Watch John Wayne’s final interview before his death
The western genre is easily the most quintessentially American. Becoming a staple of Hollywood during the first half of the 20th century, eventually fading away by the 1970s, westerns often portrayed America as a heroic force. One of the most defining figures of the genre was John Wayne, who typically played leading roles in westerns by directors such as John Ford.
The actor began his film career working behind the scenes after a football injury prevented him from pursuing his dreams of becoming an athlete. By 1930, Wayne had landed his first leading role in The Big Trail, although it was not a success, and his prospects as an actor soon dwindled.
Luckily, his friendship with Ford allowed him to land a role in Stagecoach nine years later, resulting in instant success for the budding actor. Overall, Wayne starred in over 170 movies, becoming an icon of the Old Hollywood era. He embodied the ultimate figure of masculinity and American patriotism, with many viewers obsessed with the powerful presence he possessed on screen.
Journalist Joan Didion recalled in her book Slouching Towards Bethlehem, “When John Wayne rode through my childhood, and perhaps through yours, he determined forever the shapes of certain of our dreams. It did not seem possible that such a man could fall ill, could carry within him that most inexplicable and ungovernable of diseases.”
Wayne was the ultimate symbol of bravery, heroism, and power, and every film he appeared in seemed guaranteed to be a box office hit. However, despite his legacy in American cinema, it is important to remember the bigotry which Wayne spewed at every given opportunity. He was a white supremacist and staunch Republican who even created the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals, which was heavily rooted in his xenophobic and racist views.
Wayne was a fascinating figure – one who has been routinely celebrated despite his questionable legacy. He passed away in 1979 from stomach cancer, but just a few months before, he gave an interview with Barbara Walters in which he talked about politics and his career.
Some of his responses, such as his opinions on the role of women, caused Walters to express concern, although he seemed unphased by the way the interview might’ve made him appear. Wayne explained, “I think it would be more pleasant for the lady, as well for the man to go to work and for the lady to have her other interests… political, bridge.”
Unapologetic in his views, even exclaiming that he was “scared to death” of women, Wayne asserted, “I am me, I am me.” It seemed as though he couldn’t care less what other people thought about him, with nothing getting in the way of the actor expressing harmful views about others at any given opportunity.
Watch the full interview below.
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