
John Wayne
The Life and Legend
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Narrated by:
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John McLain
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By:
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Scott Eyman
John Wayne was one of Hollywood's most famous and most successful actors, but he was more than that. He became a symbol of America itself. He epitomized the Western film, which for many people epitomized America. He identified with conservative political causes from the early 1930s to his death in 1979, making him a hero to one generation of Americans and a villain to another. But unlike fellow actor Ronald Reagan, Wayne had no interest in politics as a career. Like many stars, he altered his life story, claiming to have become an actor almost by accident when in fact he had studied drama and aspired to act for most of his youth. He married three times, all to Latina women, and conducted a lengthy affair with Marlene Dietrich, as unlikely a romantic partner as one could imagine for the Duke. Wayne projected dignity, integrity, and strength in all his films, even when his characters were flawed, and whatever character he played was always prepared to confront injustice in his own way. More than 30 years after his death, he remains the standard by which male stars are judged and an actor whose morally unambiguous films continue to attract sizeable audiences.
Scott Eyman interviewed Wayne, as well as many family members, and he has drawn on previously unpublished reminiscences from friends and associates of the Duke in this biography, as well as documents from his production company that shed light on Wayne's business affairs. He traces Wayne from his childhood to his stardom in Stagecoach and dozens of films after that. Eyman perceptively analyzes Wayne's relationship with John Ford, the director with whom he's most associated and who made some of Wayne's greatest films.
Wayne was self-aware. He once said, "I’ve played the kind of man I’d like to have been." It's that man and the real John Wayne who are brilliantly profiled in Scott Eyman's insightful biography of a true American legend.
©2014 Scott Eyman (P)2014 Audible Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...




















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My father in law knew John Wayne personally. In his home it resembled a shrine to the Duke. Pictures and memorabilia everywhere. He died this January at age 98. He often told me how he met the Duke. While on a salmon fishing trip in the San Juan Islands he noticed the Wild Goose and circled it to admire the boat. The Duke noticed him and this is quote "quit your gaukin' and come aboard and have a drink! " after that chance meeting he would meet the Duke several times over the years. I just wish that he could have listened to this audio book before he died.
The Duke was a legend in life and in death
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good story, narrator needs help with pronunciatio
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The only thing that bothered me was the author’s disdain for Duke’s conservatism. It’s clear the author thinks conservatives are undesirables. Fortunately, the book is focused on events so this bias is not glaring.
Excellent
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Outstanding
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John Wayne unpeeled!
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Great biography of an American icon
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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
great stories about John Wayne's life and the lives of those who he worked with.Who was your favorite character and why?
The Duke of courseDid John McLain do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?
Yes, he did a nice job of trying to sound like the Duke.Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Most chapters were pretty long but I did manage to do whole chapters at a time.Any additional comments?
I had trouble with the audio which was frustrating and detracted from the total enjoyment of the book.My Hero!!
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