When it comes toclassiccinema, there are a slew of stars who immediately come to film fans' minds as the greatest of all time, but one name that stands out as a larger-than-life legend of the silver screen is, without question,John Wayne. Known for his iconic Westerns such asStagecoach,The Searchers, andTrue Grit,Wayne captured the hearts of audiences with his natural charisma, heroic resilience and a steely glarethat could speak louder than any words, making him one of the biggest box-office draws for three decades.
Like the majority of stars and filmmakers, the Duke had a personal love for movies and, in 1977,The People’s Almanacconducted a pollasking Wayne and otherOscarwinners to list five movies in which they believed were the best of the best.Wayne’s selection is a testament to his versatile taste and worldly appreciation for the art of filmmaking, ultimately revealing an insightful glimpse into one of the most celebrated stars in American cinema history.
5’A Man for All Seasons' (1966)
Directed by Fred Zinnemann
The British historical drama,A Man for All Seasons, is a flawless adaptation ofRobert Bolt’s famous play which recounts the final years of Sir Thomas More, played byPaul Scofield, who was the Lord Chancellor of England during the reign of King Henry VIII (Robert Shaw) and one of the King’s closest confidants and friends. Moore finds himself at a difficult crossroads whenhe is asked by Henry to sign a letter requesting that the Pope annul the King’s marriageto Queen Catherine of Aragon. Despite his loyalty and friendship to Henry, Moore refuses to sign the letter and chooses to remain true to his faith and the Catholic Church, ultimately forming a conflicting wedge between himself and the King.
A Man for All Seasonsearned immense praise from audiences and critics, becoming one of the best films of the year. The movie was universally commended for its stunning cinematography, director,Fred Zinnemann’s masterful direction, and the overall performances. Scofield, who played More in the West End stage premiere of the play, essentiallydominatesA Man for All Seasonswith a tour de force performance.A Man for All Seasonsultimately swept the awards season by winning sixAcademy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Scofield, as well as winning all seven of its British Academy Film Awards nominations, which also included Best British Actor, Best British Film, and Best British Screenplay.
A Man for All Seasons
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.
4’Gone With the Wind' (1939)
Directed by Victor Fleming
Gone With the Windis a monumental classic and epic historical drama based on the 1936 novel of the same name written byMargaret Mitchelland is considered to beone of the greatest movies ever made. Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War,Vivien Leighstars as a strong-willed Southern Belle, Scarlett O’Hara, whose world is turned upside down when the man she loves, Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard), marries a kind-hearted woman (Olivia de Havilland), leading her on a relentless pursuit to win him back.As the war erupts and rips through the South, Scarlett manages to overcome strenuous oddswith the help of her family and the cynical but charming Captain Rhett Butler (Clark Gable).
While some criticize the film forits glorifying depiction of slaveryand focus on the Lost Cause of the Confederacy myth,Gone With the Windis still a culturally significant film that is far from being a happily ever romance and embodies crucial and universal themessuch as self-perseverance, morality, and female empowerment.Gone With the Windwas a major success and earned a slew of Academy Award nominations and went on to win eight of its competitive nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress for Leigh, andBest Supporting Actress for Hattie McDaniel, who made cinematic history as the first African American to win an Oscar.
Gone with the Wind
A sheltered and manipulative Southern belle and a roguish profiteer face off in a turbulent romance as the society around them crumbles with the end of slavery and is rebuilt during the Civil War and Reconstruction periods.
3’The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse' (1921)
Directed by Rex Ingram
Considering Wayne got his start in silent films, it’s no surprise that one of the era’s classics,The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, made the Duke’s list. The silent war film starsRudolph Valentinoas a young man, Julio, who is part French and part German, and when his grandfather dies, he leaves his family in Argentina to live in Paris.Julio carves out a seemingly happy life in his new home, but when World War I arrives, he enlists to fight for Franceand finds himself face to face on the battlefield with his German relatives.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypseis an adaptation of the 1916 Spanish novel written byVicente Blasco Ibáñezand is cited as one of the first anti-war films ever made. Valentino’s performance elevated him to infinite stardom and his image was soon associated with the Latin lover archetype, inevitably establishing himself as a swooning heartthrob of the silver screen. Aside from some minor criticism from German audiences and certain censorship boards,The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypsewas met with overall positive reviews and, today, is viewed as a significant contribution to the early days and craft of classic cinema.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
2’The Searchers' (1956)
Directed by John Ford
Wayne stars inJohn Ford’s magnus opus,The Searchers, as a Civil War veteran, Ethan Edwards, who, after his family is brutally murdered by Native Americans, learns that his nieces are supposedly still alive and currently being held as prisoners.Edwards vows to bring his surviving family home and as he sets out into the dangerous wilderness, his desire for justice and revenge turns into an all-consuming obsession that poisons him to the very core.
Wayne’s performance as Edwardsis easilyone of the star’s finest and stands to be one of the Duke’s most compelling and unique roles. Ford masterfully plays off the star’s heroic on-screen image by visually conveying a Frontier hero, only to gradually reveal a lonely and cruel anti-hero of the unforgiving Wild West. Like most of Ford’s films,The Searcherswas filmed on-location, both in Arizona and Utah, and features remarkable shots of desolate landscapes and vivid color, essentially capturing a marvelous display of natural beauty and tranquility that gives the film an authentic tone.The Searchersis regarded asone of the greatest Westerns of all timeand, between the Duke’s emotionally complex performance and Ford’s ingenious direction and vision, it’s easy to see why it made the cut on Wayne’s list.
The Searchers
An American Civil War veteran embarks on a years-long journey to rescue his niece from the Comanches after the rest of his brother’s family is massacred in a raid on their Texas farm.
1’The Quiet Man' (1952)
The Quiet Manis a romantic comedy starring Wayne as a former boxer, Sean Thornton, who, after a tragic accident in the ring, promises never to fight again and moves back to his family’s homeland in Ireland, where he intends to start his life over with a clean slate. Shortly after arriving, Thornton meets Mary Kate (Maureen O’Hara) and the two immediately fall for each other, but when Mary Kate’s brother refuses to hand over her dowry,Thornton is forced to choose between keeping his word or losing his new bride.
John Ford delivers another masterpiece withThe Quiet Man, which gives audiences a look into not only the director’s passion for his Irish heritage, but also his vast range as a filmmaker, proving that he’s a master of more than just the iconic Western. Throughout their careers,Wayne and O’Hara starred in several films togetherand their genuine life-long friendship made them one of the most beloved on-screen couples of Hollywood’s Golden Age.The Quiet Manshowcases the stars' uncanny chemistry and natural grace, both finding the perfect balance of humor and heart that is without a doubt the heart and soul of this Ford classic.
The Quiet Man
Sean Thornton, an American ex-boxer, moves to Innisfree, Ireland, to reclaim his family’s homestead and find tranquility. He quickly becomes enchanted by Mary Kate Danaher, a spirited local woman. Their courtship faces challenges due to the opposition of her brother, Red Danaher, who withholds her rightful dowry. As Sean navigates the cultural differences and stands up to Red, he learns about love, pride, and what it means to be part of a community.
