{"id":4241,"date":"2018-07-22T19:49:27","date_gmt":"2018-07-22T18:49:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/?p=4241"},"modified":"2019-01-16T17:26:07","modified_gmt":"2019-01-16T17:26:07","slug":"john-waynes-movie-verbal-magic-moments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/john-waynes-movie-verbal-magic-moments\/","title":{"rendered":"John Wayne\u2019s Movie Verbal Magic Moments"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/john-waynes-movie-verbal-magic-moments\/#John_Waynes_Movie_Verbal_Magic_Moments\" title=\"John Wayne\u2019s Movie Verbal Magic Moments\">John Wayne\u2019s Movie Verbal Magic Moments<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/john-waynes-movie-verbal-magic-moments\/#The_Searchers\" title=\"The Searchers\">The Searchers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/john-waynes-movie-verbal-magic-moments\/#McLintock\" title=\"McLintock!\">McLintock!<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/john-waynes-movie-verbal-magic-moments\/#The_Alamo\" title=\"The Alamo\">The Alamo<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/john-waynes-movie-verbal-magic-moments\/#She_Wore_a_Yellow_Ribbon\" title=\"She Wore a Yellow Ribbon\">She Wore a Yellow Ribbon<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/john-waynes-movie-verbal-magic-moments\/#The_Man_Who_Shot_Liberty_Valance\" title=\"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance\">The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/john-waynes-movie-verbal-magic-moments\/#Rio_Bravo\" title=\"Rio Bravo\">Rio Bravo<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/john-waynes-movie-verbal-magic-moments\/#Brannigan\" title=\"Brannigan\">Brannigan<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"John_Waynes_Movie_Verbal_Magic_Moments\"><\/span>John Wayne\u2019s Movie Verbal Magic Moments<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Having delved into the JW film catalog and selected some of my favourite non-verbal \u2018magic moments\u2019 in John Wayne\u2019s movies, I thought I\u2019d list a few of the memorable verbal moments as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A pivotal moment in this Ford \/ Wayne classic in which JW proves to the many naysayers out there that, given the right script and the right director, he could hold his own in the acting stakes against the best that Hollywood had to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/WayneSearchers-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"John Wayne in The Searchers\" class=\"wp-image-4198\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/WayneSearchers-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/WayneSearchers-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/WayneSearchers.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Searchers\"><\/span>The Searchers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Poor old Brad thinks he\u2019s just seen Lucy, his fianc\u00e9, in the Comanche village but Ethan has to tell him that \u2018What you saw was a buck, wearing Lucy\u2019s dress\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When a distraught Brad pushes for more information, Ethan\u2019s anguish explodes to the surface as he shouts \u2018What do you want me to do? Draw you a picture! Spell it out! Don\u2019t ever ask me. Long as you live don\u2019t ever ask me more\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, Brad has about one minute left to live before he rides off to his doom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I found this scene even more impressive after Harry Carey Jr. related the story about how they had to do it twice. Apparently Ward Bond accidentally unplugged the power to the camera so that he could use his electric shaver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a wonder he got out of there alive himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"McLintock\"><\/span>McLintock!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I hesitate to include this as it\u2019s probably one of the most revered JW \u2018moments\u2019 of all time, but I can still remember, when I first saw the movie back in 1963, the reaction of the delighted audience who almost burst into applause when Duke punched Leo Gordon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Goaded by Gordon poking him in the stomach with a loaded shotgun \u2013 watch the scene for yourselves and note Strother Martin wincing each time it happens \u2013 Wayne snatches the rifle away then famously declares \u2018Somebody ought to belt you in the mouth. But I won\u2019t. I won\u2019t. The hell I won\u2019t\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The rest, as they say, is history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prior to delivering the knockout punch, Wayne refers to Gordon as \u2018Pilgrim\u2019. Either Duke was improvising or he\u2019d forgotten Gordon\u2019s character was called Jones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Alamo\"><\/span>The Alamo<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve been very critical of the script that James Edward Grant wrote for The Alamo, finding it in turn bombastic, preachy and at times downright corny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is, however, one moment in the film when Grant subtly captures the poignancy of the characters left to ponder their fate the night before the final battle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the defenders silently contemplate their thoughts, Crockett is asked what he might be thinking, to which he replies \u2018Not thinking \u2013 just remembering\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a powerfully emotional moment in a somewhat overblown production but serves to remind JW fans why Duke felt he had to make the film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"She_Wore_a_Yellow_Ribbon\"><\/span>She Wore a Yellow Ribbon<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A sadly non-Oscar nominated performance from Wayne, playing a character, Captain Brittles, several years older than he was at the time. His troops throw in a collection for a retirement