Summary
- John Wayne disapproved of
High Plains Drifter
for straying from traditional Western hero portrayals. - Clint Eastwood’s character in the film goes against classic Western protagonist roles.
- Despite differing views on character portrayal, both actors maintained successful careers post-disagreement.
As a seasoned cinephile with decades of film-watching under my belt, I must say that the contrast between Clint Eastwood and John Wayne’s cinematic approaches is as vast as the American west itself. While John Wayne’s characters embodied the unwavering spirit of the upstanding citizen, Clint Eastwood’s protagonists often grappled with inner demons and complexities that made them all the more intriguing.
1973 marked the year for iconic Hollywood star John Wayne, who had already starred in over 150 films and won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe at 66 years old. By this time, he was starting to ease up on his usual acting pace, with only two Westerns scheduled for release that year: “The Train Robbers” in February and “Cahill U.S. Marshal” in July. Given his long-standing association with the genre, it’s no wonder he kept a keen interest in any Western films. In fact, some believed he embodied the cowboy persona completely, exuding a strong yet honorable swagger both on and off set. It was during this time that this larger-than-life figure made an impact when a young, aspiring actor aimed to redefine American Westerns for good.
Between the two films of John Wayne that year, it was 43-year-old Clint Eastwood who was preparing to debut his second directorial effort, “High Plains Drifter.” Inspired by filmmakers he had collaborated with previously, such as Sergio Leone and Don Siegel (famous for films like “The Dollars Trilogy” and “Dirty Harry”), Eastwood aimed to craft a protagonist who was both enigmatic and rough-edged in this movie. The character portrayed by Eastwood, known as The Stranger, initially enters the town of Lago as a drifter. However, the citizens soon rely on him for their salvation against Stacey Bridges and the Carlin brothers. Unlike traditional Westerns, this ’70s revisionist film doesn’t easily invite sympathy for its protagonist. In fact, even John Wayne didn’t seem to support the character or the movie.
John Wayne Disapproved of the Revisionist Western
In my perspective, this character exhibits disrespect towards women and causes distress among the townsfolk as he prepares for a confrontation, radiating a sense of otherworldly wrath. Just as expected, he gallops into town, seemingly fulfilling a particular role without much regard for the consequences. Afterward, he vanishes once more into the sweltering mist of the mountains. If you haven’t yet seen High Plains Drifter, it’s easy to see why John Wayne might have found fault with this film. Interestingly enough, John Wayne made his displeasure known by penning a letter directly to Clint Eastwood.
Following a somewhat lukewarm response to his 1972 film “The Cowboys“, John Wayne was unexpectedly offered a collaboration by Clint Eastwood on a future project. However, The Duke had different ideas. When the rejection wasn’t entirely surprising, given his disinterest in films similar to those directed by Leone or Siegel (such as spaghetti westerns or gritty cop dramas), Wayne’s actual response to Eastwood was particularly scathing. In the book “Ride, Boldly Ride: The Evolution of the American Western“, film critic Kenneth Turan shares an excerpt from a letter written by John Wayne, where he explicitly expressed his disdain for Eastwood’s 1973 movie, “High Plains Drifter“.
That isn’t what the West was all about. That isn’t the American people who settled this country.
The Stranger vs John Wayne
It’s clear that the main character in “True Grit” was quite angry. To be fair, Eastwood had a point when he said that “High Plains Drifter” didn’t accurately depict the lives and eras of Western settlers. The Stranger role played by Eastwood wasn’t like any of John Wayne’s heroic characters. However, this doesn’t make “High Plains Drifter” a poor film. When confronted with such high-level criticism, Eastwood made it clear that the movie was never intended to be a firsthand account of the hardworking people who settled the American West, and it had no connection to the struggles of living in the wild, wild west.
“The High Plains Drifter wasn’t intended as a depiction of the hardworking hours of pioneer life, but rather as a symbolic tale.”
62-year-old actor Matthew McConaughey (the interview with him was conducted in 1992 for the Los Angeles Times) additionally emphasized a significant point. He and John Wayne, who were from different generations and held distinct views on what movies should portray, were noted. In almost all of Wayne’s films, his character was an upright citizen who never transgressed any boundary. This unyielding aspect of his persona wasn’t merely presumed; it was also evident during the filming of “The Shootist” in 1976.
Clint Eastwood’s Outlook on Character Work
John Wayne disagreed with director Don Siegel over his character firing at another man from behind (although his character does so in the original book that the movie is based on). Conversely, Clint Eastwood has no qualms about portraying a hero grappling with personal conflicts distinct from those presented in the narrative itself.
“I prefer characters who have their own struggles or flaws, rather than just focusing on the issue at hand in the story. This makes the plot more engaging and less predictable compared to traditional approaches.”
Despite John Wayne’s attempt to influence Clint Eastwood into a different acting path, neither actor’s reputation was tarnished by their minor disagreement. Eastwood continued to act and direct in an additional 40 films, including four in the Dirty Harry series, where John Wayne declined the main role. John Wayne remains remembered as one of Hollywood and America’s most admirable figures. For those interested, the movie that sparked this story, High Plains Drifter, can be rented on YouTube, Prime Video, and Google Play.
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2024-08-18 22:04