John Wayne filmography (1941-1960)

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For main details see: John Wayne Due to its massive size, Wayne's filmography is divided into three articles:

  1. John Wayne filmography (1926-1940)
  2. John Wayne filmography (1941-1960)
  3. John Wayne filmography (1961-1976)


Contents

[edit] Overview

John Wayne had achieved stardom in motion pictures by 1941 and, by the end of the decade, was one of the cinema's top ten box office attractions. During the latter half of the 1940s Wayne starred in what many film fans and critics regard as being among his finest work, notably the "cavalry trilogy" (Fort Apache, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and Rio Grande) for director John Ford, 3 Godfathers, also for Ford, and Red River for Howard Hawks. Wayne also began producing some of his own films during this period.

The 1950s would see Wayne continue as a major star although the artistic quality of his work varied greatly. For instance, he followed one of his finest films, The Quiet Man, with one of his weakest, Big Jim McLain. By contrast, after making one of the worst films that he (or anyone else for that matter) made, The Conqueror, he made one of the greatest films that he (or anyone else for that matter) made, The Searchers. Wayne also continued his producing activities during this period as well, notably with the formation of his own production company, Batjac.

In 1960, Wayne appeared in his most personal production, The Alamo, which he produced and directed as well as starred in.

[edit] Studio name abbreviations

abbreviation studio name abbreviation studio name abbreviation studio name
Arm Armada Productions MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 20th 20th Century-Fox
Arg Argosy Mon Monterey Productions WB Warner Bros.
Batjac Batjac Par Paramount W-F Wayne-Fellows Productions
Col Columbia Rep Republic UA United Artists
CVW C.V. Whitney RKO RKO Radio Uni Universal
Fen Fenady Associates Rom Romina Productions

[edit] Filmography (1941-1960)

