slaytonf Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 There are movies where John Wayne acts like John Wayne. Those are his worst. There are movies where John Wayne is John Wayne. Those are his most recognized. There is one move where John Wayne doesn't act. It is In Harm's Way. I don't know how Otto Preminger did it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOFFMYCLOUD Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 If not The Best certainly one of The Duke's Very Best. I really think IN HARM'S WAY is actually more than a bit underrated. I wonder if The Purists just dismiss it becuz of Mister Wayne. It's a Great Cast - Burgess, Neal, Kirk, Fonda, Prentiss, Tom Tryon ... A Helluva' Script and it has that True War Realism that a lot of War Movies don't. Great Flick! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepiatone Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 It's certainly Wayne, but "classic" Wayne, and not outstanding. "Outstanding" Wayne, to me(I'll repeat) is *Red River* and *The Searchers*. Don't misunderstand, I LOVE many John Wayne flicks, including *In Harm's Way*, and the Duke DOES give a fine performance (let's not say anything about Gengis Kahn) in all of them. But for me, those two stand apart. Sepiatone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredbaetz Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 I think the "Purists" dismiss it because it is a boring film with some good acting. Wayne and Neal are fine as the older couple finding someone in time of war. Wayne trying to bridge the gap between him and the son he doesn't know.. To me the cast tries hard, they even talked Tom Tyron out of quitting after a big blow up he had with Otto.. I just wish they producers had taken Kirk Douglas up on his offer to pay {out of his own pocket} for the battle scenes to be reshot and look better then the terrible models they used, some said it looked like Preminger shot the scenes in his bathtub.. Right after the film wrapped Wayne entered the hospital and had one lung and a few ribs removed because of cancer. I've watched the film a few times since I saw it on the first release and my opinion still hasn't changed...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbeckuaf Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 It's a great flick and one of my faves, though as I've grown older, I like WWII flix less and westerns more, and my digging on The Duke kinda follows the same arc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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