John Wayne

The Life and Legend

By: Scott Eyman

Narrated by: John McLain

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Scott Eyman interviewed Wayne, as well as many family members, and he has drawn on previously unpublished reminiscences from friends and associates of the Duke in this biography, as well as documents from his production company that shed light on Wayne's business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.

The Duke Lives

Complex, eloquent and revelatory. One of the best Hollywood bios I have ever come across. Get it via Audible for a great performance of the book by John McLean.

A truly American Icon

America like it or not has historically had a reputation embodied by the likes of men in the mold of John Wayne and this biography tells us how he reached that pinnacle of American masculinity (if that’s toxic at least it’s not timid) and I believe we could use a little more old fashioned male testosterone and a little less ambiguity and wimpy presentation in real life much less in our movies. Hooray for John Wayne who blazed through life in and out of the silver screen.

An inside look at the real man and what a man!

I've always liked the character of John Wayne and admired him like pretty much the rest of the world, but I didn't really know much about him. This book really delves into all of his sides, not just the one that the rest of the world saw, but a real look at how he was. We get to hear from his family and friends and learn a lot more about him both is good side and his imperfections. I was astonished and warmed and so glad to finally find out about the real man behind the legend. He wasn't perfect, but he tried to always be his best and he led one heck of a life! We get to know not just the movie side, but also his personal and business sides too. I highly recommend this book and the narration is really fun.

The Duke was a legend in life and in death

what is left to say! An American Idol. ..at the very least.
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.

good story, narrator needs help with pronunciatio

Story is good, since it's about John Wayne what else could it be? Narrator Is pretty good most of the time . That makes it more jarring when he stumbles over the pronuncecation of the word argosy and Claudette Colbert's name. The amount of money each movie made is relentlessly proclaimed.

Excellent

Finely detailed story of Duke. Includes just about every acting job along the way and good interviews with cohorts.
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.

Outstanding

Best book I have read about the Duke. Lots of insights and personal history of a true American.

John Wayne unpeeled!

I very much enjoyed this bio by Scott Eyman. I grew up watching John Wayne and this caused me to view parts of my own life as the Duke was living the last years of his. I'm actually planning on watching everything he acted in over the years. I also liked John McLain's narration. He has a John Wayne like voice and at times he sounded like the man himself speaking. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested not only in John Wayne or John Ford but individuals interested in Hollywood history.

Great biography of an American icon

This was such an interesting read with great behind the scenes stories fleshing out the man behind the legend.

My Hero!!

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 course

Did 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.