hi all,
John Wayne played an guest role in the movie The greatest story ever told, as a roman centurio I never have seen the movie and I cant imagin for my self John Wayne in an roman suite maybe someone of you can explain me the story and the role of John Wayne in the movie

If you have a picture of John Wayne in roman suite please send it to:
The_dukefan@hotmail.com please with title John wayne otherwhile I think it's a virus.
If someone of you has msn or hotmail please add me in your list.

thanks
cya jwfan.

JW pitched in to help out director George Stevens who had a lot at stake on this one. JW is briefly seen and says just one line: "Truly this man was the son of god", when the Christ dies. There is a story about that line, debatable if it's Hollywood legend or not: When JW delivered his line, the director ask him to put "a little more awe in the line". So the second time, Wayne delivered his single line as: "Aaaw, truly this man was the son of god." (for good-natured fun, of course, that's not in the picture).
I learned in the JW newsletter of Tim Lilley of The Big Trail Fan Club, in an interview with one of JW's co-workers, that JW even had a stand-in for the long shots. So even though he's on screen for such a short cameo it's not JW standing there in long shot (JW had some other obligation at the time and couldn't quite fulfill the promise to be there for the shoot).

By the way, the film was recently released on DVD with "never-before-seen-footage" - is there something interesting on it?

It's been a pretty long time since we've seen that movie, but my recollection is that you don't really see the face of the centurion, but if you know John Wayne's voice, that line is easily recognizable as the Duke speaking.

Chester

he is in the movie a little earleir standing in front of a crowd of jews praying in the temple and his words are STAND ASIDE and a very good close up and because they dont stand aside he draws his sword and takes his men forward Van heflin is the other actor facing him.

Chris,

THANKS so much for sharing that additional information. I hadn't realized that before. I guess we'll have to go rent the movie so we can watch for the Duke in his "small" part.

Chester

Not a problem i know what its like some times they come up so quick you can miss them very easeythat why i love watching movies over and over again.

I've seen the movie along time ago, and at that time I didn't know John Wayne was in it either. I guess I'll have to rent it also.

Brian
Tulalip Wa

In my Laserdisc version JW is driving the Christ up to Golgatha with a STICK - not a sword - and no dialogue exept for his famous one-liner. Chris, would that be a newly included scene or extra material on the new DVD? Anybody has it on DVD? what's really new?

itdo
no i have it on vhs ive had it fo a while and the scene as i said when the jews are praying at the temple he draws a sword,and your right when he is led to be crucified he does hold a stick that was used to hold back the crowd it case of a riot as they knew jesus had a following or they thought an army.

Great information Chris I never knew about that scene, nobody ever seems to talk about it, "STAND ASIDE" is certailly a line duke would use and its a lot better than his other line in that same movie.

Thanks again Chris
Cya


B)

No probs i think he was one of many big stars and i believe he played the part well as the caricter he played was turned to christ at the cricifiction but one thing i think a lot of people dont realise is that a german played the part of jesus.

Let's get some facts straight here, shall we?
JW's taking part in Greatest Story isn't just a walk-on, and he's not as out-of-place as it might seem right away. He's portraying a professional soldier - a part he was familiar with, a man who has a job to do, but does it with dignity. He commands with sheer presence. But at the same moment he is human. As a matter of fact, the centurion holds up the proceedings every time the Christ falls under the cross, and patiently waits. He never actually drives Jesus up that hill - he rather walks in front of him and holds on whenever he is assisted (either by Carrol Baker or Sidney Poitier, as they help him along). There is no swordplay involved. The whole sequence is played out and composited very much like a SILENT picture, with nobody talking - exept the Christ - only the sound effects of the wooden cross hitting the floor are heard, and the sounds when the henchmen go to work with hammer and nail, and Alfred Newman's haunting music. JW's delivering of just ONE single line is the whole concept of casting him by director Stevens - at the very climax of the film, at the very end of the sequence, not before, and certainly not with a throw-away-line like "Stand Aside" (interesting to note that in foreign versions they also used the familiar voices which used to dub the Duke - so the impact of recognizing would be the same as in the original version). There isn't a single close-up of JW - he's seen only in FULL SHOTS (the publicity-stills that were made suggest there would be a close up - however, not in the film).
Now I might sound like I'm very particular about this detail. But as a student of the Duke's they are important to me. I just watched both the Laserdisc and the video of that segment to look for that additional line. That's a BIT-PLAYER who says that line "Stand aside" to Van Heflin (and even hits him in the face, which would be quite out of character for JW's part).
I have asked if anybody has the new edition on DVD and if there is extra material related to JW but no answer to that one here.
So I have strong feelings about details like that because errors will be repeated. And if they are generally accepted on this board it will certainly keep John Wayne scholars away. That's why I still prefer the reading of a well-researched book to the fast info on the Internet - it's all typed in so fast. I myself am guilty of repeating an old error - and since I'm at it correcting others, I might as well correct my own: In an earlier post somebody asked about stunts and I said JW probably performed one in Gene Autry's "Melody Ranch". That film was sometimes even included in filmografies but the participation of JW is sheer Hollywood folklore. It's only now brought to my attention that he couldn't possibly have been in it (filming at the same time on a different studio), and of course the best thing to bring those rumors to an end was JW's saying himself: "Quite obviously, I wasn't in it", in an interview late in his life. So we can cross out "Melody Ranch" and the story about JW's stunt in it once and for all. As well as him saying more than the famous One-Liner in Greatest Story. OK?