# Title Studio Role Leading Lady Director Notes
- 1941 -
94 A Man Betrayed (US title) Rep Lynn Hollister Frances Dee John H. Auer w/ Ward Bond
Citadel of Crime (GB title)
Wheel of Fortune (TV title)
95 Lady from Louisiana Rep John Reynolds Ona Munson Bernard Vorhaus w/ Ray Middleton, Henry Stephenson.
96 The Shepherd of the Hills Par Matt Matthews Betty Field Henry Hathaway w/ Harry Carey. Wayne's first film in color (Technicolor).
97 Meet the Stars: Past and Present Rep Himself - Harriet Parsons A promotional short.
- 1942 -
98 Lady for a Night Rep Jack Morgan Joan Blondell Leigh Jason Wayne is billed second.
99 Reap the Wild Wind Par Capt. Jack Stuart Paulette Goddard Cecil B. DeMille w/ Ray Milland, Raymond Massey, Robert Preston, Susan Hayward. Filmed in Technicolor. Wayne is billed second[1] in this sea-faring epic. His only film with DeMille.
100 The Spoilers Uni Roy Glennister Marlene Dietrich Ray Enright w/ Randolph Scott, Harry Carey, Richard Barthelmess. Sprawling version of the Rex Beach novel[2], climaxing with an epic saloon fight between Wayne and Scott (in a rare villainous role). Wayne is billed third.
Margaret Lindsay
101 In Old California Rep Tom Craig Binnie Barnes William McGann Wayne plays a pharmacist in this film, which was the occupation of his real-life father.
102 Flying Tigers Rep Jim Gordon Anna Lee David Miller Wayne's first war movie.
103 Reunion in France (US title) MGM Pat Talbot Joan Crawford Jules Dassin w/ Philip Dorn.
Mademoiselle France (GB title)
104 Pittsburgh Uni Charles "Pittsburgh" Markham Marlene Dietrich Lewis Seiler w/ Randolph Scott, Shemp Howard. An unrelated follow-up to the The Spoilers with the same three leads. Wayne is billed third.
Louise Albritton
- 1943 -
105 A Lady Takes a Chance RKO Duke Hudkins Jean Arthur William A. Seiter Wayne billed second. Produced by Frank Ross (Arthur's husband).
106 In Old Oklahoma Rep Dan Somers Martha Scott Al Rogell w/ Albert Dekker, George "Gabby" Hayes, Dale Evans.
War of the Wildcats (re-issue title)
- 1944 -
107 The Fighting Seabees Rep Wedge Donovan Susan Hayward Edward Ludwig Another war movie, this one dealing with the US Navy's famed construction battalion.
108 Tall in the Saddle RKO Rocklin Ella Raines Edwin L. Marin w/ Ward Bond, George "Gabby" Hayes
109 Flame of Barbary Coast Rep Duke Fergus Ann Dvorak Joseph Kane w/ Joseph Schildkraut, William Frawley.
110 Back to Bataan RKO Col. Joseph Madden - Edward Dmytryk w/ Anthony Quinn, Beulah Bondi.
111 They Were Expendable MGM Lt. Rusty Ryan Donna Reed John Ford w/ Robert Montgomery, Jack Holt, Ward Bond. Wayne gets second billing to Montgomery in this film about naval PT boats.
- 1945 -
112 Dakota Rep John Devlin Vera Hruba Ralston Joseph Kane w/ Walter Brennan, Ward Bond.
- 1946 -
113 Without Reservations RKO Rusty Thomas Claudette Colbert Mervyn LeRoy w/Don DeFore. Wayne has second billing under Colbert. From this point on Wayne would always have top billing (except for appearances in "all-star" films or guest appearances).
- 1947 -
114 Angel and the Badman Rep Quirt Evans Gail Russell James Edward Grant w/ Bruce Cabot, Harry Carey. Wayne's first film as producer as well as star.
115 Tycoon RKO Johnny Munroe Laraine Day Richard Wallace w/ Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Anthony Quinn, Judith Anderson, James Gleason. Location shooting at Lone Pine. Filmed in Technicolor.
- 1948 -
116 Red River Mon Thomas Dunson Joanne Dru Howard Hawks w/ Montgomery Clift,[3] Walter Brennan, John Ireland, Harry Carey, Harry Carey, Jr., Noah Beery, Jr., Hank Worden. Generally regarded as one of Wayne's finest films and finest performances. His first film with director Hawks.
UA Coleen Gray
117 Fort Apache Arg Capt. Kirby York Shirley Temple John Ford w/ Henry Fonda, John Agar, Victor McLaglen, Ward Bond, George O'Brien. The first of Ford's "cavalry trilogy." Filmed on location in Monument Valley.
RKO
118 3 Godfathers Arg Robert Marmaduke Hightower Mildred Natwick John Ford Filmed in Technicolor on location in Death Valley, California.[4]
MGM
119 Wake of the Red Witch Rep Edward Ludwig Gail Russell Capt. Ralls w/ Gig Young, Adele Mara, Luther Adler.
- 1949 -
120 The Fighting Kentuckian Rep John Breen Vera Hruba Ralston George Waggner w/ Philip Dorn, Oliver Hardy,[5] Marie Windsor. Wayne produced this film.
121 She Wore a Yellow Ribbon Arg Capt. Nathan Brittles Joanne Dru John Ford w/John Agar, Victor McLaglen, Harry Carey, Jr., Mildred Natwick, George O'Brien. The second film in Ford's "cavalry trilogy." Filmed in Technicolor on location in Monument Valley.
RKO
122 Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Rodeo Col Himself - Ralph Staub A documentary short.
123 Sands of Iwo Jima Rep Sgt. John M. Stryker Adele Mara Allan Dwan w/ John Agar, Forrest Tucker. Wayne received his first Academy Award nomination for this film.
Julie Bishop
NOTE: After filming Sands of Iwo Jima Wayne made Jet Pilot. However, Jet Pilot was not released theatrically until 1957. Therefore, it appears in this filmography under that year of release as entry number 143.
- 1950 -
