Hypothesis

I doubt that anyone posting on this board will dispute that John Wayne and Western movies went together like cake and ice cream. In other words, our Duke was unchallenged "King of the Cowboys" (and will probably always remain so).

But let us suppose, for the sake of argument, that Westerns had retained their once-indisputable popularity with the American public and another Hollywood player had risen to the top of that genre's movie heap.

Anyone care to nominate their favorite for the successor to Duke's crown as "King of the Cowboys",right up to the present day.

After due consideration, I think I'd have to choose Tom Selleck as a worthy heir to Duke's proud title. I think Tom is an eminently acceptable Western "white hat" (i.e., good guy). He was very believable as such in "Quigley Down Under" and in several other less noteworthy Western films.

Quote from Kevin

Some would argue that he maybe the reason the western hasn't taken off in more recent times.

Be honest with us, Kevin - can you swear on the Bible that you think "Dances With Wolves" and "Open Range" were bad Westerns?

Quote from gt12pak

Alright Stumpy, I'll take a shot here. I agree about Tom Selleck, however, if I had to pick just one of the newer generations of actors out there, I would say Russell Crowe. I thought he did a good job in The Quick and the Dead and he wasn't too bad in 3:10 to Yuma.

I didn't see "Quick and the Dead" but I must agree that Russell was very good (as a black hat) in "3:10 To Yuma". However, I just can't visualize him becoming typecast as the Western successor to Duke. He's too versatile and is able to play any number of roles outside of the Western genre. I've seen almost all of his most successful movies and must say that he's been great in just about everything he played. My favorite Crowe role was as the cop in "L.A. Confidential". I liked him better in that than even his Oscar-winning role in "Gladiator".

Quote from Kevin

Yes, the simple fact that Costner was in them made the movies the worse for me. I'll admit that I enjoyed Open Range for just the few frames that didn't include KC. I can assure you those 2 DVD's will not be found in my collection.

I confess that I'm puzzled by what seems to me an irrational dislike of an actor who, while he'll certainly never approach the heights of others, has turned in credible performances in several movies. IMO, he does best in Westerns.

It's true Kevin has starred in several dogs but most any actor we can name has done the same, including our main man.

Quote from Hondo Duke Lane

Costner has said in an interview, and I don't remember where I seen it, but he said of the western stars of the past and the movies made were terrible (not his quote), and should be destroyed for all our sakes. He thinks that today's westerns are original and he and today's writers and actors are the ones who can make a quality western movie. He didn't speak highly of the stars of the past including Stewart, Fonda, Cooper, and even Wayne.

That is one reason why I don't have much respect for Costner. He doesn't have a clue for these treasures that made the American culture what it is today. There are more. Maybe Kevin will tell you about the others.

Cheers Hondo

If what you claim is true, then I can certainly understand the dislike. If true, that would make me dislike him too. But I've never heard or read of him making such statements and will research the matter further.

Quote from Hondo Duke Lane

Costner has said in an interview, and I don't remember where I seen it, but he said of the western stars of the past and the movies made were terrible (not his quote), and should be destroyed for all our sakes.

Several google searches using different word combinations have failed to turn up any evidence about such an interview (real or imagined). Can't you provide more concrete evidence, Mike? Such as when it was said, where it was said, the context in which he said it, etc. Unless I can read for myself such statements, I'd be inclined to view your claim with at least some degree of skepticism. As hearsay, in other words, and as you know, that's not accepted in a court of law.

Well, I've kept searching for some evidence of the interview Mike mentions and came up with this in which some dude named Nick Nunziata (who sounds like a real flake) supposedly interviewed Costner and elicited the criticism of older westerns by Costner. I have yet to find the actual interview though. Apparently, the interview was done sometime in 2003, shortly before the release of "Open Range". This Nunziata guy apparently has a website called CHUD which is dedicated to things concerned with the film industry. Will keep searching.

Quote from erthomp143

Here's a link to an interview around the time of "open range"

http://www.combustiblecelluloid.com/interviews/costner.shtml

At the bottom of the page you will see this:

Thanks for the link - that quote sure doesn't sound to me as if he derides older Westerns; just the opposite.

Quote from Fattysplash

I couldn't even bring myself to dislike Robert Duvall when he played 'Ned Pepper'.

I agree that old Ned wasn't all that menacing a character - in fact, he was kind of a "friendly" outlaw, if there is such a thing. I've long thought that Duvall should have won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for that role.