There is a base canard put forward by many a moron that John Wayne played the same character in every film. That he only played John Wayne. He did play a type that is true. But there were variations on the theme.
The question who do we want to be? Tom Doniphon or Quirt Evans?
Quirt Evans was the outlaw who gave up his guns for the love of a woman in "The Angel and the Badman." This is one of my favorite John Wayne movies of all time. Quirt quit his job as Wyatt Earp's deputy and sold his ranch to go and seek revenge against the men who killed rancher Walt Ennis who raised him from a pup. He was injured and nursed back to health by a Quaker family. He falls in love with the daughter and she eventually gets him to turn away from the way of the gun. To the point that he puts his life at risk.
Tom Doniphon is a different kettle of fish. He loves Hallie with all of his heart. Loves her enough to let her go to Ransome Stoddard the feminized lawyer who falsely gets credit for the murder of Liberty Valance. Tom shoots him down in cold blood. Without remorse. He is the cynical bitter edge of the Western hero. The hetero hero who is gone today. The world these days wants everyone to be like Ransome Stoddard. The lawyer. The politician. The liar. The fraud.
People scorn the Tom Doniphon's these days. Even though they are out there keeping us safe. Those hard men risk their lives so the Ransome Stoddards can collect their awards and accolades.
But we know the truth..
19 comments:
Hetero cowboys!
This is good.
The crux of my comments yesterday might be reduced to this:
Do we really need another place to agonize over the fags and fag hags?
I don't go to Althouse because I'm fed up with that shit. Does that crap have to dominate everywhere?
Dude you are the one who keeps bringing it up. Most of us don't give a shit other than the occasional snide comment or joke.
We concentrate on starlets of the sixties, Westerns, Marilyn Munster being molested by her Uncle Herman and naked pictures of Betty Rubble.
Carry on.
I liked Jimmy Stewart, but I liked John Wayne better.
I liked Henry Fonda least of all.
It would have been odd if Wayne, Stewart and Fonda did Lonesome Dove (which almost happened). It would have almost certainly denied us the TV show (which turned out great).
Jimmy Stewart was my guy all the way.
Stoddard was no wuss in MWSLV, he was just out of his element.
Of course, Doniphon was a badass with a great heart.
They were both great in their own way. I think that was the point of the story. Doniphon couldn't live in the world Stoddard was making and he knew that.
A very few actors become genuine stars, icons whose presence is greater than any acting role.
I want to say that it was John Ford who said to Howard Hawks, "I didn't know he could ACT" after Hawks put him in "Red River" but it might have been Raoul Walsh to John Ford after seeing Ford's "Stagecoach".
ndspinelli said...
Jimmy Stewart was my guy all the way.
You just earned a chirbit voice, pal.
Troop, you should do a poll for the gals (and ST) asking whose your favorite western manly man:
Stoddard
Doniphon
Liberty Valance
Pompey
"How 'bout a martini?"
@chickenlittle
You left out Clint as Will Munny!
You left Liberace off the list.
And Alex Karras. He should be on the list.
Maybe I should run the poll at Lem's?
Please enter other nominations for consideration
Jimmy Stewart was my guy all the way.
You went all the way with Jimmy Stewart? Dude.
Festus should be in the poll for the ladies.
Gus. No leaving him behind.
windbag, Elwood P Dowd just turned me on!
I was more turned on by Harvey.
(With apologies to ST.)
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