124 Rio Grande[6] Arg Lt. Col. Kirby Yorke[7] Maureen O'Hara John Ford w/ Ben Johnson, Claude Jarman, Jr., Harry Carey, Jr., and Victor McLaglen. The last of Ford's "cavalry trilogy" and Wayne's first of five teamings with O'Hara. Filmed on location in Monument Valley.
Rep
- 1951 -
125 Screen Snapshots: Reno's Silver Spur Awards Col Himself - Ralph Staub A documentary short.
126 Operation Pacific WB "Duke" Gifford Patrica Neal George Waggner w/ Ward Bond.
127 The Screen Director WB Himself - - A promotional short featuring a scene on the set of Operation Pacific with John Ford directing Wayne. (Actually, George Waggner was the director of that film, so this scene was obviously staged.)
128 Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Awards Col Himself - Ralph Staub A documentary short.
129 Flying Leathernecks RKO Major Dan Kirby - Nicholas Ray w/ Robert Ryan. Produced by Howard Hughes.
- 1952 -
130 Miracle in Motion Rep Narrator - - Wayne narrates this fund-raiser for the benefit of the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation.
131 The Quiet Man Arg Sean Thornton Maureen O'Hara John Ford Filmed in Technicolor on location in Ireland. One of Wayne's most beloved films. His children Michael, Patrick, Melinda, and Antonia have small roles in the film.
Rep
132 Big Jim McLain W-F Big Jim McLain Nancy Olsen Edward Ludwig w/ James Arness, Alan Napier. An anti-communist action film. Generally considered to be one of Wayne's worst films. Produced by Wayne.
WB
- 1953 -
133 Trouble Along the Way WB Steve Aloysius Williams Donna Reed Michael Curtiz w/ Charles Coburn, Sherry Jackson.
134 Island in the Sky W-F Capt. Dooley - William A. Wellman w/ Lloyd Nolan, Walter Abel, James Arness. Wayne also produced.
WB
135 Hondo W-F Hondo Lane Geraldine Page John Farrow w/ Ward Bond, Michael Pate, James Arness. Based on a story by Louis L'Amour. Filmed in 3D and WarnerColor. Wayne also produced.
WB
- 1954 -
136 The High and the Mighty WB Dan Roman Claire Trevor William A. Wellman w/ Robert Stack, Phil Harris, Robert Newton, Paul Kelly. Wayne also produced this aviation drama. A big hit in its day, filmed in CinemaScope and WarnerColor. This was Wayne's first wide-screen film since The Big Trail (1930).
W-F Laraine Day
Batjac Jan Sterling
Par
- 1955 -
137 The Sea Chase WB Capt. Karl Ehrlich Lana Turner John Farrow w/ David Farrar, Tab Hunter, James Arness. Filmed in CinemaScope and WarnerColor on location in Hawaii. Wayne took an unusual role as a WWII German naval officer.
138 Screen Snapshots: The Great Al Jolson Col Himself - Ralph Staub A documentary short salute Jolson. Wayne is one of the celebrities shown in the film.
139 Blood Alley WB Captain Tom Wilder Lauren Bacall William A. Wellman Filmed in CinemaScope and WarnerColor. Wayne produced this film and replaced Robert Mitchum after firing him.
- 1956 -
140 The Conqueror RKO Temüjin
(Genghis Khan)		 Susan Hayward Dick Powell w/ Pedro Armendariz, Agnes Moorehead. Filmed in CinemaScope and Technicolor. Produced by Howard Hughes. Generally regarded as one of the worst movies ever made.
141 The Searchers CVW Ethan Edwards Vera Miles John Ford w/ Jeffrey Hunter, Ward Bond, Henry Brandon, Olive Carey, John Qualen, Hank Worden, Patrick Wayne. Filmed in VistaVision and Technicolor. Generally regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made.
WB Natalie Wood
Dorothy Jordan
- 1957 -
142 The Wings of Eagles MGM Frank "Spig" Wead Maureen O'Hara John Ford w/ Dan Dailey, Ward Bond,[8] Ken Curtis, Edmund Lowe. Filmed in Metrocolor.
143 Jet Pilot RKO Colonel Jim Shannon Janet Leigh Josef von Sternberg Filmed in Technicolor and released in RKO-Scope. Shot in 1949-1950 but not released until 1957. Produced by Howard Hughes. Generally regarded as one of Wayne's worst films.
Uni
144 Legend of the Lost Batjac Joe January Sophia Loren Henry Hathaway w/ Rossano Brazzi. Filmed in Technirama and Technicolor on location in the Libyan desert.
UA
- 1958 -
145 I Married a Woman RKO Himself Angie Dickinson Hal Kanter Wayne has a unbilled cameo in this minor comedy starring George Gobel and Diana Dors. Filmed in RKO-Scope and black and white except for one of Wayne's two scenes, which was shot in Technicolor.
Uni
146 The Barbarian and the Geisha 20th Townsend Harris Eiko Ando John Huston w/ Sam Jaffe. Inspired by a true story. Filmed in CinemaScope and Eastmancolor.
- 1959 -
147 Rio Bravo Arm John T. Chance Angie Dickinson Howard Hawks w/ Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan, Ward Bond, John Russell, Claude Akins. Generally regarded as one of Wayne's best, provided the template and format for many of his later films.
WB
148 The Horse Soldiers UA Col. John Marlowe Constance Towers John Ford w/ William Holden, Hoot Gibson. Filmed in Deluxe color.
- 1960 -
149 The Alamo Batjac Col. David Crockett Linda Cristal John Wayne w/ Richard Widmark, Laurence Harvey, Richard Boone, Chill Wills, Frankie Avalon, Patrick Wayne. Wayne fulfilled a long-time dream by producing, directing, and starring in this epic telling of the battle for Texas independence. Filmed in Todd-AO and Technicolor.
UA
150 North to Alaska 20th Sam McCord Capucine Henry Hathaway w/ Stewart Granger, Ernie Kovacs, Fabian. Filmed in CinemaScope and Deluxe color.

