John Wayne: The Westerns, an essay (The David Morrell Cultural-Icon Series)

Few film actors had the lasting popularity of John Wayne, especially when he appeared in westerns. During his lifetime, he was a top-ten box office star for twenty-four years. Three decades after his death, a 2012 Harris poll continued to place him among the top 5 most popular film actors. In this comprehensive essay, Rambo-creator David Morrell analyzes Waynes career in westerns and explores his fascinating, complex personality, including his Latin studies in high school and his skills as a chess player. Even Waynes most knowledgeable fans will be surprised by this insightful essay. David Morrell is the award-winning author of First Blood, the novel in which Rambo was created. A former professor of American literature at the University of Iowa, he has written numerous New York Times bestsellers, including the classic Brotherhood of the Rose spy trilogy. The main character in Morrells western novel, Last Reveille, was inspired by Waynes career.