The Sons Of Katie Elder, great performance by Wayne.
Posted: October 3rd, 2008, 10:11 am
When I say John Wayne gave a great performance in The Sons Of Katie Elder, I'm not saying in an acting sense he was better in his truly great roles Red River and The Searchers, but phyisically I thought Duke was amazing in this particular film.
The reason for this was it was his come-back movie after his cancer operation, which left him missing one lung and in regular need of an oxegen mask to help with his breathing. Though Duke as far as I believe was short of stamina, it didn't show here, in what was a phyisically demanding role and as far as I can tell he did many of his own stunts.
I reckon however, Duke had to be playing younger that his 58-yrs as the sums didn't add up regarding the age of his recently departed mother and father, not to mention his 18-yr-old brother played by Michael Anderson jnr
Dean Martin was also terrific as his brother and Earl Holliman gave a good account of himself as the other sibling.
Martha Hyer was Duke's leading lady and it was almost, IMHO, a change to see her play a strong no-nonesense woman in comparison to Ice Palace, Houseboat and to a lesser extent Some Came Running. Martha looked as if she had a good few yrs in front of the camera, but she retired just a few yrs later.
The reason for this was it was his come-back movie after his cancer operation, which left him missing one lung and in regular need of an oxegen mask to help with his breathing. Though Duke as far as I believe was short of stamina, it didn't show here, in what was a phyisically demanding role and as far as I can tell he did many of his own stunts.
I reckon however, Duke had to be playing younger that his 58-yrs as the sums didn't add up regarding the age of his recently departed mother and father, not to mention his 18-yr-old brother played by Michael Anderson jnr
Dean Martin was also terrific as his brother and Earl Holliman gave a good account of himself as the other sibling.
Martha Hyer was Duke's leading lady and it was almost, IMHO, a change to see her play a strong no-nonesense woman in comparison to Ice Palace, Houseboat and to a lesser extent Some Came Running. Martha looked as if she had a good few yrs in front of the camera, but she retired just a few yrs later.