According to comments by Ford, he treated Wayne roughly during filming of this movie because he considered Wayne less than patriotic for his lack of service during the war compared to Montgomery who served in Europe and the Pacific. Yet they were able to move past this on work on several films ( some of Wayne's greatest) together.
shareYou're correct.
Montgomery actually went to Ford and advised him that, if he was going after Wayne on his (Montgomery's) account, he wished he would stop it.
According to more than one source (and maybe Ford himself), Ford was so moved by Montgomery's gesture, he actually misted up a bit.
All military issues aside, Ford was VERY rouh on Wayne from the begining, and was known to be rough on ANYONE at anytime. The reason given was that the other actors would "help out" the one being picked on.
Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway. John Wayne
There seems to be unanimous agreement that John Ford, on a GOOD day, was one, cantankerous S.O.B.! However, at least part of the time, as I understand it, he was one of those directors who would "strategically" goad his actors; this particular method of film direction could, often, be quite successful in obtaining the kind of delivery for which Ford and other directors were striving to achieve from their performers on camera; on the other hand, "successful performance" or NOT, more than a few actors and actresses opted out of ever again working for Ford and other with directors with like-temperment.
Maybe John Wayne sensed that, underneath all of Ford's irrascibility, there was something of a fatherly concern on Ford's part to help Wayne become a better actor. Seems to have worked for Wayne, judging from the body of work he and Ford generated between 1939 and the 1960's!
Secret Message, HERE!-->CONGRATULATIONS!!! You've discovered the Secret Message!
It's a known fact that Ford ripped "his" people new ones at the drop of a hat.....
BUT, something that seems to have eluded you guys is the fact that he also had a great respect for his "stock" company - even though he didn't always show it!
Guys like Ward Bond, Jack Pennic, Russell Simpson, among others, were staples in Fords' stable.
If you drank - and it REALLY helped if did and had Irish blood flowing through your veins, you were in with Ford.
In "They Were Expendable" note the theme played whenever Russell Simpson (Dad, the ship fitter) was around, it was "Red River Valley"....Ahem, that was the theme song to Ford's 1940 classic "The Grapes of Wrath" where Simpson portrayed Pa Joad....It was no coincidence it was used here...
Ward Bond actually portrayed Ford in the 1957 film "The Wings of Eagles" (also directed by Ford), except, as a gag he called himself John DODGE.
As mentioned, Ford was rough on many of his actors... especially those he worked with often (Wayne, Fonda, and I believe even Maureen O'Hara, to name a few). John Ford was pretty tough on the Duke from the beginning. In Stagecoach, Ford was supposedly rough on Wayne on purpose to get those around him to be on Duke's side. It was a tough relationship throughout their careers, but Wayne greatly respected Ford.
"Now what kind of man are YOU dude?"
The Straight Dope has a piece on Wayne's wartime action: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1055/was-john-wayne-a-draft-d odger
shareThanks for the link, Jason. Sorry I'm a little late (more than a year), but I always wondered why John Wayne didn't serve. He was worried about his career...hmm. Too bad all those young kids who got drafted and killed didn't have that option.
share[deleted]
That link's a load of crap.Here's the truth about The Duke.
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Hollywood/2010/02/28/John-Wayne--World-War-II-and-the-Draft
- - -
Fill your hand you son of a bitch!
Ford also baited Jimmy Stewart into making a disparaging remark about Woody Strode's look in "Liberty Valance", then gathered the entire cast around him to openly wonder if Stewart had a problem with blacks.
Ford was a talented director, but he could be a sadistic SOB. Henry Fonda knocked him down during "Mister Roberts", and the two never worked together again.
Absurdity: A Statement or belief inconsistent with my opinion.
Joe -
I hate to call you out on this, but it was the other way around. Ford punched Fonda out with NO provocation whatsoever during the filming of Mr. Roberts, and it changed their personal AND working relationships forever...
He came back a few hours later to give a half-assed apology, but it was too late.
For the full story, check out the full story, check out the book: "Three Bad Men," by Scott Allen Nollen.
It's about John Ford, John Wayne, and Ward Bond...
I don't act...I react. John Wayne
[deleted]
YOUR LINK HAS A TON OF CRAP IN IT TOO. EVER HEAR THE TERM OPINIONS ARE LIKE *beep* JOHN FORD'S OSS? GIVE ME A BREAK. JOHN FORD NEVER WAS IN THE OSS (OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES-FORERUNNER OF THE CIA!). JOHN FORD HEADED UP A MOVIE PROPAGANDA UNIT, WHICH BASICALLY IS WHAT IT WAS! HE MADE MOVIES FOR THE GOVERNMENT! THAT IS ALL. BOY YOU SURE DID YOUR HOMEWORK.
shareYes, he did. John Ford's film unit was, in fact, under the OSS. Just because you did not originate it does not mean it is not true. You should have stayed on the rock to chase goony birds
The best diplomat I know is a fully charged phaser bank.
I just read the account of this in the wonderful and informative book "Five Came Back".
The details are interesting. Ford, filming a simple scene where the navy men had to salute, no big problem, kept calling for another take. Finally, he shouted to Wayne "Can't you salute as if you WERE in the service". Wayne left the set, and that's when Montgomery called Ford out.
It's amazing that Wayne went on working with Ford, and did some of his best work much later.
It's also interesting watching The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, where Wayne played the man of action, who understood the importance of physical confrontation, who had to teach the green "citizen" the need to take up arms. In reality, it was Stewart who fought in the war, and Wayne who sat out, playing Hollywood war heroes.
"What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence."
It was the same in the film 'Sands of Iwo Jima', where John Wayne had scenes where he gave bayonet training to actors who had actually served with the Marines in combat.
share