The man who would come to be known across the world as John Wayne was not born to be a superstar. He was born Marion Robert Morrison in a small wooden house in the state of Iowa. In his early years he rode a horse to school and swam with his younger brother in a nearby ditch. He was a promising athlete and began a degree in law, but both pursuits would end in frustration. So how did he climb the slippery rungs of the Hollywood ladder to become one of the most recognisable actors in movie history? From his humble origins to his early films, breakthrough role, major hits and many lovers, this is the in-depth story of the life of one of cinema's most colourful characters.
“COURAGE IS BEING SCARED TO DEATH, BUT SADDLING UP ANYWAY…
John Wayne: The Utimate Collector’s Edition
THE NAME’S DUKE
EARLY YEARS • How a Midwestern boy named Marion distinguished himself thanks to physical prowess and sheer determination
A BOOT IN THE DOOR • How the young Duke Morrison went from behind-the-scenes prop shifting to the cusp of stardom
STAGECOACH THE DUKE’S BIG BREAK • After eight years in B-movie wilderness, Wayne landed the role that would transform his fortunes
A NEW FRONTIER
AMERICA’S FAVOURITE COWBOY • From Westerns to war films, John Wayne’s star was firmly in the ascendant in the 1940s
A REAL-LIFE GUNFIGHT • Being prevented from serving his country in WWII cast a heavy shadow over a fierce patriot
TOP 10 FILMS of the 1940s • From Westerns to war, the forties saw Wayne transform into a big box-office star and earn a first shot at the Oscars
MOVIE MAVERICK
BEHIND THE CAMERA • A superstar by the end of the 1940s, Wayne would dominate cinema in the following decade
LEADING LADIES • Becoming a Hollywood heartthrob made it difficult for the Duke to stay faithful
TOP 10 FILMS of the 1950s • Boxer, pilot, sheriff, coach: Hollywood’s hottest star proved he was more than a cowboy and dazzled audiences with some iconic fifties performances
THE CONTROVERSIAL PATRIOT
POLITICAL POWERHOUSE • Wayne wasn’t just satisfied with ruling the big screen – he wanted to play a key role in deciding who ruled America
THE ALAMO • It was the passion project of John Wayne’s life but one undermined by his own political agenda
FALSE ADVERTISING • How Wayne promoted the deadly habit that would ultimately take his life
TOP 10 FILMS of the 1960s • The sixties saw Wayne recognised as the best in his profession, but not before a health scare that nearly ended his life
A TROUBLING ICON
HOLLYWOOD HERO • As the tides of progress rippled across the world, one leading man remained resolutely traditional
THE PLAYBOY INTERVIEW • Wayne was nothing if not candid, but the views he aired in a 1971 interview shocked America
STAGE FRIGHT • Marlon Brando’s refusal to accept his 1973 Oscar confused the audience, but it positively enraged John Wayne
SMALL-SCREEN STAR • Wayne wasn’t just a big-screen star – TV beamed him into homes across America
END CREDITS • In 1979, Wayne confronted his final call with the courage that had defined his life
THE ANGEL & THE BADMAN
THE MAN BEHIND THE MOVIES • Away from the cameras and co-stars, who was the real John Wayne?
A CHEQUERED LEGACY • How does Wayne’s uncompromising approach and complex legacy stand up today?
WAYNE’S WORLD • Hollywood’s most iconic tough guy didn’t just grace cinema – he changed it
STEP BACK IN TIME WITH OUR HISTORY TITLES • Immerse yourself in a world of emperors, pioneers, conquerors and legends and discover the events that shaped humankind
JOHN WAYNE BY NUMBERS