walk

We're inclined to put the onus on Paul Fix.
WELCOME to the JWMB fatdutchmn - come soon, come often. Always glad to add to the fans on JW on this board.
Cheers - Jay

Hi fatdutchmn,
First of all,

WELCOME to the Forum.

As Jay said, the onus is probably on Paul Fix.

Here is a post made on our dedicated thread for Paul Fix.

Quote

Paul Fix, along with Ward and Yak, was one of Duke's early friends,
and, indeed, became a lifelong friend.
It is said in many quarters, that Duke learned how to talk and walk from Paul!

He was a former stage director and playwright tuned actor.
Paul would often stand behind the camera, when Duke was working, and offer suggestions, between takes.
Duke learned how to deliver lines from Paul, and under his guidance helped
Duke to develop that unusual, delivery of lines

Harry Carey Jr. who married Pauls daughter quoted,

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Welcome to the forum fatdutchmn.

As you can already see we have a great group of people who can answer just about anything you want to know about Duke or westerns in general.

Hope to see you around!!

Hi

There is a consenous of opinion that he learned it from Yakima canutt who taught him all about fighting and stuntwork.
Some even suggest John Ford but I think that is stretching a point.

By the way welcome

Regards

Arthur

Welcome to the board, fatdutchmn. Great to have you hear and we hope you join in often.

Mark

Hi Arthur,

Your post got me to thinking,
was it Paul or Yak, and I remember reading it
somewhere.
This morning, I picked up my copy of
John Wayne: American
and there on Page 136, was this:-

Quote

Wayne particularly disliked the way his walk looked on screen.
Fix told him to point his toes into the ground as he walked,
an action that made his shoulders and hips swing,
in a distinctive manner.

The walk Harry Carey Jr. later said
was not unlike Marilyn Monroe's.

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Harry Carey Jr.
gives a more expansive account of this in
the Chapter

Paul Fix, the OSS, and Merry Christmas

in his book,
Company of Heroes:- Harry Carey Jr.

Hope this helps!

fatdutchmn,

Well, we can't add much to the answers to your question, but we can WELCOME you to the John Wayne Message Board!

I've read somewhere that John Wayne once said, when asked how he perfected his walk, that all you have to do is put a silver dollar between the cheeks of your a** and squeeze down and keep it there while walking.

Personally, I haven't tried that yet. But I guess if you want to be an impersonator . . . .

Again, welcome!

Chester