One of the many good things about Duke, in some cases, he wasn't just a tough guy with a sense of humor, he was downright funny.

What are the best comedies or
funniest JW movie moments? (I'm not talking about the unintentional funny moments like playing Genghis Kahn or a singing cowboy. I'm talking real comedy here!)

(a few of my picks)
"North To Alaska"
"McLintock"
"Donovan's Reef"
"The Quiet Man" (Sort a romantic comedy/drama that a guy can watch!)
"Rooster Cogburn"
"El Dorado" (Not really a comedy, but it had several funny scenes)

Your turn...

Hi

I agree he was a comedian and quick witted.

I have been watching some TV shows with JW in them recently like Bob hope, dean Martin etc and he was quite a wit.

Also the harvard lampoon showed how quick he was. I most recently watched an interview he did in the 70s here on BBC televsion very funny man.

The Films of JW are great but the TV stuff is also worth looking at, as I am just starting to find out.

Elly

Speaking of funny scnes in El Dorado. That scene where Mitchum is lying on the table sleeping, and where they grab his legs and body to hold him steady while Mississippi forces that concoted drink into Mitchum, then when Mitchum drinks it and starts to heave and the three of them scramble out of the cell and closes the door--reminds me of somehting that the Three Stooges would do. ;-))

Talking of the Harvard Lampoon Awards in Boston has Duke's full performance that day ever been broadcast or details of all the questions and answers ever been made available.

I know clips of it appear in various documentaries and Pat Stacy details quite a bit of it in her book.

Any ideas out there?


Mike

I too would be interested in a copy of the broadcast or transcript if there is one.

Elly

I'm sure it's in some archive somewhere. Wouldn't be surprised if there is audio of it stored at Harvard.

Would love to have a copy also!!

DUKE ON LAUGH IN:IN THAT PINK BUNNY OUTFIT MADE ME LAUGH TILL I HAD TEARS IN MY EYES. I STILL CHUCKLE TO THIS DAY.:laugh:

Hi Bill,

Here it is:-

KEITH! THANKS YOU MADE MY DAY. :laugh: :laugh: :thumbs_up:

A couple of others worth checking out are Rio Lobo and Cahill, U. S. Marshal.

The scenes with Duke and Jack Elam are great. This was the first movie I ever saw Duke throw a chicken at the bad guy. And when he took that drink from Elam and says,"That is not for the young." was pretty funny also.

Cahill, where Duke has to tame that jackass had me laughing out loud and Neville Brand just couldn't seem to keep his mouth shut for a bonafide Indian chief. Just a couple more examples IMO.:laugh:

This thread has gotten kind of dusty, and I'm sure you folks can add some more funny moments.

One favorite of ours is Duke's character Rocklin, in Tall in the Saddle, when he tells the cranky old woman he'd rather walk for anyone else than ride for her (i.e., there is NO way he is willing to work for her). There are quite a few funny scenes in that film :biggrin:!

Remember the cameo Duke had on The Beverly Hillbillies...I think some of his funniest moments were his body language, The Lucy Show also was a funny one. I think I read somewhere all he wanted for pay to appear on The Beverly Hillbillies was a case of booze

I sometimes go on youtube and look for clips from shows with the Duke in them like The Lucy Shows, and Dean Martins shows. The one where he plays Archie Bunker was real funny.

I have to say that I love his appearance on The Lucy Show. It cracks me up every time I see it. His appearances on The Red Skelton Show are just as funny.

I love the part in Big Jake when he hit his son and he falls on his butt then says "You can call me Dad, you can call me Father, you can call me Jacob and you can call me Jake. You can call me a dirty old son-of-a-bitch, but if you EVER call me Daddy again, I'll finish this fight." I love it, it makes me smile every time. :smile:

I always loved the fact that duke was vulnerable in his works. The Lucy show is a gas, especially when he says " nothing is too much for a fan like you mrs. ricardo" . I think he was about to laugh when Lucy was telling him about the high and mighty thats real real acting when your motor conked out my motor conked out. Wow I sure wish Television was still that Pure and good and honest.

North to Alaska, McClintock,... I always wondered if they had as much fun making the movie as we do watching it! My parents love to tell the story of the first time I saw North to Alaska. I was about 5 and we had gone to see the movie at the drive-in. When the fight in the saloon started, they said I was jumping and bouncing in the back seat so hard, the car was rocking and you know what that means at the drive-in. I still haven't lived it down to this day. And I still get the urge to join the fight when I watch the movie now!

At the risk of appearing of topic I had cause to reflect after revisiting this thread. I pondered scenes in JW movies where I felt moved emotionally. There are too many to mention, and this leaves me convinced that (in my humble opinion) no one is ever going to change the fact that I believe John Wayne could act. He inspires a sort of reverence. For example even if it is a subconscious level of respect I can not recall many if any of his detractors referring to him as John or Wayne. Why is it most always John Wayne, instead?
I would offer the guess, it represents respect, albeit sometimes grudging. :thumbs_up::thumbs_up: