“Gaily bedight, a gallant knight”*

by chuckofish

This truly is the big birthday week. Besides Walt Whitman and Bob Dylan, already duly noted, yesterday was the birthday of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Today, of course, is the 115th birthday of John Wayne.

To celebrate I have been watching movies all this week starring the Duke. Alleghany Uprising (1939) is a favorite of mine–it’s all about guys that might be considered domestic terrorists these days. But in the pre-revolutionary days, white men who dressed up as Indians to thwart the British (who were selling trade goods, i.e. guns, ammo, tomahawks manufactured in England, and rum to the Indians), were considered heroes. In 1939 it was assumed the viewer understood this.

Every time I see this movie I love Wilfrid Lawson as MacDougall even more.

Next I watched War of the Wildcats (1943) (also known as In Old Oklahoma) which is standard 1940s B&W Saturday matinee fare, but, hey, it was nominated for two Academy Awards. Of course, it also features the Duke uttering those immortal words: “I’ll build you a house at the bend in the river where the cottonwoods grow,” which famously caused Joan Didion to swoon along with millions of other American girls.

Did anyone in Oklahoma, much less a school marm, ever wear a dress like that?

I had not seen this movie for probably 50 years! The screenplay (by two women–Ethel Hill and Eleanore Griffin) was actually quite witty and the fast-moving plot held my interest as did the always appealing, swoon-worthy JW as a former Rough Rider.

Tonight I plan to watch one of my favorites, El Dorado (1967).

This weekend I’ll switch to war movies in honor of Memorial Day on Monday.

It’s good to have a plan.

P.S. If you are in the Fort Worth area, today is John Wayne Day at the Stockyards with special events including birthday cake with members of the Wayne family. Festivities will take place throughout the day—and all John Wayne Day activities held in the flagship John Wayne Stock & Supply store (inside the exhibit) are free! Entrance to the museum is free to veterans on Memorial Day.

*Edgar Allan Poe