The director John Wayne hated and gave him the “greatest disappointment” of his career: “Wayne’s doom”
For a while, the global appeal of Hollywood was almost inextricable from the larger-than-life mythology that had been constructed by John Wayne and his fans. For most people, he was the archetypal American hero.
Having been allegedly targeted by the KGB for being an all-American advocate for the tenets of capitalism, Wayne’s image extended far beyond the realm of cinema and became permanently linked to his country’s dominant political ideologies. He became a bastion for conservatism and patriotism, the power of which was unimaginable in today’s age.
With appearances in major productions throughout American cinema’s distinct eras, Wayne worked his way up to the top of the industry and established himself as a dependable leading man. His iconic collaborations with John Ford, including Stagecoach and The Searchers, undoubtedly helped cement his status as a top star. However, he also developed an infamous reputation for accusing his colleagues of being communists during the Red Scare.
These accusations inevitably destroyed the lives of many talented artists who were unable to escape the atmosphere of persecution created by Joseph McCarthy. Interestingly, the actor believed that one of his finest cinematic achievements turned into the “greatest disappointment” of his career due to a wave of negative reception led by communist sympathisers. That film was none other than a 1960 war epic called The Alamo.
According to Ronald L Davis’ book Duke: The Life and Image of John Wayne, John Ford was a huge fan of the movie and said that “it will last forever, run forever, for all peoples, all families everywhere.“ Unfortunately for Wayne, other critics did not see it the same way. In addition, the actor was also dissatisfied with the publicity campaign led by Russell Birdwell.
Wayne had enjoyed a good relationship with some of Hollywood’s most beloved western directors. Famously sharing a strong relationship with John Ford, Wayne also connected with Hamis Hawk and many other filmmakers during his tenure at the top. However, Birdwell would end up being perhaps the collaborator Wayne hated working with most of all.
“Russell Birdwell was Wayne’s doom,” Happy Shahan said, “he was the guy who caused all the problems.” Screenwriter Borden Chase blamed the communists for the film’s failure: “When The Alamo was coming out, the word of mouth on it was that it was a dog. This was created by the Communists to get at Wayne. Then there were bad reviews inspired by the Communists.”
While Wayne’s rendition of American folk hero Davy Crockett is interesting to some fans, The Alamo is far from his best work. The heavy-handed dramatisation of the historical events cheapens the cinematic experience, transforming it into more of a career curiosity than a significant addition to Wayne’s filmography.
The negative reception of The Alamo reportedly “devastated” the American star, who had really wanted the public to like the war epic he had directed. Unfortunately, it was clear to everyone else that he would always be better as an actor.
Wayne might well have been a brute on screen; he may have continually shouted the praise of military might and positioned himself as the ultimate tough guy. But the truth is, Wayne was a vulnerable artist like so many others and needed the warmth of the audience to truly feel loved.
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