Duke's Quotes

[ethanedwards]

This is a series of quotes Duke made,
So here we go, for the first three:-

I figured I needed a gimmick, so I went to work on this Wayne character,
I dreamed up the drawl, the squint and the way of moving.
I even had to practice saying 'ain't

Duke was questioned about writing his autobiography.
His reply was:-

Those who like me, already know me,
and those who don't like me,
wouldn't want to read about me anyway!

When you come slam bang up against trouble,
it looks half as bad, if you face up to it

[ethanedwards]

Three more of Duke's quotes:-

In my day they used to say to a scriptwriter:
if you have a message, don't bother-
send a telegram instead.

Nobody should come to the movies, unless he believes in heroes.

If it hadn't been for football, and the fact I got my leg broke,
and had to go to movies to eat, why, who knows,
I mighta turned out, to be a liberal democrat.

[ethanedwards]

Three More:-

All I do is sell sincerity, and I've been selling
the hell out of that, since I started

I think 45 was my best age, physically, mentally,
and my attitude toward life in general.

I always look for a story with basic emotions:
a dog, a kid, a woman's love, a man's love

[ethanedwards]

Three more:-

Once on a movie location, Duke's double Chuck Roberson,
received a visit from his three-year-old grandson.
While there, the boy asked Duke, what he did.
Duke replied:-

I just stand in for your Grandad on closeups

I've been in more bad pictures, than just about anyone in the business

When the road looks rough ahead, remember the 'Man Upstairs'
and the word H-O-P-E.
Hang onto both, and 'tough it out'

[ethanedwards]

Three more:-

A heckler once asked Duke if he could speak Spanish.
He replied, that he couldn't too well.
The heckler said Duke had three wives who spoke Spanish.
Duke said:-

Wa-al, I guess I just never listened to 'em

I couldn't go to sleep at night, if the director didn't call 'cut'

We soften violence with humor in my films.
Nobody goes out to the theatre, bent on hurting
anybody else, after seeing one of my pictures

[ethanedwards]

and three more:-

Duke had a comment on screen fighting in his films.

I really enjoy the look on a guy's face,
when he gets hit, and uses the 'Why Me?' expression.
I use it when I'm in a fight

Duke's opinion of a good story:

Get it outdoors, let some fresh air and sunlight
into the story.
Give the camera man, chance to to photograph
something besides walls and doors and tea tables.
Don't let your story expire, for lack of air.

Asked how he prepared for a role, Duke said:-

I just ask the director which hat to put on,
and which door I come in

[ethanedwards]

Three more:-

If it hadn't been for the personal interest and ecouragement
of director John Ford,
I might still be shifting furniture for other actors

Nobody ever saw a cowboy, on the psychiatrist's couch

One of Duke's disappointments, was being rejected by Annapolis:-

I'd probably be a retired admiral by now

[ethanedwards]

And more:-

I'm an Investment. I got to protect that investment.

In my movies, I try to remember that people
are dropping those bills at the box office,
so they can relax and enjoy.
That's why I like to keep it simple,
and what used to be called decent

When you're in the public eye, you're on the spot.

[chester7777]

I hope it's OK if I add to this thread - these quotes are from the book The Quotable John Wayne - The Grit and Wisdom of an American Icon by Carol Lea Mueller. I highly recommend this book as a wonderful addition to your "Duke" library! Ms. Mueller is a member of our site (phimueller), and I hope she won't mind if I shamelessly plug her book!

Sure, I wave the American flag. Do you know a better one?

We've made mistakes along the way, but that's no reason to start tearing up the best flag God ever gave to any country.

I am an old-fashioned, honest-to-goodness, flag-waving patriot.

Yeah - that's MY kind of man!!

Mrs. C

[ethanedwards]

I hope it's OK if I add to this thread

Mrs. C

Please do Sue,
and here's
Three more:-

If everything isn't black and white,
I say, why the hell not.

I changed the saintly boy scout of the original cowboy hero,
into a more normal kind of fella

When people you work with, do their job,
to make things right, and still have time to smile,
and get along with others, I want them around

[luckynedpepper]

Three more:-

Once on a movie location, Duke's double Chuck Roberson,
received a visit from his three-year-old grandson.
While there, the boy asked Duke, what he did.
Duke replied:-

What a great guy telling that young lad he stepped in for his grandad.
What a great story

[chester7777]

Here are some more quotes by John Wayne, on the subject of patriotism and America -

It's kind of a sad thing when a normal love of country makes you a 'super patriot.'

Give the American people a good cause and there's nothing they can't lick.

America is the land of freedom and that's the way I enjoy living.

[ethanedwards]

Three more:-

When Duke got his start, he said:-

For $75.00 a week, you could be a star, I jumped.

I stopped getting the girl about 10 years ago.
Which is just as well,
'cause I'd forgotten, what I wanted her for.

Of The Conqueror, Duke said:-

Hell it's just another western, with different costumes

[chester7777]

Here are a couple of timely quotes, that perhaps should be heeded, and perhaps repeated (at least in this country) in a couple of months -

Our country thrives on change . . . no guns or bombs or Army coups . . . just the biggest and best weapon of all, our right to vote. X's on paper. The ballot box, a good thing.

You've got the strongest hand in the world. That's right. Your hand. The hand that marks the ballot. The hand that pulls the voting lever. Use it, will you.

[ethanedwards]

Three More:-

During the filming of The Conqueror,
director Dick Powell was pleased with the stunt work.
He asked Duke if he thought it was because
the stunt men were getting better.
Duke replied:-

No, the horse's are smarter

During the filming of The Barbarian And The Geisha,
Duke kept bumping his head on the low rafters.
He eventually started walking like a caveman,
with his arms dangling around his knees.
Duke said:-

If this keeps up, I'll be ready for the remake of
'1.000.000 B.C.

Duke said of his 1964 cancer surgery:-

I don't care, if I never sell another ticket at the box office,
if it helps some other guy get a check-up
and be as lucky as I was