Try Unwinding With A John Wayne Movie
By Keith Kappes – Publisher, The Morehead News
March 22, 2013 — Some folks go for a walk to decompress after a tough day. Others listen to soft music.
Still others fight stress with a quiet dinner.
Not me! I reach for a John Wayne movie, sit back and relax.
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Wayne was America’s top box office star for 30 years. In today’s terminology, he was the first action hero and you didn’t have to be the smartest guy in the theatre to follow the storyline of his movies.
He always was the good guy who championed the cause of truth, justice and the American way of life.
In every situation, Wayne triumphed over evil, sometimes at the cost of his own character’s life.
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But to millions of moviegoers, he was a larger than life man’s man who generally made them feel better about themselves, about their lot in life and about their country.
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Can we ever forget that scene in “True Grit” where, after Robert Duvall accused him of “bold talk by a one-eyed fat man”, he charged the bad guys with the reins in his teeth and guns blazing away in each hand?
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Asked for his personal definition of bravery, he responded: “Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway.”
I’ve always liked what he said to a mouthy villain in another of his movies: “Pilgrim, you're short on ears and long on mouth.”
He used a phrase in “The Cowboys” that probably gets used every day to motivate folks not to waste time: “We’re burnin’ daylight.”
Thanks, Duke … for
all of it.
You can read the entire article by Keith Kappes, by clicking here.
Yep, thanks, Duke. You have millions of fans around the world, even to this day – some 30+ years after your passing. And, I predict you’ll still have fans in another 30+ years. You’re just that kind of a star. Not only did you make some of the finest films ever produced, but you stood up for America, and you stood up for what you believed in, and you taught all of us some of the best life lessons we’ve ever received. Although you’re (still) a star, you’re also a whole lot more to all of us. So, as Keith Kappes has said above in his wonderful article, we also say with heartfelt gratitude: Thanks, Duke … for all of it.