[edit] As Producer Only

John Wayne produced, but did not star in, the feature films listed below:

# Title Year Studio Director Stars
1 The Bullfighter and the Lady 1951 Rep Budd Boetticher Robert Stack, Joy Page, Gilbert Roland
2 Plunder of the Sun 1953 WB John Farrow Glenn Ford, Patricia Medina
3 Ring of Fear 1954 WB James Edward Grant Clyde Beatty, Pat O'Brien, Mickey Spillane
4 Track of the Cat 1956 Batjac William A. Wellman Robert Mitchum, Teresa Wright, Tab Hunter
WB
5 Goodbye, My Lady 1956 Batjac William A. Wellman Walter Brennan, Phil Harris, Brandon de Wilde, Sidney Poitier
WB
6 Seven Men From Now 1956 Batjac Budd Boetticher Randolph Scott, Gail Russell, Lee Marvin
WB
7 Gun the Man Down 1956 Batjac Andrew V. McLaglen James Arness, Angie Dickinson, Harry Carey, Jr.
UA
8 Man in the Vault 1956 Batjac Andrew V. McLaglen William Campbell, Karen Sharpe
Uni
9 China Doll 1958 Rom Frank Borzage Victor Mature, Li Li Hua, Ward Bond
Batjac
UA
10 Escort West 1959 Rom Francis D. Lyon Victor Mature, Elaine Stewart, Faith Domergue
Batjac
UA
11 Hondo and the Apaches 1967 Batjac Leo H. Katzin Ralph Taeger, Kathie Browne, Michael Rennie. A remake of Wayne's 1953 film and a pilot for a TV series.
Fen
MGM

[edit] Wayne's box office popularity

The following list is from the Motion Pictures Herald's annual poll of film exhibitors to deterinme the year's "Top Ten Stars." With one exception (1958), John Wayne appeared on the list every time from 1949 to 1973, indicating that he was cinema's most durable stars.

The period covered in this section is 1949 to 1960.

