Hi, EthanEdwards, I have added the "Pals" forum on Ben to my webpage. Thanks for suggesting it!
Two favorite John Wayne movie encounters:
1. Quite a few years ago, the Fox Theatre in Atlanta (one of those wonderful 1920s theaters that survived various demolition attempts) screened a 35mm print of Stagecoach on its enormous screen. I was in the formative stage of my John Wayne fandom. When the movie arrived at that famous amazing first shot of The Ringo Kid in the desert, I gasped. Wow! Suddenly I truly understood why John Wayne was such a huge star. Nothing like seeing a movie like that on a big screen, in a dark theater. (Though I'm thrilled to have it on the Criterion blu-ray disc.)
2. Last April I attended the TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood, and one of the many delights of that festival was seeing The Big Trail on the big screen. I have the DVD but again, the best way to see an epic like that is in the theater. Everyone there had a great time.
(Not exactly John Wayne, but close enough.)
3. I got to sit in the row right in front of the great Ernest Borgnine at a screening of a restored print of Jubal (starring Glenn Ford) at the TCM festival. Another thrill! Afterwards he talked about his life in the movies. The man is in his 90s but you'd never know it. He seems as hale and hearty as he has always been.
The Duke in 3 Godfathers.
