John Wayne And The Movies

Dust jacket notes: "Here is a book for anyone who has ever fallen under the spell of Hollywood's greatest star, a book that will enthrall all the fans of 'the Duke' or 'Big John' with its wealth of pictures, fact, and comment. The author describes the evolution of Wayne's career from an extra in the silent period to star of the early sound Western, The Big Trail, through years of grinding out modest B Westerns to the enduring stardom that followed his portrayal of the Ringo Kid in Stagecoach. The development of Wayne's screen image is brilliantly followed and tribute is paid to the actor's very real acting accomplishments in such films as She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, Red River, The Quiet Man, and True Grit. Louis Brooks, famous star of the twenties, provides a short but memorable reminiscence of meeting Wayne in the thirties, and there is a chapter devoted to the star's working relationship with other actors and directors. This book also provides exhaustive detail about each of Wayne's films with extended casts and much other invaluable, hard-to-find information, resulting in the first totally reliable guide to Wayne's career, both as an actor and producer. And there is a lavish array of illustrations, carefully selected to provide contrast and including such rarities as a special frame enlargement of Wayne's first known appearance as a film extra. In all, this book is a richly rewarding study of an outstanding subject."