Films You Wish John Wayne Hadn't Made

[ShortGrub]

I enjoy all of John Wayne's movies. The Conqueror and Donovan's Reef are probably the only two I wish he passed on, but he was his own man and that is what made him JW.

[William T Brooks]

I liked "Donovan's Reef" and it showed Duke as He Was, Funny, and a Great Cast !
:teeth_smile::teeth_smile::teeth_smile:
Chilibill

[Duke_Wayne]

I only have one: the Alamo. I know he invested a lot in the film, but it just seemed to drag on. It's been several years since I've seen it. Maybe I'll dust off my old DVD and see if I like it any better.

Worst things worst, it's still the Duke & better than most of the stuff put out nowadays!

[erscolo]

I'd wish he'd never made The Oregon Trail, not because it's a bad movie, but because the movie is at present not known to exist and therefore my collection of his films will always be missing that one (and yes probably several more).

Roger.

[nordy]

The above are all strong candidates for the worst, but for my money the worst of them all is "Jet Pilot." This collaboration between Howard Hughes and John Wayne seemed to bring out the worst in both of them.

The film, wrote Duke biographers Roberts and Olson, let Hughes explore "three of his obsessions, anticommunism, women's breasts and aviation."

The plot is ludicrous, involving a female Soviet jet pilot (Janet Leigh) who also qualifies for Playmate of the Month. After some initial political sparring and some flying lessons by Duke, they of course fall in love. I've seen better screen chemistry between Duke and some of his horses.

Then they escape to the Soviet Union. Then they come back. All ends happily.

But what you went through to get there.

[chester7777]

nordy,

Hey, good to see you again!

What I really like about Jet Pilot is the flying scenes! You're totally right about the weak plot . . . . What can I say? If for no other reason, I own it because John Wayne is in it.

[Dukesfan]

Ah, come on, I like Jet Pilot! It´s a real funny movie about the Americans and the Russians in Cold War. I enjoy it, whenever I watch it and the jet scenes are great.

[nordy]

You have a point. Watching Jet Pilot as a comedy makes it more bearable. And yes, I watch it too.

[brynsuperblue52]

No doubt for me "The greatest story ever told" and 'The Conqueror' I understand the comments about The Cowboys but it still has a great story line even after JW went toes up. lol so to speak. hope all are well on here

[BILL OF PA]

One for me is also THE CONQUEROR. Duke was so badly miscast. The only film I can think of were the lead is worst miscast is Al Pacino as a scotsman in the american revolution. A bomb called Revolution.

[The Tennesseean]

OK...while I respect everyone's opinions regarding their least favorite movies, I must say that I believe they're missing the point about The Cowboys. Him dying WAS the point of the movie, as it allowed them to grow up and kill Bruce Dern's character while taking care of the herd. It showed JW's chops as an actor as well. As for the movies he made after The Big Trail, you know, the "B" movies he made during the 30's...well, without those, he would NEVER have become the star he did..end of story. He needed those roles to gain seasoning and experience. I mean, just look at his performance in The Big Trail, and then look at Stagecoach, and try to tell me those movies should NOT have been made..,

Now...as to the posts about the nuclear testing causing his cancer: while I agree in principle that this could be possible (I grew up in Oak Ridge, TN - the birthplace of the Manhattan Project), you simply can NOT ignore the fact that JW was a chain smoker (one of the absolute heaviest in all the business), as were most of the other people who fell victim to "the curse" of The Conqueror. Again, I'm not saying the testing didn't play ANY role, but why didn't EVERYONE on the shoot die from cancer, and why did some get it sooner than others. BTW - Agnes Moorehead died in the early 70's, JW got his first round in 64...BUT, we all know this horrible disease knows no boundries of time, gender, age, nor anything else..

Anyway...just my .02

[badger]

i wish he d never made The Conquerer. I can t bring myself to watch it because of the repercussions of it. Agness Moorehead was also one of my favourite childhood characters in Bewitched so I find the whole thing too sad.

[nordy]

I haven't seen the Conqueror, and I don't plan to. One still shot of Duke in ersatz Genghis Khan makeup was enough for me. So I can't really say it's Duke's worst, but I can't think of anything else. Isn't it ironic that Duke made Conqueror and the Searchers in the same year?

[wtrayah]

I'd have to say the cop movies. He was too old to play that type of cop. Too unrealistic for me. Can't warm up to them!

[MsReb]

The Conqueror.....