John Wayne Centenary: The '40s - Fort Apache, Red River, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Sands of Iwo Jima - Page 3

The film's weakest performance though comes from Joanne Dru as a love interest for Garth that the story really doesn’t need. Until watching Dru’s performance I’d always assumed that getting shot by an arrow would be painful, so it came as a surprise to discover that one's reaction should be the equivalent of stubbing one's toe. The rest of her performance is equally emotionless but thankfully fairly brief.

Howard Hawks was a great director but some of his casting decisions are questionable. I’ve already mentioned Clift and there’s Ricky Nelson as a gunfighter in Rio Bravo. Equally outlandish was his original choice for the part of Cherry Valance — Cary Grant. Thankfully Grant turned him down, probably realising he was ill-suited to the role, and instead it went to John Ireland. The part was cut down from what was offered to Grant but Ireland still manages to make something of it. Valance isn’t a bad guy although there is certainly a sinister side to him and Ireland makes him likeable enough but also someone you don’t trust and wouldn’t want to turn your back on.

The film loses momentum during its final half hour with Wayne off-screen for much of it, his presence felt rather than seen as he hunts down Garth and company after they take the herd and head down the Chisholm Trail to Abilene. When he catches them it’s something of an anticlimax with everything reconciled after the previously mentioned bout of fisticuffs with Clift and a stiff talking to from Joanne Dru.

For the most part though this is a magnificent film and it allowed Wayne to create one of the best and most complex characters ever seen in a western.

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)

Captain Nathan Brittles (Wayne) is just days away from retirement but in that time he must do his best to stop an all-out war with the Indians not to mention ensure that young officers Flint Cohill (John Agar) and Ross Penell (Harry Carey Jr.) are ready to assume command when he steps down.

It’s Brittles' interaction with the other occupants of the cavalry fort that give the film its heart. Having fun at the expense of Cohill and Penell, both of whom are infatuated with Joanne Dru’s Olivia Dandridge, or broader comic moments with Sergeant Quincannon (Victor McLaglen) are some of the more obvious ones but there are smaller touches as well, like the gentle pat on the head he gives Mildred Natwick after she helps the doctor save a wounded trooper's life.

Article Author: Ian Woolstencroft

Ian Woolstencroft was brought up on a diet of John Wayne movies and Marvel Comics and still has a passion for both. Now as a blogcritic he finally understands what Spider-Man’s Uncle Ben meant when he said ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’ …

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