I found something out this morning on a forum I visit that is devoted strictly to movies. Apparently there is talk afoot of remaking a film that is near and dear to many of our hearts. As you can tell by the title of my post, it sounds like someone out there wants to remake The Quiet Man. This may just be a rumor and who knows if it will actually happen, but I for one hope that it doesn't.

Guess whose name has been suggested may play Sean Thornton? Russell Crowe. Actually I don't think this would happen, as I think Mr. Crowe is smarter than to try to tackle a beloved movie legend. He's a good actor and he has some of that rough masculine edge that Duke has, but... no.

And get this - supposedly Bono from U2 is a name that's come up for playing Michaeleen Oge! :blink:

The person who posted this message at the forum I visit says she has a "friend in the industry." Let's hope said friend is misinformed. :stunned:

Aaaaw, they even announced the remake of The Searches a couple of years back, starring BRUCE WILLIS and the plot changed to Science Fiction. Never done that. There are 100000 scripts floating in Hollywood every year, and only a very few get greenlighted. However, there was talk a couple of years ago about a SEQUEL in which Maureen O'Hara was to play Mary Kate again, who sees her two sons off to America (Sean is dead already). Never heard what happend to that project.

Hey!

Here are some movies in the works from Hollywood with the same titles a the John Wayne movies;

In Harm's Way
This movie is in the works right now. Oddly enough, this movie isn't taken from the novel. Rather it's about the U.S.S. Inianapolis, the cruiser that carried the componets of the first nuclear bomb. It was sunk after delivering the cargo, but never listed as overdue. Refer to the TV movie, Mission of the Shark with Stacy Keach. Why they call it by this title rather than by the books title is unkown.

Flying Tigers

This movie is in the early works. It's about the American Volunteer Group (AVG), Flying Tigers. Not much more is said about it.


I was thinking, what makes a John Wayne movie so great that a remake should not even be attempted? Here are my answers.

1. The movie is a such a classic because of acting, cinematography and direction that any remakes, nomatter who or how well done, simply cannot equal the original. Some that come to mind.
A. The Searchers
B. The Quiet Man
C. The Alamo

Were as The Alamo was an historical event, anybody should be able to remake, or should I say, make a movie of the Alamo. My thing about John Waynes movie is that he thought out all the details possible. When you see Santa Annas' Army, it's huge! Wayne didn't just get 200 guys to be the Mexican Army and say that's good enough. A lot of effert was put into making the movie!

2. The movie was made for John Wayne in mind only. He cannot be replaced as the lead actor;

A. The Shootist
B. Hatari!
C. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
D. Big Jake

Most other movies I feel if anyone wants to make them, why not? It depends on the movie itself. After all, Flying Tigers for example is about a historical unit. Anyone should be able to make a movie about them. And the JW movie wasn't a great picture, just an ok one.

My list of John Wayne movies that wouldn't bother me if they were remade:

1. Hellfighters
2. The Comancheros
3. McQ


Here is a list of JW movies that I know of that have been remade or that John Waynes movie is a remake;

1. Stagecoach
One made in 1966 with Alex Cord playing Ringo Kid
A TV movie made in 1986 with Kris Kristofferson playing Ringo Kid, Also a few characters were changed.

2. Red River
A TV movie was made with James Arness in John Waynes role in 1988.

3. Shepard of the Hills
A TV movie made was in 1960
A movie was made in 1963
The there were two previous ones made in 1919 & 1927

4. The Three Godfathers
Ok, John Wayne picture was a remake of two previous movies, same title, same plot. They were made in 1916 & 1936.

Interesting perspective, Baron. Thanks for the info on the current projects in the works.

I too wouldn't necessarily mind remakes of some of the lesser works, like The Flying Tigers. (And we wouldn't have to see that icky female lead, either - yurgh - couldn't stand her with Duke for some reason.) But as you point out The Quiet Man is definitely not of that variety. The only way I could accept it would be if it were not tackled as a straightforward remake - if they changed things around considerably then maybe that would be okay. For an off-topic example, the film America's Sweethearts was a loose remake of Singin' in the Rain, but it was set in modern times and it really only followed the general outline of the plot.

Wasn't El Dorado essentially a remake of Rio Bravo (and by the same director besides!)? And I've already mentioned how Rooster Cogburn owes a lot to The African Queen.

I think too that Three Men and a Baby ('80s flick) is based largely on the same plot that The Three Godfathers came from.

What's the old saying? There's nothing new under the sun?

Baron,

I just finished a JW book, (Duke The Life and Times of John Wayne) and it said The Shootist (derived from a book) was first offered to George C. Scott, Paul Newman, Gene Hackman, Clint Eastwood and Charles Bronson. They all turned it down before it was offered to Duke.

I too thought it was made for JW only. Maybe I just assumed it. I scanned the page, but I don't know how to post a pic of it.

Araner,
I knew about the book, "The Shootist". Let me say this, when I mean a movie made with John Wayne in mind, I don't mean written just for him. Even though other actors were given the chance to star in the picture, only John Wayne made J B Books! The film wouldn't have the same impact (for lack of a better word) if anyone else starred in it. Like Casablanca, only Bogey could play Rick, anyone else and it would have been a lesser movie.

The Quiet Man, Fort Apache & Hondo are other movies that were taken from either books or short stories that I can think of at the moment.