The Lost Films of John Wayne

Book excerpt: Hollywood icon John Wayne created a personal treasure trove of films during a fifty-year career, spanning 1926-1976. Today, over twenty years after his death, scarcely an hour goes by without one of them appearing somewhere in the world's TV listings. Thankfully for the fans, only a handful remain unobtainable in an era of re-mastered miracles, and out of all the movies he made post 1939, just two are retained; the last remaining prints of both apparently damaged. For whatever reason, neither one has been made available since soon after their original 1950's distribution. ISLAND IN THE SKY and THE HIGH AND THE MIGHTY are an unusual 'pair' of aerial films, shot and screened when Wayne's westerner and war hero image were reaching their zenith. This book looks at both films in some depth and includes many fascinating photographs and production details. Director William A Wellman, a Hollywood legend in his own right; the rich array of stars of both movies; Ernie Gann, the writer of both the novels on which the films are based, and of course John Wayne's dual roles as producer and star of both movies are all investigated thoroughly. This is McGivern's second book concentrating on John Wayne. The first, A GIANT SHADOW (0954003101), looked at the man, this one at two films that most of his fans may treasure in their memories, but certainly won't have seen for many years. Gone, but not forgotten! It attempts to uncover the murky history of the films since the 1950's and takes a hopeful peak at a prospective future as more and more 'lost' films are re-discovered in Hollywood. Early next year John Wayne's two lost films, "Island in the Sky" and "The High and the Mighty", are being released on DVD. Leonard Maltin has called these two films "The Holy Grails of Hollywood" to be seen again for the first time in over 40 years.