What self-respecting boy did not dream of cowboys, wide hats and huge rings? With what impatience they waited for films with the participation of Clint Eastwood, Harry Cooper, Bert Lancaster and, of course, John Wayne. He deservedly bore the title "America's Greatest Cowboy." In the prime of his creative career, it was one of Hollywood's most sought-after actors.
Artist Biography
Marion Mike Morrison was born on May 26, 1907 in the small town of Winterset (USA). He grew up an ordinary child who did not even think about a career as a film artist. He had a dream of becoming a marine, but the selection to the US Navy Academy was very tough, and he did not pass the competition. He was fond of football, and thanks to a successful game he was accepted to the law faculty of the University of South Carolina.
The beginning of the creative path
Everything turned out quite by accident. During the summer holidays, in 1927, Marion Robert worked at the 20th Century Fox Studios as a dresser and understudy. The handsome guy with a disarming smile was noticed by director John Ford and shot him in several episodic roles. From that moment, the world of cinema opened its doors and hosted a new actor under the name John Wayne.
Even acting in episodes, the artist attracted attention, the audience liked the big guys with huge rings. During this period, he took part in the filming of "Greetings" (1929) and "Men Without Women" (1930). But real, resounding success was ahead.
How to become a movie artist
Thanks to a chance acquaintance with John Ford, Wayne's career went up. The actor starred in six films that were successful, and now the finest hour has come. Ford invited him to a major role in the Western Stagecoach.
In addition to Wayne, stars such as Claire Trevor, Andy Devine, John Carredin and others starred in the film. The tape caused a stir, and people attacked the box office movie theaters. At one point, the artist became a world celebrity.
In 1941, the Second World War began, the artist was not drafted into the army, but in patriotic fervor he was eager for the front. He was stopped only by a contract with a film studio and heavy fines for violating the latter. In order not to stay on the sidelines, the artist plays in military films. The films "Brave Builders" and "Flying Tigers" raised the morale of American soldiers on the battlefields.
Political Views
During the conflict in Vietnam, John Wayne was one of the most prominent propagandists of this war. The films “Alamo” and “Green Berets” raised the artist’s high rating to heaven. The struggle with the Communists was also not without Wayne's participation - he actively supported Senator McCarthy in this matter. He is the only one of the most popular artists of American cinema who was not afraid to speak out against the so-called Hollywood trial in the period 40-50 of the last century.
The role of Colonel Kerby from the "Green Berets" brought the actor great popularity in the US Armed Forces. He especially succeeded in expressing his political views in the role of Ethan Edwards in the movie "Sent in Search." An interesting fact - a serial killer and a maniac in the mask of a clown, John Wayne Gacy was very fond of, and often watched films featuring his full namesake.
Films and roles
More than 150 different films were shot with the participation of a great artist, including military, adventure and, of course, westerns. John Wayne effectively revealed his talent in several beautiful films:
- The Rio Bravo movie masterpiece by Howard Hawks reveals the mystery of the difficult life of the aging sheriff Chance, an adamant crime fighter.
- No less touching story of Tony Dofison played out in the movie "The Man Who Killed Liberty Wellans."
- The Shooter is considered the best work of 1970 - this is a difficult and tragic story of a dying person who has realized the importance of his life.
Awards
In 1949, the first nomination of an actor for an Oscar took place - for the role of John Stryker in the film Sands of Ivo Jima. The one played by John Wayne is a killer and a sadist, he trains the Marines before landing in Japan. Then, in 1969, the Oscars and Golden Globes for the film “True Courage” followed.
About personal
Josephine Alicia Scientz first won the heart of a beautiful artist, and in 1933 they entered into a marriage. The happy Alicia and Wayne had four children, two boys - Michael and Patrick. And two girls - Melinda and Maria Antonia.
John was not an exemplary family man while Josephine raised her offspring. He had novels with Marlene Dietrich and Merle Oberon. But this could not continue indefinitely, and in 1942 the marriage collapsed, it all ended in divorce.
In 1946, Wayne married actress Esperanza Baur, and his last wife was Pilar Pallet.
Illness and death
It all started on the set of The Conqueror, which took place in a hot and dusty desert in southern Utah. Working conditions were incredibly difficult, the clothes of the heroes of the tape fettered movement and caused incredible itching. But the worst was to come. It turns out that shortly before the start of filming in this desert, a low-power atomic bomb was tested, but they forgot to warn the participants about this. And over the course of two decades, most of the crew died from cancer caused by radiation.
Iron Wayne could not stand the health either. After numerous operations, in 1976 the heart of the great cowboy of our time stopped. Before his death, he managed to play the role of John Boots in the film "The Last of the Great Riflemen."
The work of the great John Wayne left a bright mark in the history of not only American, but also world cinema. He played as he lived, without changing his principles and beliefs. The artist was loved by women, men, children and especially soldiers. The patriot of his country was guided by the principle: "This is my country, is it right or not, it does not matter to me"