Better Western Star: John Wayne Or Clint Eastwood

[Little Red Wagon Repairman]

I have tried and tried and tried to get into John Wayne movies but have been unable to. I don't know if it's a generational thing or something about The Duke's performance and how he's portrayed. But I am a fan of all of Clint Eastwood's Westerns. I like the grittiness and the elements of grey in his anti-hero characters. I prefer the Italian Westerns and the Sam Peckinpah and Walter Hill stuff in comparison to the older classic John Wayne films.

 

[Jagger69]

Honestly, this is like comparing Ty Cobb and Pete Rose as baseball players. There were so many marked differences in the eras in which the two were top-tier box office attractions and they were both such outstanding performers that the contrast between them becomes a bit muddled. I absolutely love them both. John Wayne's portrayals in classics like The Searchers and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance are legendary. Likewise, Eastwood in films like High Plains Drifter and Unforgiven can't be matched. I can name a number of other fantastic films for both actors. I wish you would have had a choice for "too close to call" because I cannot separate one from the other as it pertains to greatness. Both would be on my Western version of Mount Rushmore for certain. Can't choose, Dino. Sorry amigo.

 

[sean miguel]

Clint Eastwood. For reasons already given.

 

[Elwood70]

This may be a "product of your era" type answer, but I never got into John Wayne, either. Clint is much better to me. I think a big part of is that his movies deal with much more moral ambiguity, and show that most things in life aren't black-and-white. Sometimes (most times) the guy wearing the white hat isn't the one you want on your side.


(Damn, I should have just quoted Dino.... )

 

[Johan]

I'd give it to John Wayne

Althought Clint Eastwood is the better actor of the two, nobody embodies the Western genre more than John Wayne
To me, The Duke is to the western genre what Bruce Lee is to kung-fu movies

 

[Harpsman]

Clint Eastwood. Better lines. Better films. Better actor.

 

[Little Red Wagon Repairman]

Honestly, this is like comparing Ty Cobb and Pete Rose as baseball players. There were so many marked differences in the eras in which the two were top-tier box office attractions and they were both such outstanding performers that the contrast between them becomes a bit muddled. I absolutely love them both. John Wayne's portrayals in classics like The Searchers and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance are legendary. Likewise, Eastwood in films like High Plains Drifter and Unforgiven can't be matched. I can name a number of other fantastic films for both actors. I wish you would have had a choice for "too close to call" because I cannot separate one from the other as it pertains to greatness. Both would be on my Western version of Mount Rushmore for certain. Can't choose, Dino. Sorry amigo.

Thank you for your response, Jagger. You were one of the people I had in mind starting this thread as I wanted your opinion. I do like the John Wayne films(The Searchers and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance) you mentioned. John Wayne has made so many Westerns. Would you be able to give a Top 10 that you would recommend to someone that might make them a fan? Do you like his later work from True Grit to The Shootist? Also, what do you think of his non-Westerns McQ and Brannigan?

Your Mount Rushmore of Western Stars is a great idea. It would definitely have John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. Who else would you put up there? For me the other two would be Lee Van Cleef and Franco Nero. I'd put Jack Palance if I had room.

 

[Little Red Wagon Repairman]

This may be a "product of your era" type answer, but I never got into John Wayne, either. Clint is much better to me. I think a big part of is that his movies deal with much more moral ambiguity, and show that most things in life aren't black-and-white. Sometimes (most times) the guy wearing the white hat isn't the one you want on your side.


(Damn, I should have just quoted Dino.... )

Nice post, Elwood. The "product of your era" reminds me of my 90+ year old Godfather. He's a big Gene Autry fan who likes to keep it clean and not into Clint Eastwood's style.

 

[Little Red Wagon Repairman]

I'd give it to John Wayne

Althought Clint Eastwood is the better actor of the two, nobody embodies the Western genre more than John Wayne
To me, The Duke is to the western genre what Bruce Lee is to kung-fu movies

Thanks for responding, Johan. It's nice to get a non-American perspective on a genre of film so associated with America. Do you have a list of your favorite Westerns, maybe Top 5 or Top 10? How about your favorite John Wayne Westerns? Lastly, do you like the Westerns made in Italy especially the ones directed by the 3 Sergios(Leone, Corbucci, and Sollima).

 

[John_8581]

Honestly, this is like comparing Ty Cobb and Pete Rose as baseball players. There were so many marked differences in the eras in which the two were top-tier box office attractions and they were both such outstanding performers that the contrast between them becomes a bit muddled. I absolutely love them both. John Wayne's portrayals in classics like The Searchers and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance are legendary. Likewise, Eastwood in films like High Plains Drifter and Unforgiven can't be matched. I can name a number of other fantastic films for both actors. I wish you would have had a choice for "too close to call" because I cannot separate one from the other as it pertains to greatness. Both would be on my Western version of Mount Rushmore for certain. Can't choose, Dino. Sorry amigo.

I'll have to agree with Jagger here.

The Searchers :thumbsup: and The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly :thumbsup: Both are excellent pictures.

The answer may lie with Bruce Dern. Dern has worked with both of them in Westerns and has talked about John Wayne in particular ...

But let's see those scenes together from The Cowboys and Hang 'Em High ....

A. Bruce Dern's Long Hair kills John Wayne ...

B. Clint Eastwood brings Bruce Derrn's Miller to justice ...

There you go ... the completion of the thought.

 

[ChuckFaze]

I'm gonna have to go with Clint Eastwood.

John Wayne's Big Jake and McLintock were very good, but I'm just more familiar with more of Clint Eastwood's Westerns ... as well as more of his other genre movies.

