dad

[rps]

 

One View of Father

 

It is sad that my students don’t know John Wayne. He was a cultural icon for half a century and the favorite actor of the best movie story teller ever, John Ford. They do not understand that Ford and Wayne’s body of work together defined an ideal man for generations. I bet they do not “get” the Shanghai Noon joke when Jackie Chan introduces himself to Owen Wilson as Chong Wang. I recently discovered their ignorance when I described my father as a less handsome John Wayne with a normal walk.

At 6’4” John Wayne was a half inch shorter than my father. Like John, father was long waisted; their height was in their torsos. Shoulders, necks, and hands were ridiculously broad. By contrast, they both had surprisingly small feet for their size. In The Quiet Man, John jumps across a brook in pursuit of Maureen O’Hara. If you watch, you realize that John was not a lumbering large man like his friend and frequent fellow star, Victor McLaughlin. John was agile and quick footed. Father had that same quick quality despite his size.

The comparison does not end with their physical attributes. Each was given unusual, mouthful names: Marion Michael Morrison, Kenneth Leroy Stainer. Both escaped ordinary lives by way of football. John attended USC. Dad enrolled at Tulsa University. Both were linemen and each lost his scholarship when injured.

The last comparison is based on an assumption. I have always assumed that John Wayne made his career by playing himself. When we see him hold the baby in The Three Godfathers, we see a gentle giant concerned lest he harm the child. When John comforts Maureen in the storm of The Quiet Man, he looks stricken he cannot do more. If my assumption is correct, then they shared those traits. Father spent his life trying to please and protect his wife and children. He kept a brutal temper in check, quietly endured, and did what he could. One image captures his nature. When feverish and ill, it was his great ham of a fist with fingers the size of nickel rolls that was the coolest comfort.

Unlike many, I have no particular interest in celebrities’ lives. I would not go out of my way to meet one, and when I was in California, I did not visit Graumans or go on a star tour. The only star I wish I had met was Wayne. I would like to have shaken his hand and looked in his eyes in person. It would be nice to know if the Duke measured up to father.

 

 

[ness]

Interesting post. Your dad sounds like an heckuva guy.
 

Although I can’t compare my dad to anyone really, especially anyone well known, I have a great deal of respect for him. The older I get the more I realize it too, and I have some regret that I didn’t let him know it more when he was here. Same with my mom. 

I’m a big fan of John Ford and John Wayne. I just finished watching She Wore a Yellow Ribbon again less than an hour ago. The Searchers is one of my favorites. I watched Three Godfathers again a week or two ago and I have How Green Was My Valley recorded from TCM and will watch it again soon. Quiet Man season is coming. 

[Quillback]

I've always considered the Sons of Katie Elder to be my favorite Wayne movie.  Dean Martin, Dennis Hopper, and Geroge Kennedy in it too.

Most leading men are short these days, Wayne would be a giant among them.

[Mitch f]

My father was a smaller kind and gentle man. I’m like my Uncle Mitch, the one I was named after. Like your dad @rps Have to keep my temper in check….don’t suffer fools gladly. I’ll never be as good as dad. 😏

[Terrierman]

My parents split up when I was 6.  Saw my dad one time after they divorced which was a doozy.  He's always been a mystery to me, one that I'll die with.

[Flysmallie]

20 hours ago, Quillback said:

I've always considered the Sons of Katie Elder to be my favorite Wayne movie. 

It is also one of my favorites. It’s loosely based off the Marlow Brothers. I grew up in Marlow, OK. We were the Marlow Outlaws. Lots of interesting history around there. 

[Quillback]

20 minutes ago, Flysmallie said:

It is also one of my favorites. It’s loosely based off the Marlow Brothers. I grew up in Marlow, OK. We were the Marlow Outlaws. Lots of interesting history around there. 

Thanks, I will have to read up on that, I like Old West history.

[Terrierman]

My vote for best Wayne western is "The Searchers".  His character in that one is a little complicated, which he did well.

[ness]

38 minutes ago, Terrierman said:

My vote for best Wayne western is "The Searchers".  His character in that one is a little complicated, which he did well.

Agree it’s his best. A  great character in that movie. I love the, “Let’s go home, Debbie” scene. 

Also loosely based on history. Cynthia Ann Parker was kidnapped as a small girl and raised by Comanches. Not a happy ending in real life. 

[Terrierman]

18 minutes ago, ness said:

Agree it’s his best. A  great character in that movie. I love the, “Let’s go home, Debbie” scene. 

Also loosely based on history. Cynthia Ann Parker was kidnapped as a small girl and raised by Comanches. Not a happy ending in real life. 

After that I'll take "True Grit".  Way too many memorable lines and scenes in that movie to do anything other than watch it again..