Clint Eastwood Reveals the John Wayne Role He Rates Most
Clint Eastwood tips his hat to John Wayne’s work in The Searchers, calling it a standout for its depth and courage. Despite their differences, Eastwood never shied away from recognising Wayne’s legendary place in Westerns.
When it comes to Westerns, there’s no going past the impact of Clint Eastwood and John Wayne. These two blokes set the standard, even if they didn’t exactly see eye to eye. The genre itself was built on the backs of its leading men, and if you managed to make a splash, you’d soon find yourself front and centre in a string of new projects. That’s how Wayne and Eastwood ended up as the faces of so many classic Westerns, though they each brought something different to the table.
Eastwood was always up for a challenge, never content to just stick to the same old routine. He was keen to push boundaries, while Wayne, aside from chasing the odd Oscar, was more than happy to stay in his comfort zone. Their differences weren’t just about acting styles, either. Wayne grew increasingly frustrated with the way films were changing, especially as Eastwood started shaking things up with his Dollars trilogy and revisionist takes like High Plains Drifter and The Outlaw Josey Wales. Wayne didn’t exactly hide his lack of enthusiasm for Eastwood’s approach.
Clashing Visions in the Wild West
Wayne’s feelings towards Eastwood were made pretty clear when he sent him a rather blunt letter, taking issue with High Plains Drifter. Wayne reckoned the film “wasn’t really about the people who pioneered the west,” and made it clear he didn’t think Eastwood understood what he was trying to do. If Wayne wasn’t a fan, you’d know about it, one way or another. But Eastwood never seemed to hold a grudge. In fact, he often spoke highly of Wayne’s influence and didn’t mind giving credit where it was due.
Eastwood, who later made a name for himself as a director, even compared one of his own acclaimed crime dramas to a standout moment from Wayne’s career. He’s always been a fan of letting the audience fill in the blanks, saying it’s better to “provoke certain emotions and let the imagination take over” than to spell everything out.
“If sometimes something is left unsaid, it’s much more picturesque in the person’s mind that’s drawn out for you, which could be disappointing because you wish it were something else,”
he explained, pointing to a key scene in The Searchers as a perfect example.
Eastwood’s Pick: A Standout Performance
In The Searchers, there’s a moment where Wayne’s character, Ethan Edwards, comes back to the family home after finding his niece Lucy’s body. The film never shows the body, but Ethan tells the others, “never ask me what I saw.” For Eastwood, this scene nails the idea that sometimes less is more.
“That’s one of his brilliant performances, and brave, because he wasn’t afraid to play the flat-out racism,”
Eastwood said.
“And when you look at his eyes at that moment, you know it wasn’t something good that he saw, and you’d almost resent it if he started explaining it.”
Eastwood reckons the scene would have lost its punch if the camera had lingered on the violence. Instead, Wayne’s expression says it all, delivering more impact than any amount of graphic detail or dialogue could. It’s this kind of subtlety that Eastwood admires, showing just how much can be conveyed with a single look.
Legacy and Lasting Influence
Wayne’s performance in The Searchers stands out for its complexity and willingness to tackle uncomfortable themes. Eastwood’s praise highlights the skill involved in holding back, letting the audience do some of the work. The nuances in Wayne’s acting, especially in that scene, add layers to both the character and the story, making it a benchmark for what a Western can achieve.
Despite their differences, Eastwood never hesitated to acknowledge Wayne’s place in film history. For him, The Searchers remains a prime example of how powerful restraint and a bit of bravery can be on screen.