Duke had been involved with 20th. Century Fox, throughout his career.
It was with Fox Pictures Corporation that he began the long road to stardom,
as a prop boy, and where he was noticed by a certain John Ford.
During Duke's freshman year at USC,
he earned pocket money as an extra
Duke is uncredited, in Ford's early films, some silent,
had Duke in some capacity,
working the props, doing walk-on parts, and in the end acting.
Tm Mix, who introduced Duke to Fox films
Quote
Never had kind words for John Wayne because, many believe, he was afraid that Wayne would push him out of the limelight. That hatred grew as Wayne's star rose and, due to the fact that Mix wouldn't take a pay cut to do radio, his own star began to fall. Asked by a journalist what he thought of Wayne, Mix only replied, "The only Christian words that I could use are 'no-talent upstart'". Wayne, for his part, had disliked Mix since Wayne's college days at USC, when Mix told several members of the football team (Wayne among them) to stop by Fox Studios and he would get them jobs in the movies. Wayne and several others did so a few weeks later, only to be informed that Mix had never told anyone at the studio about his promises of employment, and they were thrown off the lot. Wayne never forgave Mix.
Here are the the 24 movies where we are pretty sure Duke was involved in:-
1926. THE GREAT K&A TRAIN ROBBERY- (Fox)
1928. MOTHER MACHREE- (Fox)
1928. FOUR SONS- (Fox)
1928. HAM HAMILTONS COMEDIES- (Fox)
1928. HANGMAN'S HOUSE -(Fox) Uncredited, but visibly seen.
1929. SPEAKEASY- (Fox)
1929. THE BLACK WATCH- (Fox)
1929. WORDS AND MUSIC- (Fox) credited as Duke Morrison
1929. SALUTE- (Fox) credited as Duke Morrison
1930. THE LONE STAR RANGER- (Fox)
1930. MEN WITHOUT WOMEN-(Fox) credited as Duke Morrison
1930. BORN RECKLESS- (Fox)
1930. ROUGH ROMANCE- (Fox) credited as Duke Morrison
1930. CHEER UP AND SMILE- (Fox) credited as Duke Morrison
1930. THE BIG TRAIL- (Fox) First time credited as John Wayne.
1931. GIRLS DEMAND EXCITEMENT- (Fox)
1931. THREE GIRLS LOST- (Fox)
1932. THE SWEETHEART OF SIGMA CHI- (Fox)
1958. THE BARBARIAN & THE GEISHA- (20th. Century Fox)
1960. NORTH TO ALASKA- (20th. Century Fox)
1961. THE COMANCHEROS- (20th. Century Fox)
1962. THE LONGEST DAY- (20th. Century Fox)
1969. THE UNDEFEATED- (20th.Century Fox)
1970. RIO LOBO- (Malabar/Cinema Centre/20th.Century Fox)