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SmokeSignalsWagon1967andTheUndefeated1969.Alsoin1969DukeWayneportrayedRoosterCogburninTrueGritbasedonCharlesPortisnovelpublishedin1968.MargueriteRobertsadaptedthestoryforthefilm.WhenDukeWaynereviewedthescreenplayheclaimeditwasthebestscripthehadeverread.ThemoviewasdirectedbyHenryHathawayandcostarredKimDarbyandpopularsingerGlenCampbell.OvertheyearsDukewouldcastpopularyoungmalesingersinhisfilmsperhapstodrawtheyoungersetespeciallyyoungwomen.TherewasRickyNelsonFrankieAvalonFabianBobbyVintonandGlenCampbell.Nonewereknownfortheiractingchops.ThefilmdidwellattheboxofficeandJohnWaynewonboththeAcademyAwardlongoverdueandtheGoldenGlobeforBestActor.DuringhismovingOscaracceptancespeechDukesaidWowIfIdknownthatIdhaveputthateyepatchon35yearsagoThehousewaspullingfortheagingmegastarthathadbeatencancer.Dukehadbeenachainsmokerallhisadultlifeandhaddevelopedlungcancerwhichwasfoundin1964.Hehadonelungremovedandcontrarytothewishesofthepublicistshewentpublicandencouragedpeopletoquitsmokingwhichhehaddoneandtogetalungx-ray.WhowastherealpersonabehindtheJohnWaynesuperstarimageMostoftenitsnotwisetotaketheopinionofanestrangedwifehoweverPilarinhermemoirsseemedtoprovideabalancereport.Accordingtoherhisworkwashislife.Dukewasattimesstubborndomineeringandinsensitive.HoweverHecouldbethesweetestmostcaringman.Hecouldbesotender.HisdaughterMarisasharedthatHewasagreatfather.Helovedhavingkidsaroundallthetime.Hewantedustobewithhimonthesetathomeonvacationoronourboat.AnitaLaCavaSwiftTonisdaughterandhisfirstgrandchildinarecentinterviewechoedMarisasremarksHelovedkidsHegaveyouhiscompleteattentionandwouldaskyouwhatyouenjoyeddoingandwhatyourhobbieswere.IhadtheroleofFagininOliverTwistwhenIwasinthe8thgrade.Unknowntomeheshowsupfortheperformance.ThenaftereachfollowingshowIwouldgetatelegramandabouquetofflowers.AtypicaltelegramwouldreadGreatshowAnita..wouldliketotalktoyouaboutacontract.SignedLouieB.Mayer.ThenextnightitwouldbeatelegramandflowersfromsomeonelikeLouWassermanandsoon.HewasagreatgranddadEthanregardingthesubjectofhisfatherspoliticalviewscommentedTheresamisconceptionaboutmydadspoliticalviews.Hewasnotarubber-stampconservative.Hewasanindependentthinker.HehadanenormousloveforAmericabecauseitofferedsomuchintermsofopportunitiesifyouknewhowtoworkforthemandtakeadvantageofthem.MichaelandPatrickwerewithhimmostoften.PatrickoncesharedIlovedhim.Hewasagreatfather.Henevergaveadvice.AndyesIhavetoadmiteventhoughIfeltateasewithhimhecouldstillbeintimidating.HewasJohnWayneafterall.AnitasharedaparticularstorythatrelatestoPatricksobservation.HerclosestfriendinschoolwasPatthedaughterofthelegendarydirectorAlfredHitchcock.AssuchshewouldoftenhavesupperwiththeHitchcocks.OneeveningMr.Hitchcockinquiredaboutmygrandfather.Itoldhimhejustmadecowboymovies.Thedirectorinhisuniquemannerofspeakingtoldmethatmygrandfatherwasveryfamous.FranklyIwassurprisedheknewofmygranddad.Itoldmymotherthestoryandshelaughed.IalsoshareditwithmygranddadwhenIsawhimandhechuckledandsaidYesIvemetHitchafewtimes.HewasJohnWayneafterallDuringthe70sDukeforthemostpartmaintainedhisbusyschedulemakingoneortwofilmsperyear.In1970hemadeChisumandRioLobothenBigJake1971TheCowboys1972TheTrainRobbers1973CahillU.S.Marshall1973RosterCogburnwithKathrynHepburn1975andhisfinalfilmTheShootist1976.ThetwofilmsinmyopinionthatwarrantsomediscussionareTheCowboysandTheShootist.TheCowboyswasbasedonanovelbyWilliamDaleJennings.TheformertelevisionactorandarelativelynewdirectorMarkRydellsupposedlywantedGeorgeC.Scotttoplaytheagingcowbossasheopposedsomeofthewell-knownconservativeviewsofJohnWayne.HowevertheHIGHNOON22