John Wayne Acting

[Hondo Duke Lane]

I want to be very careful with the wording of this topic, so here goes.

I am asking your opinion about John Wayne's worse acting in a movie.

1. I am not asking the worse movie.
2. I am not asking the worse character.
3. I am not asking the worse costar.
4. I am not asking the worse plot.
5. The simple question is which movie and/or character did John Wayne act in that was simply terrible?

Let me help you a little by saying that I thought he did a bad job in The Greatest Story Ever Told, playing the Roman Centurion. Even though it was a bit part, Duke didn't fit the part, and it was like let's put him in this movie because he was a big name star. Though I don't think this would count because of the very reasons above, this is what I am asking. I'd like to hear your comments before I respond.

Cheers B)

[ethanedwards]

Hi Mike,
Duke a bad actor never!!
How could you suggest such a thing????

As far as making a ham of things,
He only had one line to deliver in
THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD,
and he made a right Hash of it!!

'Trooly, this maan, was the son of Gawd'

I thought Jet Pilot,he overacted,
and there are obviously more,
but STORY as to be the classic!

[InHarmsWay]

I agree on The Greatest Story Ever Told,And thats all i have got to say.

-IHW

[Jay J. Foraker]

JW usually stayed within the characterizations that appealed to his fans. After "The Alamo" caused him extreme monetary distress, he took on the cameo roles in various ensemble films - "The Longest Day" and "Cast a Giant Shadow" to partially recoup. Those fit his acting persona pretty well, but "The Greatest Story Ever Told" didn't match up. It was not a case of bad acting (one line!?) so much as bad casting. I don't know what Duke was paid for those three seconds of dialogue, but I'm sure it wasn't measly.
Cheers - Jay ^_^

[The Ringo Kid]

I stayed up late on a school night just to see John Wayne as a Roman Soldier and to utter that line. I was dissappointed in the fact that his part was not much bigger but I still enjoyed the movie.

[arthurarnell]

Hi Hondo,

Just to stir the pot what about the Wayne character Ole Olsen in The Long Voyage Home, Wayne always struggled playing a foreign character which is why he didn't attempt a German accent in The Sea Chase, or an Irish accent in The Quiet Man.

Admitted a Mongolian accent would have been inappropriate in the Conqueror, although the prose itself used during the picture proved to be a difficult enough handicap, as also would be the case in TGSET if he spoke in latin.

Following the second world war George Stevens seemed to settle for the spectacular sort of picture culminating in TGSET using as many guest stars as he good, a sort of biblical Around the World in Eighty Days.

I wonder if John Wayne was ever offered a part in the Mike Todd extravaganza. But I digress I will go for Ole in Fords Long Voyage Home.


Regards

Arthur

[Robbie]

I thought his performance as Ole was rather good and he won a lot of praise from critics for it.

For me one of his worst performances was as Davy Crockett in the Alamo a truely terrible attempt.

[Emmanuel]

I'll have to go with the general consensus, TGSET.

After watching Duke do his line, didn't the director say,

"You need to put a little more awe into the line."

Duke looked up at the cross and said

"Aaawe, truly this man is the son of god."

Not a bad day's work for $25,000.

Emmanuel.

[falc04]

I really can't think of a film where Duke's acting was anything but top-notch (post 'Stagecoach'). That's not to say he hasn't starred in some turkeys along the way, but that's more of a problem with the script/story, than Duke's acting skills. I think a better question for this post would have been, 'Who Would Say Was Duke's Worst Co-Starring Actor'? To me, that award would have to go to Red Buttons in 'Hatari'. Whether he was acting drunk badly, or feigning crying badly, or his ill attempts at comedy, or lastly, his lousy love scenes....he was really bad. The film's script didn't help him out, but his "over the top" acting style just didn't mesh well with Duke's style.

Just my 2-cents of course....I'm sure everyone has there own opinion.