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Title: Duke: The Life and Image of John Wayne by Ronald L. Davis ISBN: 0-8061-3329-5 Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press Pub. Date: 01 May, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.5 (2 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: A good look at John Wayne without the scholarly commitment
Comment: This biography succeeds in its evenhanded portrayal of John Wayne. No doubt some will criticize it because Davis doesn't spend his time eschewing Wayne's politically incorrect opinions, but neither does the author lionize Wayne the man. What you have left is a concise and readable 400 page biography that covers all the movies and all the wives. Davis gives his opinions as to why the Wayne legend still survives, and what his fellow actors thought of him way back when.
Interesting is the story behind the making of the ALAMO, a film he produced, directed and starred in, the subsequent Oscar campaign, and the aftermath. Also interesting is Wayne's relationship with director John Ford, whom he loved, and their disagreements.
Rating: 4
Summary: Outstanding
Comment: Though very in-depth in explaining each movie John Wayne appeared, the book lacks somewhat in explaining who John Wayne was. In comparison, Donald Dewey's recent biography of Jimmy Stewart gives the reader a more detailed examination of Stewart than Ronald Davis does of Wayne. Ronald Davis also relies too much on the self-centered Pilar Wayne, the third Mrs. John Wayne, for anectdotal information. Davis's use of interviews with Harry Carey, Jr. are quite valuable and illuminating. It's a shame that Davis didn't thoroughly interview other actors who shared the screen with Duke, including Ron Howard, about whom Duke thought highly or Kim Darby (Mattie in True Grit), who didn't like the Duke (remember, True Grit was filmed in 1968). Mr. Davis does an excellent job explaining Duke Wayne's desert years in the thirties doing one-reel westerns. One has to admire Wayne's persistance. One note Pilar Wayne reveals through Ronald Davis that puts Wayne in a very bad light and has changed my personal views toward him to the strongly negative, was Duke Wayne's insistance that a pregnant Pilar get an abortion. The baby was inconvenient as Duke was in the divorce court with number two wife Chata in a highly charged divorce battle. The baby was killed but Duke Wayne received a fairly good divorce settlement. A conservative icon, when the chips were down, was capable of a selfish, dishonest, sordid, dirty act. The Duke was a great actor and icon but was not a good person. He was not a great American.
--Derek Leaberry
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Title: Duke, We're Glad We Knew You: John Wayne's Friends and Colleagues Remember His Remarkable Life by Herb Fagen ISBN: 0806520566 Publisher: Citadel Press Pub. Date: 01 December, 1998 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: John Wayne, My Father by Aissa Wayne, Steve Delsohn ISBN: 0878339590 Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing Pub. Date: 01 March, 1998 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title:The John Wayne Story - The Later Years ASIN: B00005B1YT Publisher: Goodtimes Home Video Pub. Date: 01 March, 2001 List Price(USD): $4.95 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $4.95 |
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Title: Duke: The Life and Times of John Wayne by Donald Shepherd, Robert Slatzer, Dave Grayson ISBN: 0806523409 Publisher: Citadel Press Pub. Date: 01 February, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: John Wayne: American by Randy Roberts, James S. Olson, James Stuart Olson ISBN: 0803289707 Publisher: Bison Pub. Date: 01 January, 1998 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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