***WARNING - this response is a tad long!***I lived in Los Angeles from 1995-2004, and worked in “the industry” in very specialized areas (vocal music and voice overs), and I was fortunate to meet A LOT of wonderful people who were connected in various ways to some of Hollywood’s all-time greats from the Golden Age to the present - I’m still in contact with most of them…
Through my “non-industry” musical activities, I was also blessed to be associated with 4 or 5 producers and directors - one of whom has been in movies/TV since the early 50’s (I’m not going to drop any names, but he directed a few long running Norman Lear shows) - and he knew JW for MANY years (as well as the family), and had many dealings with Batjac (JW’s production company) along the way.
He shared with me MANY stories of how Michael dealt with people (before and AFTER JW’s death - there was a marked difference in the two “eras”), and even though he was an INCREDIBLE and highly effective caretaker of JW’s image and movies (after JW passed), he ALSO could be VERY mercurial and petty about the tiniest things - even with family. Part of this has been well-documented through the years, BTW.
Before he passed in 1979, JW kept Michael on a VERY tight leash, and stressed the importance of dealing with people in a fair, level-headed manner (this is from an interview Michael did several years ago)...However; after Duke passed, Michael decided to do things HIS way ALL the time, and all too frequently, became involved with far to many confrontational situations - even with family.
This is an observation shared by the industry people *I’ve* known through the years, and it relates DIRECTLY to the issue we’re discussing within this thread currently.
When these films were FINALLY released to the public on DVD, there was MUCH discussion about why it had taken so long, and even though MW claimed there were “legal issues” preventing a more timely release, EVERYONE that I’ve spoken to - all either still working or having spent their careers in the industry - said that based on what THEY knew about the situation was Michael was holding back the films for reasons *seemingly* known ONLY to him, and as I stated previously, the so-called “legal issues” excuse was merely a diversion...
Side note - For several years, I’ve been a member of the “John Wayne Message Board” - a VERY good site loaded with everything a person would EVER need to know about JW, his movies, his family (not in a lurid, gossip-like fashion), and nearly every co-star he ever had - and during the time of the release of these films, the boards were alive with questions and well-informed responses regarding this issue, and ALL of those who had connections to the industry said the very same thing that I’ve stated regarding this. It was all about Michael, and his unfathomable desire NOT to release the films prior to that time.
One theory - put forth by SEVERAL in the industry - states that Michael had simply been waiting for (in his estimation, at least) the “right time” to release them, based on - again - factors known only to him…It’s well documented that JW is one of Hollywood’s biggest stars ever, and his popularity has actually GROWN in the soon to be 36 years since his death.
So...the theory HAS merit, and based on the way Michael has acted regarding other film releases, not entirely out of the realm of possibility.
Finally - lest anyone thinks this a hatchet job on Michael Wayne, it’s not intended to be so, but rather an explanation of how it actually was, and how he sometimes dealt with people in business and sadly, family...He was COMPLETELY dedicated to preserving and protecting all things John Wayne, but at times, he was a bit “overzealous,” and it affected him both professionally (i.e. Batjac), and personally (issues between siblings).
I know this was a long response, but I felt I needed to be thorough in my explanation, and I REALLY hope this helps...
I don't act...I react. John Wayne
reply
share