TV - Movies
Why A Camera On
The Shootist Set
Had John Wayne
Seeing Red
By C.M. CROCKFORD
At the peak of his career, John Wayne was one of the most bankable actors in Hollywood, but by the time he joined Don Siegel's "The Shootist," Wayne was getting older, facing health issues, and was less of a composed performer. In fact, poor camera setup caused Wayne to lash out while on the set of his final western picture.
During one "Shootist" scene, the crew placed a camera in a bale of hay in front of Wayne, resulting in an unflattering shot that emphasized his nose and cheeks; plus, Wayne found the whole technique to be obnoxious. He politely, then angrily asked the camera operator to move the equipment, before finally snapping at Siegel.
Despite the incident, Wayne's co-star Ron Howard said the veteran actor was overall professional. Howard, who had not only worked with Wayne, but Bette Davis and Jimmy Stewart, said of his co-stars, “Here's the thing they all have in common: They all, even in their 70s, worked a little harder than everyone else."