{"id":6682,"date":"2021-08-03T23:49:39","date_gmt":"2021-08-04T06:49:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandiegonewsdesk.com\/?p=6682"},"modified":"2021-08-03T23:49:39","modified_gmt":"2021-08-04T06:49:39","slug":"john-wayne-the-forgotten-history-of-the-duke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandiegonewsdesk.com\/?p=6682","title":{"rendered":"John Wayne: The Forgotten History Of “The Duke”"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article was originally posted to ammo.com<\/a>, and submitted to us by the author<\/p>\n

Written by Sam Jacobs<\/p>\n

John Wayne<\/a>\u00a0is an American Hollywood icon every bit the equal of\u00a0James Dean<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Marilyn Monroe<\/a>. He is also a man from another era, a man whose conservatism came as naturally as walking down the street. Affectionately known as \u201cThe Duke,\u201d he spent three decades as a top box office draw with\u00a0179 film and television credits to his name.<\/a><\/p>\n

Before The Duke: Marion Robert Morrison<\/h3>\n

His story is as American as his values. Born Marion Robert Morrison in Iowa at a whopping 13 pounds, his family relocated to Southern California. His family first arrived in America from Ireland in 1799 and his grandfather was a Civil War veteran. His nickname was bestowed upon him in childhood (\u201cLittle Duke\u201d at the time) by a milkman amused by the omnipresence of Wayne\u2019s Airedale Terrier, Duke.<\/p>\n

Wayne attended the\u00a0University of Southern California<\/a>\u00a0where he studied pre-law and played football for\u00a0the Trojans<\/a>\u00a0before a broken collarbone from a bodysurfing accident ended his college athletic career. Losing his athletic scholarship forced Wayne to drop out of school.<\/p>\n

He was first hired by the legendary Western director,\u00a0John Ford<\/a>, and silent Western star,\u00a0Tom Mix<\/a>. It was Mix who then introduced him to\u00a0Wyatt Earp<\/a>, who Wayne credited with his on-screen mannerisms.<\/p>\n

Becoming the Duke: John Wayne\u2019s Early Film Career<\/h3>\n

Wayne was hired as a favor to the equally legendary USC coach,\u00a0Howard Jones<\/a>, who later portrayed himself in\u00a0Knute Rockne, All American<\/em><\/a>, the famous Ronald Reagan film. Wayne soon graduated from an extra and prop boy to bigger parts \u2013 this began his life-long working relationship with director Ford. Director\u00a0Raoul Walsh<\/a>\u00a0renamed Marion Robert Morrison \u201cJohn Wayne,\u201d though Wayne would keep his birth name for the rest of his life. Wayne was not present at the meeting where his stage name was crafted.<\/p>\n

Wayne got his big break in\u00a0The Big Trail<\/em><\/a>, which cost a staggering $2 million (about $31.9 million in 2021 dollars). The film was shot in both 35mm and 70mm and was extremely well received by the 70mm audiences. Unfortunately, most cinemas were not equipped to show the \u201cbigger\u201d version of the film and it was regarded at the time as one of the all-time flops. After this, he was relegated to smaller parts in A pictures. In one of these roles, 1931\u2019s\u00a0The Deceiver<\/em><\/a>, he played a corpse.<\/p>\n

During these years, his bread and butter were the so-called\u00a0\u201chorse operas\u201d<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Poverty Row<\/a>\u00a0Westerns made on the cheap. Wayne appeared in over 80 of these while he was hustling to get back on his feet. In the 1933 film\u00a0Riders of Destiny<\/em><\/a>, he became one of the first\u00a0singing cowboys<\/a>, a popular style of film over the next two decades.<\/p>\n

John Wayne Breaks Into the Big Time<\/h3>\n

In 1939, Wayne rose back to the top of the marquee on an A picture, John Ford\u2019s\u00a0Stagecoach<\/em><\/a>. Ford had trouble finding financial backing and a studio, but he eventually acquired it, and Wayne was catapulted into the stardom that would follow him for the rest of his life.<\/p>\n

World War II came but John Wayne did not serve due to his age and his family status. He was classified as\u00a03-A<\/a>, however, Wayne was not content to simply sit by the sidelines as his country went to war. He tried to enlist and even asked John Ford if he could join his unit, but the studio worked against him not wanting to lose their A-list actor who was under contract. This isn\u2019t the braggadocio of the chickenhawk \u2013 there is\u00a0ample evidence<\/a>\u00a0in official government records of Wayne attempting to change his status, as well as lobbying by his studio to keep him stateside.<\/p>\n

Wayne\u2019s failure to serve is, by all accounts both personal and biographical, the most painful experience of his life. He was accepted into service in the Field Photographic Unit, however, his enlistment letter was delivered to his estranged wife\u2019s house, who concealed it from him. He performed with the USO for the troops and even carried out a mission for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS, the precursor to the CIA).<\/p>\n

To list every major production of high artistic merit that the Duke would be an article all to itself. He mostly made war movies and Westerns. Three stand out head and shoulders above the pack:<\/p>\n