rumors persisted for years that nearby earlier nuclear testing was responsible for the large number of cancer-related deaths suffered by those associated with the film, including, eventually, Wayne and Powell. Hughes pulled the film after a strong initial run and kept it out of circulation for years due to the cancer rumors. He didn’t want to be blamed for all the illnesses and deaths.

(Rebel Road Archives)

Reteaming with Ford for the director’s 1959
The Horse Soldiers
, Wayne’s 139th film. Clark Gable had been Ford’s original choice for the role that eventually went to Wayne. The director had also wanted James Stewart for the role of the doctor that went instead to William Holden.

(Rebel Road Archives)

Wayne reteamed with Howard Hawks for 1962’s
Hatari!
, Wayne’s 144th feature. The film was shot mostly in Tanganyika. Hawks originally wanted Clark Gable and Gary Cooper for the leads that eventually went to Wayne and Hardy Kruger. Paramount released it again in 1967 on a double bill with Ford’s lesser hit,
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
.
(Rebel Road Archives)

Wayne and a small circle of friends, 1971. Left to right: Bob Hope, Wayne, Ronald Reagan, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra.

(Rebel Road Archives)

Publicity photo of an aging and ailing Wayne on the set of his 163rd film, Mark Rydell’s
The Cowboys
, 1972.

Backstage at the 1975 Academy Awards, Wayne and Howard Hawks celebrating his Honorary Oscar for “A master American filmmaker whose creative efforts hold a distinguished place in world cinema.”

(Rebel Road Archives)

The film that finally won Wayne his only Oscar (and a Golden Globe) for Best Actor. Henry Hathaway’s 1969
True Grit
was Wayne’s 158th film.

Backstage, Wayne holding the Oscar just presented to him by Barbra Streisand.

(Rebel Road Archives)