No thats John Wayne not a bit player and he doesnt hit van heflin he just raises his hand with the back of his hand ready to strike then says it again STAND ASIDE .. no thats the duke allright.

Boy-o-boy. Did I waste my time watching the film and writing this post.

Nop youve got to keep watching the film and all of the film mybe watch King of Kings too great movies all about another hero of mine.

itdo,

You're right. I have this on DVD, and seen it about 6 months ago. His one and only appearance is in the scene on the hill, and he his line was delivered on the hill. The voice saying "stand back" is not Duke.

This is the info I have on this movie. Author's Note: During the filming of Circur World, Wayne did his guest stint in The Greatest Story Ever Told. His total time on this film was three weeks. Also, Wayne did not accept a paycheck for the film because of George Stevens' reputation in the film world. Wayne appears in a 13-minute sequence but is seen for 2:51 minutes.


However, itdo, I do have a photo of Duke following Max Von Sydow while carrying the cross. But this wasn't shown on my DVD or VHS.

I'll try to get this on the page, ASAP.

Cheers, Hondo B)

It shouldnt be too difficult to find out if he said it or not, to be honest the films been on tv a couple of times as of late but I only ever tuned in near the end to see the Duke so I cant comment.
However Roland I admire your second last thread on this subject and I agree with you that as far as possible there is a need for accuaracy. The one glareing mistake regarding the Duke that I hate is his real name. Many incorrectly claim that it is Marion Michael Morrison but in fact Michael is not his real name he actually had a great middle name "Robert" :D but when he was two his brother was born so Dukes parents changed his middle name to "Mitchell".

Cheers

B)

Oh no, another inaccuracy.

True: JW was born Marion Robert. His parents changed his middle name to give it to his younger brother Robert.
True: JWs actual name was Marion Mitchell. He signed his marriage papers in 1933 with Mitchell.
True: JW himself used the name Marion MICHAEL. As late as 1979 he said in the Barbara Walters interview when asked why he never legally changed his name to John Wayne "I can pay taxes as well as Marion Michael Morrison..."
In 1973, when Danny Kaye introduced Admiral John Ford at the "AFI tribute to John Ford", he said: "In 1928, John Ford gave us Marion Michael Morrison! Now you people out there might know him as John Wayne."

I find this interesting, I thought John Wayne had legally changed his name.

Brian
Tulalip Wa

Ok, after reading this thread, I just had to pop in my version (VHS) and watch it carefully. It wasn't John Wayne who raised his hand to slap the man. John lead Christ through the city to the hill (seen in full screen shots) and at the point that Sidney Poitier goes to help Christ, waves another Centurian away with his lance when the Centurian advanced to stop Sidney. You see another good shot of Duke when they open the gates to leave for the hill. When it got to his one line, it showed him in full figure, but I couldn't see his mouth move. And it seemed to me that the dialogue was slowed down a bit, or he spoke it really slow. I have had this movie for a long time, but never watched it. Thanks to this thread, I now have seen a very good movie. dukefan1

Yo Itdo

I am at a loss to know what mistake I made could you point it out please.

cheers
cya

B)

Well, we watched The Greatest Story Ever Told tonight, and it was the seven year old who caught the full shots of the Duke to which dukefan1 made reference (we rewound so we could all see it!). We hadn't seen it in years, so it was fun. I think I'd rather have it on DVD, as the VHS had somewhat poor sound quality, but it was a rental, so I still can add it to the collection in the preferred medium (it's available for $13.67/FREE shipping at http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com).

It was real interesting to note the "all star cast", and that Michael Anderson, Jr (Bud in The Sons of Katie Elder) played one of the apostles, and Ina Balin from Comancheros was Lazarus' sister, Martha.

Chester

So Chesty did Duke say "Stand Aside"?

B)

Definitely NOT the Duke who uttered those words.

Chester

Im Bringing this one forward mainly to apologise to ITDO, After alot of watching and enquiring on my part with asking other friends of mine some are not even jw fans if the soldier in the film is jw and well the more i look at the actor i see it is not jw telling the crowd to Stand Aside and for all these years i always thought it was so i stand corrected.

As Nathan Brittles would say: "Never apologize!"
Heck, that's long forgotten. I used to mistake Jean Gabin in French movies or Curd Jurgens in German movies for Wayne's features.

Hi Chris

I think a lot of people dont realise is that a german played the part of jesus.

On the basis of complete accuracy Max von Sydow played Christ his pen picture
says that he is Swedish.

[/B]Von SYDOW - Max 1929-[B]
b. April 16 (Lund Sweden)
A Swedish character actor who trained at the Royal Dramatic Theatre Stockholm. In 1949 he made his screen debut and since that time, largely under the influence of the director Ingmar Bergman, has fully established himself as an international actor.


Regards

arthur

hi arthur yes another correction,on a dvd i have called Victory the information also states he was born lund in sweden,i canot remember were i got the incorrect info from but it doesnt matter i know were i got the correct information thanks again regards Chris.