Credit: Far Out / Warner Bros.

John Wayne’s five favourite movies of all time

Wed 3 July 2024 17:44, UK

Considered by many as one of the best actors in American movie history, John Wayne became an icon of the western genre throughout the mid-20th century, from the 1920s through to the 1970s. Appearing in such films as The Searchers, True Grit, Stagecoach and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Wayne quickly became a pillar of the genre, with his legacy a fascinating juxtaposition of old and new Hollywood.

Although his films are still celebrated to this very day, the modern appreciation for Wayne has dwindled significantly in recent years, particularly after his 1971 Playboy interview that exposed many of the actor’s shocking values. “I believe in white supremacy until the blacks are educated to a point of responsibility,” Wayne disgracefully stated, further adding, “I don’t feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from the Indians. Our so-called stealing of this country from them was just a matter of survival”.

For some, Wayne remains a symbol of an older, perhaps more straightforward vision of America. Yet, for others, he embodies the prejudices and exclusions that have long plagued the nation. His name has been stripped from various institutions, including a school in California and an airport in Orange County, amid calls for reckoning with his racist and intolerant views.

Filmmaker Spike Lee was quick to criticise this in a speech for Bafta, pointing out the racism of the American actor as well as his frequent collaborator, director John Ford. Speaking at the event, Lee stated, “I’ve never been a fan of John Wayne and John Ford and that cowboy bullshit. I hate them: Native Americans depicted as savages and animals…Fuck John Wayne and John Ford”.

The debate over Wayne’s legacy mirrors broader cultural battles over history, memory, and identity. Can we separate the art from the artist? Should his films be viewed in isolation from his personal beliefs? These questions remain contentious and unresolved.

The argument for separating art from the artist hinges on the belief that personal flaws should not overshadow professional accomplishments. Proponents argue that Wayne’s films can be appreciated for their artistic merit, independent of his personal failings. His work has inspired generations of filmmakers and actors, contributing to the cultural fabric of Hollywood.

John Wayne - Actor - Hollywood - Racist — Credit: Far Out / Alamy

Conversely, many of Wayne’s strongest critics argue that separating the art from the artist is a form of erasure, ignoring the context in which the art was created. Many contend that Wayne’s views are inseparable from his public persona, and acknowledging his artistry without addressing his prejudices is problematic.

One thing that can not be denied—rightly or wrongly—is that Wayne still holds an undeniable presence in the history of American cinema. In 1977, when The People’s Almanac asked him to send in his choices for “the best movies of all time,” he responded with five of the finest films of the 20th century.

His number one choice is the 1966 Fred Zinnemann movie A Man For All Seasons, starring Paul Scofield, Robert Shaw, John Hurt, and Orson Welles. The movie tells the story of Sir Thomas More, who stood up to King Henry VIII when the King rejected the Roman Catholic Church to obtain a divorce and remarry. Wayne’s love of the biographical drama is somewhat surprising, even if the movie is considered a 1960s classic.

His second choice is a little more predictable, opting for the 1939 cinematic game-changer, Gone with the Wind directed by Victor Fleming and starring Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable and Hattie McDaniel. Winning eight Oscars at the 1940 Academy Awards, including for ‘Best Picture’, Gone with the Wind remains one of the highest-grossing films of all time when adjusted for inflation.

Third on his top five list is the Vincente Minnelli war romance The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse which follows two daughters, one married to a Frenchman and the other a German, with tensions flaring wildly shortly before the Second World War. With Glenn Ford, Ingrid Thulin and Charles Boyer, the film is considered something of a cult classic thanks to its biblical references and impressive art style.

Of course, take this list of movies with a pinch of salt. Ultimately, John Wayne’s legacy serves as a case study in the ongoing struggle to balance appreciation for artistic contributions with a critical understanding of personal shortcomings. It invites us to consider how we celebrate cultural icons while holding them accountable for their impact, both positive and negative, on society.