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This 3 disc set spanning the career of renown cowboy
actor John Wayne includes: "Reap the Wild Wind", "Rooster
Cogburn", "The Hellfighters", "The War Wagon" and "The Spoilers".
Marion Michael Morrison, better known to the world as John
Wayne, became the icon for manly ruggedness. In a recent
Harris opinion poll, Wayne ranked third for America's favorite
film stars, was the only deceased star to make the list,
and the only star to consistently appear on the poll every
year. Wayne began with silent films back in the 1920's,
was a major star by the '40's and he continued to make films
into the 1970's! Most closely associated with Westerns and
War films, Wayne was a gentle giant of a man. His nickname
"Duke" actually came from his Airedale as young boy. He
went everywhere with the huge dog and one day a local fireman
started calling him "Little Duke". While he grew out of
the "little", Wayne was known as The Duke til the day he
died.
"Reap the Wild Wind"
This typically lavish Cecil B. Demille production centers
around a salvage company around Key West in the 1840's.
Two companies are going head to head and one of them doesn't
believe in fighting fair. King Cutler (Raymond Massey) runs
his company with the heart and mind of a true pirate. Impulsive
Loxi Claiborne (Paulette Goddard) runs the honest company
and finds herself traveling to Charleston to defend Captain
Jack Stuart (John Wayne) after a ship is lost in a reef
wreck. Of course, she finds herself falling for Stuart along
the way. Tempestuous and entertaining, this early role for
Wayne is more of a heroic supporting character than the
commanding central role that became his norm.
"Rooster Cogburn"
One of my favorite John Wayne roles, Marshal Rooster
Cogburn, is revived here. I have to say that I find it very
odd to include this film in a collection that does not also
contain "True Grit", and it doesn't seem to be a particularly
good choice simply for that reason. If you have one, you
should really have the other or your "collection" becomes
a "scattered" selection. Here Rooster teams up with one
of the most serenely difficult women ever to grace the screen,
Eula Goodnight (Katherine Hepburn). A gang of drunken murderous
thugs hit a small village under the god-fearing guidance
of her father, resulting in his death.This minister's daughter
is looking for justice, and Marshal Cogburn is just the
man for the job.
"The Hellfighters"
Definitely not a favorite of mine among Duke's movies,
but an interesting look at oil well fire specialist, Chance
Buckman (based on real-life Red Adair). Not an easy business
by any means! This 1968 film is a good drama, well paced
and on a fascinating topic. There was a lot of tension between
the actors involved in this one, and I feel the film ultimately
suffers for it.
"The War Wagon"
This 1967 Western features Wayne as Taw Jackson a former
rancher returning from prison, and Kirk Douglas as Lomax
the man who shot him five years ago. Frank Pierce (Bruce
Cabot) is the man who cut a deal with Lomax and currently
runs Jackson's ranch. Why all the fuss? Gold of course!
Gold that's being transported in an armored wagon. Jackson's
back and looking for justice. All of which combines for
an entertaining film. War Wagon is worth the watching just
to see Douglas and Wayne play off of each other!
"The Spoilers".
Alaska, gold, and saloons are the key elements here.
Duke teamed up with Marlene Dietrich (Cherry Malotte, saloon
diva), and Randolph Scott (Alexander McNamara a crooked
commissioner). This 1942 film is entertaining with an interesting
cast and good pacing. A lot of good laughs in this one,
snide comments, innuendo, and witty repartee that will keep
you amused. Funnier than some of his better known works,
Spoilers is a nice addition here.
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