John Wayne starred in 83 Westerns over the course of his illustrious career, including all-time classics Stagecoach, Rio Bravo, The Searchers and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. It was only appropriate that, when The Duke finally won his first Oscar, it came for his performance in a Western, the original 1969 True Grit.
Then there are the relatively unknown and perhaps underrated Wayne Westerns, titles that don’t show up on lists of the greatest American movies, and that were never up for Academy Awards. A deep dive into the star’s filmography brings up some unappreciated gems: The Sons of Katie Elder. 3 Godfathers (lesser-known despite being directed by the legendary John Ford). Rooster Cogburn (the sequel to True Grit, co-starring Katharine Hepburn). Cahill U.S. Marshall. There’s one more unfairly neglected title among those 83 Wayne Westerns, and it can currently be seen on multiple streaming services for free.
Angel And The Badman Is An Entertaining Western Romance
Gail Russell Is The Angel, Wayne Is The Badman
Angel and the Badman was the first movie produced by Wayne via his company John Wayne Productions, and it’s a rather atypical film for the star. There’s plenty of the usual Western action, not to mention the classic Monument Valley scenery, but the story places an emphasis on character, and especially Wayne’s arc, which sees his gunfighter Quirt Evans falling for, and being morally influenced by, Gail Russell’s Penelope, a Quaker who nurses the gunman back to health after he’s shot (the plot is notably similar to that of 1985’s Witness).
The first of many collaborations between Wayne and writer-director James Edward Grant, Angel and the Badman gives its star a chance to show his romantic side, opposite a strong lead actress in Russell. Wayne frequently had good chemistry with his female co-stars, Maureen O’Hara being the best example, making him suited to romance. Angel and the Badman finds Wayne in a more thoughtful, tender mode than normal. The film effectively blends Western and romantic elements to create a stand-out work from the actor’s post-Stagecoach period, when he was truly coming into his own as a Hollywood star.
How To Watch Angel And The Badman Online
It’s In The Public Domain
Wayne’s romantic 1947 Western entered the public domain in 1975, when the rights-holder National Telefilm Associates did not renew its copyright registration. Available without licensing due to its public domain status, Angel and the Badman is widely accessible online, for free.
Angel And The Badman Is John Wayne’s Best Public Domain Western (But Not The Only One)
Most Of Them Are Not Memorable
Several early Wayne films join Angel and the Badman on the list of titles that have lapsed into the public domain. These include such forgotten releases as ‘Neath the Arizona Skies, West of the Divide, The Man From Utah, Blue Steel, and The Lucky Texan. Notable for its novelty value if nothing else, Riders of Destiny sees Wayne in a rare singing cowboy performance, playing the hilariously-named Singin’ Sandy Saunders. The Duke quickly reverted to traditional cowboy roles, leaving the singing to the likes of Gene Autry and Roy Rogers.
1939’s Stagecoach was a major turning point in Wayne’s career. Before his starring role as the Ringo Kid in the Ford-directed Western, Wayne was just another cowboy actor churning out low-budget oaters like the ones listed above. Afterward, he was a major Hollywood star, making war movies, adventure films, and romances alongside a steady Western output.
The majority of Wayne’s best-known films are, understandably, still under copyright, making money for someone. The exception is 1963’s McClintock!, a solid Western comedy teaming Wayne with his Quiet Man co-star Maureen O’Hara. Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, the film is spirited entertainment, but not quite as strong overall as Angel and the Badman.