Omar Raja - ESPN

03/15/2025

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) directed by John Ford.🖤❤️

03/14/2025

03/14/2025

"Some things a man doesn’t get over so easy.” —John Wayne as Sean Thornton in The Quiet Man (1952)

According to an interview in the Los Angeles Times on Oct. 28, 2000, Maureen O'Hara recounted that she, John Ford and John Wayne made a handshake agreement in 1944 to do the film. When Ford pitched the idea to Hollywood producers, he was told that it was a "silly Irish story that won't make a penny."

Wayne had a contract with Republic Pictures and approached studio chief Herbert J. Yates. He was told by Yates that the script would make no money. However, Yates would relent if Wayne, Ford and O'Hara together would make a western for Republic, a sure money-maker that would pay for the losses Republic expected to incur on this film. The picture made as a result of the agreement was Rio Grande (1950).

John Wayne directed one of the most visually stunning scenes in the film, the horse racing sequence, while John Ford was ill.

At the film's conclusion, we see Kate and Sean standing in their garden waving goodbye. She turns to him and whispers something in his ear, evoking a priceless reaction from him. What was said was known only to O'Hara, Wayne and director John Ford.

In exchange for saying this unscripted line, she insisted that it never be disclosed. In her memoirs she says that she refused to say the line at first as she "couldn't possibly say that to Duke", but Ford insisted, claiming he needed a genuine shock reaction from Duke. The line remains a mystery to this day.

This is one of the few Hollywood films in which the native Irish language Gaeilge is spoken.

Duke's personal Gold Handle Mug from the film is currently on display at the John Wayne: An American Experience Museum in the Fort Worth Stockyards, Texas. We are open 7 days per week, from 9am to 6pm

03/13/2025

The Last of the Giants (1976) - John Wayne's Last Movie
Le Dernier des Géants (The Shootist, 1976) est le dernier western de la carrière légendaire de John Wayne. Ce film n'est pas seulement une œuvre marquante, mais aussi un adieu émouvant au cinéma, car le rôle qu'il y interprète reflète sa propre vie.
The story takes place in 1901, at the end of the Far West era.
John Wayne embodies J.B. Books, a legendary aging gunman, suffering from cancer and aware he has short time to live.
He arrives in Carson City to find a peaceful place to spend his final days, but his violent past catches up fast.
Books rents a room in Mrs. Bond Rogers (Lauren Bacall)'s boarding house and meets her son, Gillom Rogers (Ron Howard), a young boy who admires her deeply.
As he aspires for a peaceful end to life, he soon faces former foes and greedy individuals who want to exploit his name. Realizing that death is inevitable, Books chooses to leave by his own rules – with a final, honorable and tragic duel.

03/12/2025

some of John Wayne’s greatest films.
During a family trip to Ireland for the filming of his father’s 1952 classic The Quiet Man, Michael was given the opportunity to work as a production assistant. The job sparked his passion for working behind the scenes. Soon after, he was able to further explore the role of a producer, thanks to his father founding Batjac Productions.
When the time came to make the 1963 family-focused comedy McLintock!, Duke decided the “family” aspect should extend behind the scenes as well—so he hired Michael as the film’s producer. “He was 27 years old and given the opportunity to produce a John Wayne film, which was, indeed, a big thrill and challenge,” said Gretchen Wayne, Duke’s daughter-in-law and the widow of Michael Wayne, in an interview with Turner Classic Movies. Rising to the occasion, Michael proved himself a true chip off the old block, completing the film both under budget and ahead of schedule.
Even after John Wayne’s passing, Michael remained dedicated to preserving his father’s legacy in the most meaningful ways possible. In an interview with AARP, Duke’s daughter, Melina Wayne, shared how her father’s final wish was honored in a remarkable way:
“When [my father] was dying, he turned to my late brother Michael and said, ‘Whatever you do, use my name for the benefit of the public. If it weren’t for the public, I wouldn’t be here; you wouldn’t be here. We wouldn’t have had the life we had.’ And that was the beginning of the John Wayne Cancer Foundation.”

03/12/2025

In The Quiet Man, the unforgettable chemistry between John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara is the film’s beating heart. Their dynamic performance captures a blend of humor, passion, and tenderness that transforms the movie into a timeless romance set against the lush Irish countryside. Wayne’s rugged charm perfectly complements O’Hara’s fiery spirit, creating a captivating on-screen partnership. Their playful banter and heartfelt moments not only highlight the beauty of the Irish landscape but also bring to life a story of love, resilience, and the transformative power of genuine connection.

03/12/2025

John Wayne was described as "the nicest guy in the world" on the Rio Lobo set by his co-star, Jennifer O'Neill.
At the time of filming Rio Lobo, the 62-year-old Wayne was in poor health, having had a cancerous lung removed just a few years earlier. The star, who was 13 years older than Jack Elam’s "Old Man" character, struggled to get on and off his horse and was still recovering from a torn ligament in his shoulder, which he had suffered while filming 1969’s The Undefeated.
Wayne’s fight scene with Victor French had to be filmed carefully, with most of the shots using his double. Much of the action took place off-camera, with only the sounds of the scuffle being heard.
Jennifer O'Neill, his co-star in Rio Lobo, recalled how the Duke struggled to carry her up the stairs. In an interview, she said: "He became completely exhausted; he really struggled through it." Yet despite his suffering, the 21-year-old actress remembered Wayne as "the nicest guy in the world," always going out of his way to help young actors improve their performances. However, she couldn’t say the same for director Howard Hawks.

03/12/2025

My Old Man

03/12/2025

Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne

03/12/2025

Learn from yesterday and keep moving forward.

03/12/2025

Un buen autoretrato

03/12/2025

The Duke