|
|
| |
| |
Presidential Medal of Freedom
John Wayne represented through his movies every branch of the military. He wore many hats and held a variety of ranks from General to Sergeant. In all these roles he had one thing going for him - courage.
He was seemingly indestructible and he made us proud to be Americans.
Army:
Back to Battan - RKO Radio Picture-released May 31, 1945
Island in the Sky - Warner Brothers-released March 18,1953
The Longest Day - 20th Century Fox-released October 3,1962
Cast a Giant Shadow - United Artists-released March 30, 1966
Green Berets - Warner Brothers/Seven Arts-released June 17, 1968
Air Force:
Originally the army air corps:
Flying Tigers - Republic Pictures-released Sept 23, 1942
Jet Pilot - RKO Radio Picture-released Sept 23, 1957
Coast Guard:
The Sea Spoilers -Universal Pictures-released October 24, 1936
Navy:
Salute - Fox Film Studio-released October 6, 1929
Seven Sinners - Universal Pictures-released Nov 4, 1940
The Fighting Seabees - Republic Pictures-released Jan 19, 1944
They Were Expendable - Metro/Goldwyn/Mayer-released Nov 23,1945
Wings of Eagles - Metro/Goldwyn/Mayer-released Jan 30,1957
In Harms Way - Paramount Pictures-released March 31,1965
Marines:
Without Reservations - RKO Radio Pictures-released May 13,1946
Sands of Iwo Jima - Republic Pictures-released Dec 14,1949
The Flying Leathernecks - RKO Radio Pictures-released July 18,1951
In "I Cover the War" he shows us another side as a photo journalist. This movie was released on June 29,1937 by Universal Pictures.
According to records, John Wayne made (6) movies before making "Mother Machree" in 1928.
They were:
Brown Of Harvard (extra) - MGM
The Great K&A Train Robery (extra) - FOX
Bardleys the Magnificent (a guard) - MGM
Drop Kick (USC Football Player) - First National Pictures
Four Sons (extra) - FOX
Annie Laurie (extra) - MGM
"Four Sons" was also made in 1928, but I do not know which one was made first.
A piece of trivia for your next update.......
What was the ONLY movie John Wayne made in that he used a different STAGE NAME???
"Words and Music" - FOX, 1929 Name: "Duke Morrison" 8-)
He was born May 26,1907 as Marion Robert Morrison. His name was never legally changed to John Wayne. There were 37 films in which his character was called-John. The name-Duke-was the character he went by in 6 films.
Maureen O'Hara was the person who presented him with the 1976 People's Choice Award for most popular motion picture actor. Barbara Striesand presented him with the Oscar for the 1970 movie, True Grit.
The movie "The Conqueror" was filmed near St. George, Utah; which was close to the Utah proving grounds. Almost a year before a radioactive bomb named "Dirty Harry" had been dropped. At the time it was felt all was safe. It was later learned that at least 70 cast and crew members had died of cancer.
Barry Goldwater visited the set of "Stagecoach" during filming. They had a long friendship and later John Wayne helped in Barry Goldwater's presidential campaign.
John Wayne's image has appeared on a wide variety of products including:1950 popcorn trading cards given at theaters, 1951 Camel cigarettes, 1956 playing cards and more recently Coors beer. The money collected on the Coors beer cans with his image went to the John Wayne Cancer Hospital. One of the most unusual was as a puppet on HR Puff*n*stuff, who also put out a 1970 lunchbox with his image among the other puppet characters.
"The Greatest Cowboy Star of All Time" was the caption to a series of comic books dedicated to him. The "John Wayne Adventure Comics" were first published in 1949.
Wayne produced and starred in a 1940's radio show about an alcoholic detective entitled-"Three Sheets to the Wind"
When John Wayne was honored with a square at the Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, the sand used in the cement was brought in from Iwo Jima.
When Emperor Hirohito of Japan was on a visit to the U.S., he had the opportunity to meet many people. The one he asked to meet was John Wayne.
The movie "The Quiet Man" was filmed in and around the Village of Cong, County Mayo, Ireland. Many of the places from the film can still be seen there. One is the Tavern where they all stopped for a drink during the famous fight scene between the 2 brothers-in-law. The Tavern still stands today, as a grocery.
John Wayne played football for the University if Southern California in 1927. The name of the team was the "Trojans." That year they only lost 2 games-to Stanford and Notre Dame.
John Wayne appeared in Vacation Bible School flyers to promote attendance.
John Wayne was nominated for 2 Oscars. The first was-The Sands of Iwo Jima. The one he received was for the 1970 movie "True Grit" where he played the part of Rooster Cogburn. He was heard to say after getting it
"If I'd have known that, I'd have put on an eyepatch 35 yrs ago."
He was born Marion Robert Morrison but it was changed when his brother was born to Marion Michael Morrison
His nickname was-Duke
He was born May 26, 1907 Winterset, Iowa
His parents were Clyde Morrison & Mary Brown
His brother was Robert Morrison
His religion was Presbyterian but he converted to Roman Catholic
He was 6'4'' and had brown hair and blue eyes
He went to school at Glendale High School, California and later attended the University of Southern California where he played football
There is much debate on which movie to credit as his first but most sources will agree that "Words and Music-1929" was his first on screen credit
The last movie he made was "The Shootist-1976"
He was nominated for 2 film awards (Sands of Iwo Jima and True Grit) but he finally won an Oscar for the part of Rooster Cogburn in "True Grit-1969"
He directed the movie "The Alamo" at a cost of $12,000,000 +
He is buried at the Pacific View Memorial Park, Newport Beach, California. He died on June 11,1979 at the age of 72.
'Feo, Fuerte y Formal" Spanish proverb meaning "He was ugly, strong and had dignity"
|
|
|
|
|
|
Articles & Briefings
