Names John Wayne and Clint Eastwood It can never be left out of any discussion about western Wayne was the first to appear in this genre, starring in several B films throughout the 1930s without achieving any major success. His fortunes changed dramatically in 1938 when John Ford (who later became his frequent collaborator) cast him in the first-rate Old West thriller, horse drawn carriageEastwood's career followed a similar pattern. He appeared in several Westerns in the 1950s in supporting roles before finding his breakthrough in Sergio Leone's film. a handful of dollars.
Given Hollywood's tendency to pair two or more famous actors in one film, it seemed like only a matter of time before they would work together. But it never happened. Movie industry politics, jealousies, and personal beliefs drove a wedge between the two, keeping them in a Mexican standoff until Wayne died of stomach cancer in 1979.
The guards were changing…and so were the times.
Who started the fight? Most people point to John Wayne. As Eastwood’s star rose in the 1960s, Wayne’s influence slowly began to fade. In addition, the genre was expanding into new cinematic territory, far removed from the all-male family films of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
Wayne enjoyed the conservative, hard-edged nature of Western films of the mid- and early 20th century.He was the embodiment of the American spirit, that powerful mindset in which courage, optimism, spirituality, pragmatism, and perseverance merge to form an incomparable worldview.
But as the years passed, The films were injected with more violence and immorality.As a newcomer, Eastwood was happy to do what the directors asked of him, and thanks to this attitude, he became America's new favorite gunman.
Although Wayne held on to the headband rope in the 1960s, and even won an Oscar for his role in True courage In 1970, He couldn't keep up with Eastwood's diverse and productive nature.Not only was Eastwood able to act and direct, he was also able to switch between genres with ease, making him a favorite with studio executives.
It is understood, This, coupled with the fact that Eastwood didn't care about maintaining genre purity, made Wayne a little envious.The new guy wasn't nice. So why did he get so much love? More than anything else, jealousy was the main dividing line that shook the genre.
High Plains Drifter made Wayne even angrier.
High Plains Wanderer It was the first Western film directed and starred by Clint Eastwood.John Wayne didn't like the movie at all. Shot on location around Mono Lake under the same conditions as the film, the movie has a dreamlike feel, enhanced by Bruce Sirtis's gorgeous cinematography and Dee Barton's haunting score. The film follows a mysterious gunman known as the Stranger (Eastwood). His adventures begin after the townspeople hire him to protect them from three violent outlaws who are robbing their way through homes and businesses.
Just by watching the first few minutes, one can see why the film might be so frustrating for Wayne. The stranger assaults a woman in a lively stable after she insults him, and from there, he proceeds to deliver a very unusual kind of justice to outlaws.
A conversation between Eastwood and film critic Kenneth Turan is documented in the pages of Mary Leah Bandy and Kevin Steuer's book Ride, Ride Boldly: The Evolution of the American West. He – She Narrates How Wayne wrote a letter to his younger rival to express his disappointment about High Plains WandererIn it, Eastwood reads a specific line that sums up Wayne's feelings:
“This is not what the West wanted. This is not what the American people who settled in this country wanted.”
Two of the genre's greatest stars didn't share the same views. Interestingly enough, John Wayne didn't choose to sit down and send a message to Clint Eastwood. It was prompted by a request from Eastwood, who asked Wayne to star in a new film with him..
Larry Cohen tried to bring the two stars together.
In the early 1970s, famed writer and director Larry Cohen wrote a movie script that he thought would be perfect for both Clint Eastwood and John Wayne.Titled The EnemiesThe film was rumored to be about a young gambler (Eastwood) who wins half the fortune of an older businessman (John Wayne). Eastwood liked the script so much that he bought it from Cohen and tried to get John Wayne to sign the contract.
Wayne initially refused, calling the script a mere extension of the humdrum Western genre. Not one to give up, Eastwood rewrote the script and sent it back to Wayne.This time, the older actor was furious, wondering why the younger actor had dared to think he would ever work with him. It was at that moment that he wrote the infamous letter, criticizing Eastwood for becoming too big for him.
Rumor has it that Eastwood thought the third attempt was the charm, so he sent another script, hand-delivered by Wayne’s son, Mike. The script was delivered to him while father and son were on a cruise. Did he change his mind? No. “This piece of crap again,” Wayne said before tossing the script into the ocean. Knowing his words were floating in the ocean, Eastwood gave up.
The two actors finally met again when John Wayne teamed up with Clint Eastwood's frequent collaborator Don Siegel on his final film, ShooterEastwood is said to have visited the set one day, and Wayne agreed to shake his hand after learning that he was a strict Republican like himself.
Who was right?
Maybe John Wayne was right. And maybe he was right to hesitate to back Eastwood's endeavors, even when the numbers were good. Today, Westerns are seen as second-rate, and while there are some exceptions, Modern releases rarely enjoy box office glory.not to mention the shiny little statues. This genre isn't as strong as it once was, and the change in tone may be part of the reason.
Aside from 90s movies like Unforgiving and grave-stoneThere are a few other legendary Westerns worth talking about. Most moviegoers probably wanted to continue watching stories where heroes saved the day.Not those who made them question their morals. It's no surprise that most action movies that follow the story of the good guy and the bad guy tend to do well.
However, Wayne himself was no angel.So he wasn't entirely right to criticize Eastwood from a moral perspective. His film, Genghis Khan, The conquerorhas been criticized for being racist, as well as ResearchersIn addition, Wayne had a bad reputation for having problems with everything.
He turned down the lead role in the 1949 film. all the king's menClaiming the script was un-American, in a 1971 interview with Playboy magazine, he described Noon time “The most un-American thing I've ever seen in my entire life,” because the protagonist was afraid of outlaws and ultimately relied on his wife to save him.
Thus, the feud between John Wayne and Clint Eastwood is nothing more than a clash of opposing generational viewpoints. Each field is supported by elders to preserve the culture. And purifying the air from the impurities of the modern age. What applies to the musician also applies to the actor.
