John Wayne & the Universal Series

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  • JOHN WAYNE
    & the
    UNIVERSAL
    Series

    Intoduction
    Trem Carr
    In the spring of 1936, Trem Carr left Republic
    turned down an offer to join MGM and instead
    reassembled some of his old Monogram crew
    to become a producer at Universal


    For more information
    please see:-
    Trem Carr


    Paul Malvern
    Carr's production team fellow Monogram producer Paul Malvern
    who starred Duke in his Lone Star western Productions



    Paul Malvern

    For more information
    please see:-
    Paul Malvern


    The plan was, to make a series of non-western action films.


    Trem Carr offered Duke the chance to join him
    and for him to make a break from Westerns.
    Specifically Universal wanted to make films that
    fell between the A's & B's,but still within' lower budgets


    Arthur Lubin
    Arthur Lubin directed 4 of the movies the other two
    being directed by Frank Strayer, David Howard



    Arthur Lubin


    For more information
    please see:-
    Arthur Lubin


    John Wayne was exactly the sort of actor Universal had in mind.
    Trem Carr offered Duke a six film contract at $6000 a picture.
    Duke agreed, he took off his Colt. 45.,
    turned down a new Republic contract and moved to Universal


    In 1936 & 1937, Duke was the leading man in


    The Sea Spoilers(1936) (Frank Strayer)
    Conflict (1936)
    California Straight Ahead (1937) (Arthur Lubin)
    I Cover the War(1937) (Arthur Lubin)
    Idol of the Crowds (1937) (Arthur Lubin)
    Adventures End(1937) (Arthur Lubin)


    (For individual movie profiles & reviews, please click on above)


    However the pictures just never found their audience.
    After a few lost money, Universal abandoned interest in the project,
    and by the end of the series even the reviewers has raised a white flag!


    Director Arthur Lubin recalled that the last picture Adventures End
    was simply made because Universal had a boat on the lot, that needed use!

    That's the way pictures were made...
    Well what sets are up these days, that we can make pictures on
    that won't cost money

    When Duke's contract with Universal expired,
    Duke was back where he had been five years before.
    Once again he had failed at a major studio.
    He didn't blame anyone but himself, but was once again out of work.
    Years later Duke told Zolotow

    I lost my stature as a western star- and got nothing in return

    Legacy
    The Universal series was a downward spiral for Duke
    as they failed to capture anyone's imagination, including his own!


    He was to make one more movie for Paramount,
    1937. Born to the West (Helltown)
    before embarking on another poor chapter in his career.
    The Three Mesquiteers were to nothing more than movies for kids
    and films Duke even referred to as "monstrosities"
    John Wayne in The Three Mesquiteers

    However a certain Stagecoach was around the corner.....

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 43 times, last by ethanedwards ().