John Wayne was a huge fan of patriotic poetry and was left overwhelmed by his co-star’s kind gesture to introduce him to some while they were filming the Western, Chisum, even moving him to tears
John Wayne’s first film of the 1970s was Chisum, marking the beginning of his final decade in Western cinema. Having undergone lung cancer surgery a few years prior, the Duke – who had a ‘wild plan’ to scare off ‘KGB agents’ in the 1940s – had to resort to an oxygen mask and conceal his health issues from his audience during his performances, which left him deeply disheartened when he couldn’t.
The film was based on the Lincoln County War of 1878, with Wayne, whose work was lauded by Orson Welles, portraying John Simpson Chisum, a prosperous cattle baron of the American West. At 62, the actor was playing a character eight years his junior, necessitating efforts to disguise his age, including cosmetic surgery in September 1969, a month before filming commenced.
As per usual, the Duke, who had strong Irish roots, donned a hairpiece and makeup to appear younger. Interestingly, Patric Knowles, who played Henry Tunstall and was four years Wayne’s junior at 58, was portrayed as the older man in the film.
Like in his later films, Wayne used a stunt double and was notably upset by how evident it was that it wasn’t him in Chism’s final fight scene against Forrest Tucker’s Lawrence Murphy. However, a heartwarming interaction with John Mitchum, brother of Robert Mitchum, with whom Wayne had starred in El Dorado in 1967, brought some cheer to the star on set.
While filming Chisum, John introduced Duke to patriotic poetry, which deeply touched Wayne, a fervent and proud American. Despite not serving in World War II and remaining in Hollywood to make films, Duke always carried a sense of guilt and made it a point to champion and back the US military throughout his life, particularly when portraying soldiers on screen, reports the Express.
Tucker observed how his co-star would become emotional upon hearing such verses and proposed that he and John should team up to record some poetry. Consequently, they created the 1973 album America, Why I Love Her, a Grammy-nominated spoken-word record.
Wayne’s favorite track on America, Why I Love Her, was The People, which proclaimed the USA’s greatness was rooted in the remarkable accomplishments of its citizens. Notable figures mentioned in the piece included Fred Astaire dancing, Billy Graham preaching to millions, and Mahalia Jackson closing her eyes in devotion.
The record was re-released when Wayne passed away in 1979 and again after the September 11 attacks. Another source of solace for Duke during the filming of Chisum was winning his Golden Globe for 1969’s True Grit and learning that he was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar, which he ultimately won.