- 1949 - - 1950 - - 1951 - - 1952 - - 1953 - - 1954 -
# Actor # Actor # Actor # Actor # Actor # Actor
1 Bob Hope 1 John Wayne 1 John Wayne 1 Martin & Lewis 1 Gary Cooper 1 John Wayne
2 Bing Crosby 2 Bob Hope 2 Martin & Lewis 2 Gary Cooper 2 Martin & Lewis 2 Martin & Lewis
3 Abbott & Costello 3 Bing Crosby 3 Betty Grable 3 John Wayne 3 John Wayne 3 Gary Cooper
4 John Wayne 4 Betty Grable 4 Abbott & Costello 4 Bing Crosby 4 Alan Ladd 4 James Stewart
5 Gary Cooper 5 James Stewart 5 Bing Crosby 5 Bob Hope 5 Gary Cooper 5 Glenn Ford
6 Cary Grant 6 Abbott & Costello 6 Bob Hope 6 James Stewart 6 Marlon Brando 6 Martin & Lewis
7 Betty Grable 7 Clifton Webb 7 Randolph Scott 7 Doris Day 7 Martin & Lewis 7 Gary Cooper
8 Esther Williams 8 Esther Williams 8 Gary Cooper 8 Gregory Peck 8 Humphrey Bogart 8 Marilyn Monroe
9 Humphrey Bogart 9 Spencer Tracy 9 Doris Day 9 Susan Hayward 9 June Allyson 9 Kim Novak
10 Clark Gable 10 Randolph Scott 10 Spencer Tracy 10 Randolph Scott 10 Clark Gable 10 Frank Sinatra
- 1955 - - 1956 - - 1957 - - 1958 - - 1959 - - 1960 -
# Actor # Actor # Actor # Actor # Actor # Actor
1 James Stewart 1 William Holden 1 Rock Hudson 1 Glenn Ford 1 Rock Hudson 1 Doris Day
2 Grace Kelly 2 John Wayne 2 John Wayne 2 Elizabeth Taylor 2 Cary Grant 2 Rock Hudson
3 John Wayne 3 James Stewart 3 Pat Boone 3 Jerry Lewis 3 James Stewart 3 Cary Grant
4 William Holden 4 Burt Lancaster 4 Elvis Presley 4 Marlon Brando 4 Doris Day 4 Elizabeth Taylor
5 Bing Crosby 5 Marilyn Monroe 5 Frank Sinatra 5 Rock Hudson 5 Debbie Reynolds 5 Debbie Reynolds
6 Marilyn Monroe 6 Alan Ladd 6 Gary Cooper 6 William Holden 6 Glenn Ford 6 Tony Curtis
7 James Stewart 7 William Holden 7 William Holden 7 Brigitte Bardot 7 Frank Sinatra 7 Sandra Dee
8 Bob Hope 8 Bing Crosby 8 James Stewart 8 Yul Brynner 8 John Wayne 8 Frank Sinatra
9 Susan Hayward 9 Jane Wyman 9 Jerry Lewis 9 James Stewart 9 Jerry Lewis 9 Jack Lemmon
10 Randolph Scott 10 Marlon Brando 10 Yul Brynner 10 Frank Sinatra 10 Susan Hayward 10 John Wayne

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ When the film was re-issued in the 1950s Wayne and Hayward received top billing in the advertisements.
  2. ^ This story was also filmed in 1914, 1922, 1930, and 1955 with, respectively, William Farnum, Milton Sills, Gary Cooper, and Jeff Chandler in the Wayne role. Farnum also plays a supporting part in the Wayne version.
  3. ^ This was Clift's first film, although the second one he made, The Search (1948), was released before Red River.
  4. ^ Also filmed as Marked Men (1919), Hell's Heroes (1930), and Three Godfathers (1936) with, respectively, Harry Carey, Charles Bickford, and Chester Morris in the Wayne role.
  5. ^ One of only three sound films Hardy did without comic partner Stan Laurel.
  6. ^ The working title for Rio Grande was Rio Bravo, which, of course, was the title used for a 1959 Wayne western. Interestingly enough, the title Rio Grande had been used for a 1949 B-western starring Sunset Carson.
  7. ^ The character Wayne played here and in Fort Apache is the same character (just as it is in the short stories on which they are based), but here the character's last name has an added "e."
  8. ^ Bond plays a movie director named "John Dodge," an obvious spoof of the film's real director, John Ford.

[edit] References

  • Boswell, John, & Jay David. The John Wayne Album. New York , NY. Ballantine Books, 1979.
  • Eyles, Allan. John Wayne. New York, NY. A.S. Barnes and Co., 1979.