John Wayne: A Giant Shadow

by Carolyn McGivern

"My real name is Marion Morrison...I'm happy people call me 'Duke'...If you were my size, wore cowboy boots and a big hat, outrode, outfought and outshot all the bad men in the west...how would you like to climb down off a horse, throw your saddle over the corral rail and then walk off-camera to sit down in a chair labelled Marion?" "I don't work for the producers...I don't work for the studio...I don't work for the critics...I work for the audience...I try always to give the best of myself so that people aren't disappointed in me." "When the doctor taps you on the shoulder and says, 'You've got cancer' the sun sure doesn't shine any brighter. Yeah! I was scared. I was tough to get along with. I'd discovered I was fallible." A flesh and blood study of John Wayne, unashamedly aimed at the audience, the way he liked to do business. McGivern allows Wayne to tell his own story, mostly in his own words. It is the story of a man who chose to leave normality behind to create his own legend. Of all the complexities and composites that made up John Wayne, the image perhaps shines the brightest, but whilst his face is still seen on the TV screens around the world people will remember a man of true courage and honesty.

404 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 16, 2000

Reviews

[Michelle Deadman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read about an amazing man.

Finally I get to have an in-depth understanding of a man I have admired for decades. I wasn't even 8 years old when we lost John Wayne and didn't really discover him till my late twenties. After watching She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and The Undefeated I fell in love like all the others. There are very few men that give such a strong reassurance to the world and John Wayne never faltered. Read the book and I promise any decent person will see something of themself in there and the inspiration that you can do more.

[Jason A. Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A somewhat confusing review of Duke's life that gets lost in the mixing of chronological order of events and the author's own interpretation of Duke's thoughts, feelings, and inspirations. There aren't enough stories to truly tell the reader what it must have been like to be John Wayne. The reader is given snippets and pieces but it never rises to the level of entertainment reading and instead feels more like a research paper.

[Beverly O · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE GREATEST

I watched John Wayne as long as I remember, still do! I’m in my late 60’s and hope one day to meet him, a pleasure I would have liked when he was alive. This book was fantastic!

[Martha Holve · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is written on his tombstone. 'Feo, fuerte y furious and this he was

I commend the author of really capturing the essence of this man who was


My Hero. Martha Holve thank you C McGiven

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing person and kind soul. So many things about the legendary icon of Hollywood will surprise you.

The details of a life driven by a singular purpose are captured so well in here. I enjoyed the writer’s style and the personal interactions are so well documented.

It’s a shame he had to end the way he did.

God rest your soul, Duke.