present \u2013 \u2018even Sergeant Houghbauer\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brittles takes the gift, a watch, then looks around in embarrassment as he retrieves a pair of glasses in order to make out the sentiment on the back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brittles reads out loud, \u2018To Captain Brittles, from C Troop. Lest we forget\u2019, the last three words spoken with a catch in his voice. He clears his throat and sniffs to staunch the emotions that lay just beneath the surface and we, the audience, see Brittles as a real person and not just as Captain of C Troop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He thanks the soldiers then takes a moment to compose himself. The man then becomes the soldier again, ordering his Lieutenant to take his troop and \u2018proceed on your mission\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Utterly sublime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Man_Who_Shot_Liberty_Valance\"><\/span>The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most enjoyable aspects of watching any John Wayne movie, particularly his Westerns, is anticipating at what point our boy decides he\u2019s not going to take any more crap from whoever\u2019s been goading him throughout the film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are so many examples of this I could be writing about them until I fall off the perch. I\u2019ve already mentioned McLintock! so here\u2019s a couple more in the same vein worth mentioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Duke waits patiently for his dinner, then watches as as Liberty Valance trips up the waiter, \u2018Pilgrim\u2019 James Stewart, who ends up wiping the floor with JWs steak. Mr. Valance then receives the heart-stopping news from JW that \u2018that was my steak, Valance\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For a moment we salivate at the prospect of JW finally meting out some frontier justice to Liberty, but before violence erupts between the two protagonists, in steps a rather incautious Strother Martin, as one of Valance\u2019s cronies, rather unwisely attempting to retrieve the steak and break the tension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately for him the only thing that gets broken is his head as Duke delivers a well-aimed boot to Martin\u2019s face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The moral of the story: Never get between Duke and his dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rio_Bravo\"><\/span>Rio Bravo<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is another JW \u2018he plum riled me\u2019 moment in which Duke tries to keep his anger in check and fails miserably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He saunters in though the back door of a saloon into which it is believed the killer of one of his friends has fled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An unusually sober Dude oversees the interrogation of the rest of the saloon as John T. plants himself firmly next to two villains at the other end of the saloon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When Dude announces \u2018we\u2019re looking for somebody who ran in here\u2019, second villain at the back of the bar asserts \u2018Nobody\u2019s run in here\u2019. An affronted John T. menacingly informs the idiot that \u2018We\u2019ll remember you said that\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it turns out second villain at the back of the bar was lying, Chance impresses upon him the error of his ways by whacking him across the face with his rifle, Duke\u2019s weapon of choice in this particular bar (see <a href=\"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/john-waynes-movie-moments\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">part 1<\/a> of this article on another Rio Bravo moment).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dude prevails upon his colleague to lighten up, to which John T. replies \u2018I\u2019m not gonna hurt him\u2019, which is kind of moot on account of second villain at the back of the saloon is already lying flat out on the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another moral: Never lie to John Wayne unless you want to keep your teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Brannigan\"><\/span>Brannigan<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ll keep this one short.John Wayne joke:\u2018Knock knock\u2019\u2018Who\u2019s there?\u2019\u2018Brannigan\u2019Love it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep your suggestions for more memorable John Wayne moments coming in either in the comments below or on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MostlyWesterns\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MostlyWesterns FB page<\/a> and we may look having a roundup article on this subject at a later date.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>John Wayne\u2019s Movie Verbal Magic Moments Having delved into the JW film catalog and selected some of my favourite non-verbal \u2018magic moments\u2019 in John Wayne\u2019s movies, I thought I\u2019d list a few of the memorable verbal moments as well. A &#8230; <a title=\"John Wayne\u2019s Movie Verbal Magic Moments\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/john-waynes-movie-verbal-magic-moments\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about John Wayne\u2019s Movie Verbal Magic Moments\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4258,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[92,111],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4241"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4241"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4241\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5090,"href":"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4241\/revisions\/5090"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4241"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4241"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostlywesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4241"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}