Movies that Almost Starred John Wayne

[@Buck_Jones1909]

Gary Cooper was the best choice for High Noon! Slim Pickens was best for both of his movies! Peck was best for Gunfighter! I’d say Wayne had a very good track record for knowing what was right for him!

[@mikematusek4233]

Chisum was Lincoln County wars, not Johnson County

[@virginia7191]

I think John Wayne made the right choices.

[@ludwigderzanker9767]

No one of shown roles were worth the Duke!

[@Buck_Jones1909]

Slim Pickens is a favorite of mine. He was an excellent rider! He own an Appaloosa that was his favorite horse. In Big Country Slim is the double for Gregory Peck on the bucking horse, which was Slim’s Appaloosa! It’s excellently edited but look closely and you’ll see it’s Slim on the distant shots!

[@bravehome4276]

Wayne had a very clear idea of what he wanted to do. I only wonder what would have happened if a director like Billy Wilder had asked him to play against type, like he did Fred MacMurray in Double Indemnity and The Apartment. Fred was very resistant but actually showed quite a range of acting chops by accepting those roles.....

[@BobHueber]

Wayne was no Dirty Harry.

[@wangobadankas4038]

Eastwood owned it.

[@wangobadankas4038]

Turning down a part is a far cry from almost starring. Still interesting though.

[@hank1284]

Wayne died in 1979 which means he was very ill to do the79 and 80 movies

[@Kevinwall-u8l]

I don't believe Wayne was offered High Noon. Gregory Peck was first offered the role. Wayne's comment concerning High Noon 's un Americanism was made in 1971 in the infamous Playboy interview. Apparently he also refused Death of a Gunfighter 1969.

[@dave-d-grunt]

I thought 1941 was hilarious!

[@paulschmick869]

Wayne and Gary Cooper were going to make Ride the High Country but Cooper died and Wayne lost interest and gave a recommendation for Randolph Scott. Also, in the late '60's John Ford wanted to direct Wayne, James Stewart and Henry Fonda in Streets of Laredo but the studio thought the three stars were too old and that Ford didn't have the stamina to do another film.