In 1977, 'The People's Almanac' sent out letters to all living Academy Award winning actors concerning a poll it was holding. For this poll the actors were asked to name their all-time favourite actors and films. One of the actors to receive such a letter was John Wayne, who had won the Academy Award for his leading role in True Grit (1969). Shown below are part of The People's Almanac's letter as well as John Wayne's lists of personal favourites. Amongst his favourite films were two John Ford pictures in which Wayne himself had played the lead roles (The Searchers and The Quiet Man), and The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, i.e. the 1921 silent version by Rex Ingram, not the 1962 remake by Vincente Minnelli.
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| Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions. |
Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions.
Transcript:
MY CHOICE OF THE 5 BEST MOTION PICTURE ACTORS OF ALL TIME:
1. Spencer Tracy
2. Elizabeth Taylor
3. Kathrine [sic] Hepburn
4. Laurence Olivier
5. Lionel Barrymore
Signed: John Wayne
1. Spencer Tracy
2. Elizabeth Taylor
3. Kathrine [sic] Hepburn
4. Laurence Olivier
5. Lionel Barrymore
Signed: John Wayne
Transcript:
MY CHOICE OF THE 5 BEST MOTION PICTURES OF ALL TIME:
1. A Man For All Seasons
2. Gone with the Wind
3. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
4. The Searchers
5. The Quiet Man
Signed: John Wayne
This is such an interesting post, I love it! Don't you have the responses of other notable actors?
ReplyDeleteInteresting that Elizabeth Taylor is high on his list of favorite actors. Today her performances seem melodramatic and dated, in my opinion, especially in contrast to Tracy, who is timeless, and Olivier, who was able to deliver both fine classical and modern performances.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I find Elizabeth Taylor the only odd choice in his list.
DeleteCurious that Jimmy Stewart did not make it in his top 5.
ReplyDeleteWould like to know the results of that poll- curiosity of course.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know where you can find the results to tha poll?
ReplyDeleteGreat read thankyou
ReplyDelete