John Wayne to play Lawrence of Arabia (1 Viewer)

[Jack]

Jack,

Invariably you crack me up and your comment was in that vein.

Your comment about Wayne and the view of America was quite perceptive. Another reason why he's not one of my favorites. However, the Quiet Man is tolerable as is In Harms Way while The Green Berets was intolerable.

Brad

Yes - 'The Green Berets' is truly ridiculous although it only just shades Wayne in 'Big Jim McClain' where he plays a House UnAmerican Activities Committee investigator who travels to Hawaii on the trail of Communists. My all time favourite moment is when he interviews a 'lapsed' communist who is working with lepers as a form of penance for her evil ways. If you did not know about McCarthyism you would laugh out loud. Wayne's contempt for the Fifth Amendment in the final scene is uncomfortable to say the least.

I really like 'The Quiet Man' but as much for the Irish locations and Maureen O'Hara as for Wayne's contribution. If I was single and it was 1952 and Maureen played her cards right and Olivia de haviland and Ingrid Bergman were busy, I might well have asked her out.

Jack

 

[Jack]

"We also have in our minds an image of O'Toole as Lawrence" It boggles the mind that Wayne could've/would've been in that scene where Lawrence is 'assaulted' by the Turk officer!

Lawrence lied about that assault - I believe his diary places him somewhere else at the time. It reminds me of Charlton Heston in the opening scenes of Ben Hur when he meets his childhood friend Massala (?) who by then is a Roman officer. I believe that it was written with the intention of suggesting that they had been lovers but they knew Heston would never play it that way. They just gave him the script, said nothing, and he played it that way unintentionally.

I know Heston became a much maligned figure late in life but I always remember an interviewer asking him the secret to a long marriage and he replied 'Well ... first up, I chose well'. I saw him on stage as Sir Thomas More in Robert Bolt's "A Man for All Seasons' (a superb play) in London as a young man and though him just magnificent.

 

[skeeterbuck]

Just slightly off topic, but Lawrence of Arabia was Omar Sharif's first english speaking role. Between him and O'toole it seems that that their was a lot of risk taking going on with both the leading and supporting roles going to unknowns.

Chuck

 

[Jack]

Just slightly off topic, but Lawrence of Arabia was Omar Sharif's first english speaking role. Between him and O'toole it seems that that their was a lot of risk taking going on with both the leading and supporting roles going to unknowns.

Chuck

Its my thread so we can talk about whatever we want!

Sharif is a world class bridge player from memory. He has also been on many first dates.

 

[johnnybach]

I loved John Wayne! Sure some movies were ordinary but he really had that strong/confident man image worked out. I read he deserved credit for 'saving' Hollywood from the Communists - though I have no idea whether there was a legitimate threat of it actually happening. I recall one of the biggest negative reactions to him was his (brief) role as a Roman Centurion in one of those Biblical epics. Saying "Surely this was the Son of God" with his thick American drawl didn't work for everyone......

I heard about this scene once - and I hope it was just a joke - but am not sure..............

Apparently, he said the line in a very wooden way - and the Producer said "Cut". He then said "Mr Wayne - when you say that line, could you put a little more awe into your voice?"

"Sure thing" came the reply from Mr Wayne.

"Awe, (pause) Shirley this Man wuz the sun of God", he drawled.

Still not sure if this was real - or meant as a joke.

Best Film? "Stagecoach" - without a doubt. Pensioners shouldn't be playing tough guys ( from personal experience!!!) jb

 

[jazzeum]

Brad

Yes - 'The Green Berets' is truly ridiculous although it only just shades Wayne in 'Big Jim McClain' where he plays a House UnAmerican Activities Committee investigator who travels to Hawaii on the trail of Communists. My all time favourite moment is when he interviews a 'lapsed' communist who is working with lepers as a form of penance for her evil ways. If you did not know about McCarthyism you would laugh out loud. Wayne's contempt for the Fifth Amendment in the final scene is uncomfortable to say the least.

I really like 'The Quiet Man' but as much for the Irish locations and Maureen O'Hara as for Wayne's contribution. If I was single and it was 1952 and Maureen played her cards right and Olivia de haviland and Ingrid Bergman were busy, I might well have asked her out.

Jack

Jack,

It's a slightly ridiculous movie but probably more a product of the times when people were turning away from a highly divisive war in America. An interesting contrast with other movies about Viet Nam like the Deer Hunter.

Great song though by Sgt. Barry McGuire.

Brad

 

[Scott]

Lawrence lied about that assault - I believe his diary places him somewhere else at the time. It reminds me of Charlton Heston in the opening scenes of Ben Hur when he meets his childhood friend Massala (?) who by then is a Roman officer. I believe that it was written with the intention of suggesting that they had been lovers but they knew Heston would never play it that way. They just gave him the script, said nothing, and he played it that way unintentionally.

I know Heston became a much maligned figure late in life but I always remember an interviewer asking him the secret to a long marriage and he replied 'Well ... first up, I chose well'. I saw him on stage as Sir Thomas More in Robert Bolt's "A Man for All Seasons' (a superb play) in London as a young man and though him just magnificent.

One of the best Longjohn Silvers.

 

[maddadicus]

I think that's a bit harsh. Wayne was perfectly capable of nuanced performances when he had a well written role such as in Red River or The Searchers. He was, like all actors, capable of wooden performances in badly written or miscast roles like in The Conqueror. Being cast in Lawrence of Arabia would have been a classic case of miscasting for Wayne. -- Al

Horse Soldiers, True Grit, Sands of Iwo Jima, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, The Shootist...All good Duke roles in pretty good movies..IMO...Michael

 

[blaster]

John Wayne was the action hero of his day, including Charlton Heston, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson. Actually, one can draw comparisons to current trends. Arnie, Stallone, Willis. These were marquee names.

 

[RPZ]

Just a comment about Red River, along with The Searchers one of his best roles and a great film.

 

[maddadicus]

One of the best Longjohn Silvers.

One of favorite movies ( Christian Bale, Charlton Heston )with a great plot, great acting, lots of action and one of the best music scores ever...I can still hum most of the songs to this day..Finally came out on DVD after years of delay..Michael