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Rating:  -
This book is essentially a discussion about an idea.
American values, & culture came to be influenced by the films & film roles of John Wayne, & the author explores that in great detail.
This book helped me understand why I admire the courage, resolution, dignity, & strength that his characters displayed, & why I admire Wayne's ability to disappear into the skin of whatever character he played.
Rating:  -
I just got done reading BOTH recent books on Wayne (this by Wills, the other by Olson & Roberts) and I have to say whilst Wills' was the more eloquent and thought-provoking, the latter was the more satisfying. I got more of the measure of the man Wayne from that book, plus a more chronological account of his life and his movies. Theirs was a more poignant ending; Wills' was more mythical and uplifting. Just my preference I suppose...
Rating: -
Wills has always brought his classicist's training to timely exegesis of the American zeitgeist. He convincingly argues that Wayne is not the absurd figure that 60s and 70s Baby Boomers remember, but the icon of the imperial America of the 40s and 50s. The Western was the perfect analog for our era of national "greatness" (if you consider it that). What's also interesting about Wills' timing is that this book came just before a resurgence of the sort of film that Wayne often starred in. If you look at Gladiator, it's really a Western, if less complex than those directed by John Ford. Imperial America rises again on the tech bubble....from Nixon Agonistes to the Duke, Wills rocks.
Rating: -
I wish Wills would write (say that 5X fast) separate books on (a) Wayne's popularity; (b) his life; (c) his movies; and (d) John Ford, Howard Hawks, Harry Carey, Yak Canutt, et al., etc. John Wayne has a supporting role in this book. It's good reading, don't get me wrong, but Wills doesn't nail his thesis on the head. He's more comfortable writing about John Ford's personality than the nature of celebrity in America. So really, we don't need to be told the obvious: John Wayne is still popular because he was so stinkin' good at what he did. Period. To Wills: I like Wagner's music, but I probably wouldn't like Wagner himself. So what. Wayne was a movie actor and did his job well; I enjoy his movies. Full stop. I'd recommend reading this book, though, until the definitive study of Wayne's films comes along.
Rating:  -
There is an excellent essay hidden away in this book. The question is does one have the time to search it out? Some interesting insights into the making of Stagecoach (cf stuntrider Yak Canutt)and The Searchers, and some analysis of the genesis and making of The Green Berets which is frankly hilarious, but much too much padding for my taste. I remain really interested in what drives that fascinating thing, The American Mind, and if there is a collective consciousness. I realise it remains true that Arnold Schwarzenegger is better known in small villages in India than their Prime Minister but that still doesn't explain the acceptance of Wayne as the Great American Hero. Wayne's huge popularity as pointed out in the book does point to a significant part of America has an image of itself that is inherent in Wayne's persona.
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