As to who else should be on the Mount Rushmore of Western Stars? Lee Van Cleef does always play a good mean, rough & tough western dude. Richard Boone should probably also be up there.

 

[Little Red Wagon Repairman]

Whew! I just turned my bedroom upside down and found these sets. I was wondering if I gave them away but I'm glad I didn't. I'm going to re-watch a few of these and give The Duke another chance. I really want to be a John Wayne fan. I like Westerns and have always felt a bit empty not appreciating his work.

https://www.amazon.com/John-Wayne-C...id=1505375666&sr=1-28&keywords=john+wayne+set

https://www.amazon.com/Century-Coll...id=1505375798&sr=1-74&keywords=john+wayne+set

https://www.amazon.com/John-Wayne-C...=1-1&keywords=john+wayne+collection+quiet+man

https://www.amazon.com/Collection-Grande-Chance-Fighting-Kentuckian/dp/B000NIVJI6

 

[Mayhem]

John Wayne

Calling Clint a one-trick-pony across his westerns is going too far. but you have to admit there's not a whole lot of difference between most of them. They're all just really good, so we don't mind.

I'm no Duke expert, but I've seen enough of his westerns (remember, we're talking westerns and not body of work) to know that he played a wider range of characters. And Clint gave up on westerns after Unforgiven (and sorry, but I hated Unforgiven). Duke kept going.

It's a very close race and it should be. But I voted John Wayne.

 

[Mr. Daystar]

I will remain an observer here....I couldn't choose if you put a peacemaker to my melon. I will say this though, I never really got into westerns all that much. Fortunately, both of these fine examples of actors, have a great body of work, in the other genres.

 

[Jagger69]

Thank you for your response, Jagger. You were one of the people I had in mind starting this thread as I wanted your opinion. I do like the John Wayne films(The Searchers and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance) you mentioned. John Wayne has made so many Westerns. Would you be able to give a Top 10 that you would recommend to someone that might make them a fan? Do you like his later work from True Grit to The Shootist? Also, what do you think of his non-Westerns McQ and Brannigan?

Your Mount Rushmore of Western Stars is a great idea. It would definitely have John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. Who else would you put up there? For me the other two would be Lee Van Cleef and Franco Nero. I'd put Jack Palance if I had room.

Thanks Dino. Strictly subjective so please bear this in mind. Also, I am grading the films, not Wayne himself. In all candor, I don't think he was an outstanding actor, certainly not Eastwood's mold as it applies to character adaptation. He does, however, exude an incredible presence in any film he is in and plays the man's man better than anyone else I can think of. Top ten John Wayne western movies (in order) according to me:

10) McLintock
09) Fort Apache
08) Hondo
07) Red River
06) True Grit
05) Rio Bravo
04) The Shootist
03) Stagecoach
02) The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
01) The Searchers

Mount Rushmore? Wow....harder than I thought. I'm going to go with John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Gary Cooper & Randolph Scott. Lee Van Cleef was a supporting actor and, although terrific, not being the leading man leaves him off the list in much the same way that someone like Walter Brennan would be left off in my opinion. There were also a lot of actors who only did one or two films of notoriety like Jimmy Stewart, Glenn Ford, Steve McQueen, Alan Ladd, Sterling Hayden, Jeff Bridges, Henry Fonda, Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas etc so the four I picked outweigh them simply by their volume of work if no other reason. Anyway, thems my lists and I'm stickin' with 'em!

 

[Jagger69]

Do you like his later work from True Grit to The Shootist? Also, what do you think of his non-Westerns McQ and Brannigan?

I do like some of his later work. The Shootist is one of my favs to be honest. Brannigan was good....Tom Donovan in England in the late 60s. Two of his greatest non-western works are The Quiet Man and Sands of Iwo Jima (even though it was, in reality, a shameless propaganda movie).

Trivia question: What are the only two movies where John Wayne's character was killed?

 

[knowone]

I do like some of his later work. The Shootist is one of my favs to be honest. Brannigan was good....Tom Donovan in England in the late 60s. Two of his greatest non-western works are The Quiet Man and Sands of Iwo Jima (even though it was, in reality, a shameless propaganda movie).

Trivia question: What are the only two movies where John Wayne's character was killed?

Off the top of my hat without searching The Alamo and The Cowboys.

and I would put Roy Rogers ahead of Wayne as a western star.

 

[Rane1071]

I loved watching the Duke when I was a kid. My father and uncles are/were huge Western fans and watching cowboy movies with them were a big part of growing up.

However as I got older Clint Eastwood became my favourite western star. I still watch the "Cool as Clint" marathons on the Classics channel sometimes.

 

[Mayhem]

Trivia question: What are the only two movies where John Wayne's character was killed?

The Shootist and The Cowboys.

 

[Jagger69]

The Shootist and The Cowboys.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Mayhem again.

My question is actually a mistake (yes, I am capable of making them on rare occasions! :1orglaugh) and a common misconception on my behalf actually although, technically, he wasn't specifically "killed" in all of these but rather ended up dead in some fashion. Your answers are inclusive however and two of the most recognized. The Shootist and Sands of Iwo Jima were the ones I was referencing in my question. Full list is here....sorry for the unforced error:

The Shootist (Killed in a gunfight)
The Cowboys (Killed by Bruce Dern)
The Alamo (Killed by Santa Anna's army)
The Sea Chase (Lost at sea, unknown if he was drowned or just got away)
Sands Of Iwo Jima (Killed by enemy sniper)
The Fighting Seabees (Killed while under enemy fire)
Wake of the Red Witch (Killed by giant squid)
Reap the Wild Wind (Drowns in wreckage)
Central Airport (He was a corpse)