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19OCTOBER2013themandFordbackingJohnWaynetobetheRingoKiddidnotgooverwellwiththem.HollywoodhadnotforgottenthedismalboxofficereceiptsforTheBigTrail.EventuallyWalterWangeragreedtoproducethefilmhoweverhewantedGaryCooperandMarleneDietrichintheleadroles.FordstoodfirmforJohnWaynesoacompromisewasmadewherebyWangerwouldputupslightlymorethanhalfthemoneyheoriginallyagreedtoandthatClaireTrevorawell-establishedactresswouldreceivetopbilling.Fordagreedandanall-starsupportingcastwasassembled.ThestorywasaboutninepeoplewhosedestinieswereentwinedonaperilousjourneythroughApacheterritory.ThephotoplaywasstrongoncharacterdevelopmentsimilartoaBretHarteDamonRunyonorO.HenrynovellaplusincludedpanoramicvistasofthemajesticMonumentValley.ThefilmwentontoreceiveravereviewsfromcriticswasaboxofficehitandreceivedsixAcademyAwardnominationsincludingBestPicturewinningtwoOscarsThomasMitchellforBestSupportingActorasDocBooneandBestMusicScoring.JohnFordwonNewYorksFilmCriticsAwardforBestDirector.ThebrilliantfilmmakerOrsonWellessaidthatitwastheperfecttextbookonfilmmaking.BeforefilmingCitizenKaneWellesclaimedAfterdinnereverynightforamonthIdrunStagecoach.Howeverthebiggestwinnerofallwas32yearoldMarionMorrisonfromWintersetIowawhohadpreviouslyearnedhisstripesplayingtheheroin44BHorseOperas.ThebestreviewofhisroleastheRingoKidwasgivenbyafellowcastmemberLouisePlattwhoplayedtheexpectantmotherLucyMalloryHellbethebiggeststareverbecauseheistheperfecteveryman.QuitepropheticThe1940swasahectictryingperiodforourcountryandforDukeWayne.WiththesuccessofStagecoachtheopportunitiesforvariedrolesopenedupforfilmdomsemergingmoviestar.DukewouldmakeelevenwesternfilmsduringthedecadebeginningwithTheDarkCommand1940directedbyRaoulWalsh.Itco-starredClaireTrevorWalterPigeonandfourthbillingwasgiventothenextKingoftheCowboys-RoyRogers.AlsoJohnWayneplayedotherrolesinthe40sespeciallythestalwartWWIImilitaryherowhichnexttohiswesternroleswerethemostpopularamonghisadoringfans.TheDukewasespeciallyheroicinFlyingTigers1942thenfollowedTheyWereExpendable1945andSandsofIwoJima1949.In1975EmperorHirohitovisitedtheUSandrequestedtheStateDepartmenthelparrangeameetingbetweenhimandthentheworldsmostpopularmovieactor.WhentheDukeheardtherequesthesupposedlysaid-whywouldhewanttoseemeafterallImusthavekilledofftheentireJapaneseArmy.Yourstrulywas10yearsoldwhenSandsofIwoJimadirectedbyveterandirectorAlanDwanplayedinourlocaltheater.IwassomovedbythefilmthatIwantedtobealeatherneckjustlikeSgt.StrykerandyelloutLockandloadHoweverwhenSgt.StrykerwasshotbyasniperafterthefightingappearedoverIgottearyeyed.JohnWaynemaynothaveservedinactualcombathoweverhedidmoretohelpthemoraleofourtroopsandthefolksbackhomethananybureaucratinWashingtonDC.AfterhisdivorcefromJosieMorrisonwasfinaltheDukemarriedEsperanzaChataCeballosaMexicanactresshehadmetinMexicoCity1946.Itwasarockyrelationshipbetweenthetworightfromthestart.Sheevenshotathimonce.DukesaidOurmarriagewaslikeshakingtwovolatilechemicalsinajar.Chatawasupsetabouthisdedicationtohisworkandtheattentionhepaidtohischildrenplusshewasextremelyjealousofhisleadingladies.Themarriageendedin1952howeverthedivorcewasnotfinaluntil1954.Therewerenochildrenfromtheunion.SadlyChatadiedfromaheartattackatonly37.ThefiveJohnWaynewesternsfilmedbetween1947and1950werethebestoftheelevencowboymovieshemadeduringthe40s.AngelandtheBadman1947costarringGailRussellandHarryCareySr.isan