John Wayne: A tribute

by Norm Goldstein

John Wayne, a towering giant of a man, was one of those rare individuals who became a legend in his own time--a symbol of American decency, vitality, and determination; liked and admired even by those who did not always agree with him. Here is a pictorial tribute to the Duke, tracing his personal and professional life from assistant prop man to No. 1 box office star. The book is rich in anecdotes and information about his experiences on and of the set during a career that spanned half a century and included more than 150 films. A wealth of pictures from Associated Press collection take readers behind the scenes for fascinating glimpses of John Wayne at work and play--action shots from many of his most popular movies, candid shots of the Duke relaxing with friends, intimate photos of Wayne with his family. This handsome visual record of John Wayne's life capture the unique spirit of the man, providing a fitting memento for his many admirers.

159 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read for a John Wayne fan. As you might guess from the word "tribute" in the title there's not going to be anything negative about The Duke. Goldstein touches briefly on Wayne's family life and goes into his acting career. The author was generous with the photos and black and white images can be found throughout the book.

There's really not much in here that a true Duke fan doesn't already know. One anecdote that I don't remember hearing before showed how much times have changed: during the contentious court proceedings between Duke and his second wife it was alleged that both sides used physical violence to one degree or another. Some of Duke's lady fans were in attendance at the courthouse with a sign proclaiming "John Wayne, you can clobber me any time you like."

I enjoyed the book, like I enjoy Duke's movies, although I am fully aware that he has fallen somewhat out of favour. I've seen almost all of his films and I think most still stand up to scrutiny even in these cynical times. He never portrayed an unmanly character and his movies were generally clean-cut affairs. The strongest curse word I ever heard him utter was "Hell".

As a bonus for fans, an Appendix lists Duke's filmography, right from "Mother Machree" to "The Shootist", all laid out nicely in chronological order. I'm thinking of a certain brewer right now that might stop their catastrophic sales dive by slapping The Duke on their beer cans. Might be the only thing that can save them.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent quick read on the life and films of John Wayne. The book is filled with wonderful photos. Really enjoyed reading it and highly recommend for those that like John Wayne films as well as for the newbie wanting to learn about the man and his films.