I disagree Cole--he had "Battle Beyond The Stars" (which would have been much better, production wise, if he was in the movie) and he was certainly committed to getting "Beau John" made and him being the star of the movie--perhaps he was at that age and the fact that he was slightly haggard at the time he was out of that Boston hospital after he had the heart-valve operation that would have given some gravitas to the role (it was to have been a horse racing picture and a comedy) and certainly would have been a change of pace.
Also he had signed a contact with ABC for a regular slate of tv specials well into the 1980s with himself as host--I am genuinely sorry this did not happen as it would have revitalised his career (not that it really needed any) -- also it was the cusp of the home video revolution and that in itself would have made him one of the most in-demand personalities in the world.
I like to think of how he would have ended his career (if 'the big C' hadn't returned) in the 1980s and probably into the mid-90s--with the box office success of "On Golden Pond" in 1981 and into 1982, he would have certainly been reteamed with Maureen O'Hara in something similar (James Stewart was forever being offered 'Golden Pond'-like movies--he did one, "Right Of Way" with Bette Davis--but turned them down as most of the roles were curmudgeons and he wasn't one). Also in the era of "Raiders Of The Lost Ark", he certainly wouldn't have been out of place and may have made a Batjac production similar to "Plunder In The Sun". Also I think he would have returned to being a producer at Batjac, even a director.
I think "Beau John" would probably still make a great movie, but who would you get to play the lead these days-- Kurt Russell, Jeff Bridges?
Posts from Brian Mc in thread „Roles Turned down by John Wayne“
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Two more roles that were offered to Duke, both in 1978:
"10"Duke was sent the script for this 1979 Blake Edwards' comedy with Dudley Moore and Julie Andrews and was approached for the role of Bo Derek's father, a Beverly Hills dentist (played in the movie by James Noble). He sent back the script, saying it was "too dirty"
"Battle Beyond The Stars"This was a Roger Corman/American International low budget ripoff of "Star Wars" (though more like the-then recently departed "Battlestar Galactica"). The Duke loved both "Star Wars" and "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind" and whilst he had steered clear of anything with any hint of science fiction, no westerns were making this kind of money at the box office and this role was ready-made for him....a gunslinger.
He thought his presence might help the production, add it some prestige and possibly some added backing, budget-wise, from one of the major studios who were all looking at putting into production some "Star Wars"-type pictures.
I know "Beau John" was probably his highest priority at the time, but he was very keen to be in this movie (unbelievably, to many in the film community) and I'm pretty sure contracts may have been signed. Sadly, Duke's health took a downturn and he was out of the movie, with the role eventually being played by George Peppard.
Also he was approached for a film in which Harrison Ford would have played his son--don't know the title but this was certainly mooted at the time.
(** Also, going back even further in time, Duke was approached for the lead in both "High Noon" and "Gunsmoke"--he was the one who suggested James Arness as the perfect Matt Dillon)
