John Wayne had over 160 film credits to his name, but which movies were his personal favorites? Wayne was an actor for well over a decade before he broke through as a movie star with 1939’s Stagecoach. Before this, he had appeared in dozens of b-movie Westerns, such as his only real “horror” credit Haunted Gold. Over the next few decades, Wayne would become a screen icon, appearing in everything from war movies to romantic dramas.
Audiences knew him best as a Western star and he made some of the genre’s most acclaimed outings, including Rio Bravo – a Quentin Tarantino favorite – The Searchers and True Grit. The latter won Wayne his sole Oscar, and he signed off on his big screen career with 1976’s The Shootist. The latter was, fittingly, another Western that cast a young Ron Howard as Wayne’s co-star.
The Shootist wasn’t planned as a retirement movie, but ill health saw to it the star didn’t get to work on any other projects. It was during promotion for The Shootist that Wayne took part in an interview with Phil Donahue, which ended with an audience Q&A. This saw John Wayne answer a wide assortment of questions, including which of his own movies were his favorites.
John Wayne Was Proudest Of These Three Movies
John Wayne’s – who was nicknamed “Duke” – first favorite shouldn’t come as a surprise, with the actor stating Stagecoach was one of the most important films in his career. Says the star, “I love Stagecoach naturally because I stepped on that stagecoach and it carried me a long ways.” Stagecoach was helmed by John Ford and follows a group of strangers – including Wayne’s Ringo Kid – as they board the titular transport. The movie is considered one of the most important Westerns ever made, from its focus on character over action – though it has some thrilling setpieces – to its performances.
Another favorite of Wayne’s was 1962’s Hatari! This re-teamed him with Rio Bravo’s Howard Hawks and followed a group of game catchers in Africa. The film is a colorful ensemble that is still well-regarded, though the reason Wayne loved it was “… because I had a three-month safari free. Rich men don’t get that!” Some critics at the time accused Hatari! of being made for that reason, but it still received good notices for its wildlife capture scenes and Wayne’s charming performance.
Wayne – who once guest-starred on Gunsmoke – final choice was The Quiet Man from 1952. Teaming once again with Ford, the story follows Wayne’s retired boxer traveling to Ireland and falling in love with Maureen O’Hara’s Mary. The Quiet Man was a major success at the time, with Ford also winning the Best Director Academy Award. The movie’s caricature treatment of the Irish aside, The Quiet Man is still one of John Wayne’s most fondly remembered.