Young Duke: The Early Life of John Wayne » (Repackaged)

Howard Kazanjian is an award-winning producer and entertainment executive who has been producing feature films and television programs for more than twenty-five years. While vice president of production for Lucasfilm Ltd., he produced two of the highest grossing films of all time: Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. He also managed production of another top-ten box-office hit, The Empire Strikes Back. Some of his other notable credits include The Rookies, Demolition Man, and the two-hour pilot and first season of J.A.G.

Through previously unpublished photographs and revealing family anecdotes, The Young Duke, offers an unflinching look at this icon's early years. This book includes unpublished family photographs and many personal reminiscences.

Library Journal

Actor John Wayne's life and career have spawned countless books, from the expos s of his wives and lovers to recipe collections inspired by his movies. Here, producer Kazanjian and screenwriter Enss (coauthors, The Cowboy and the Se orita: A Biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans), in cooperation with the Wayne family, explore Wayne's career in B Westerns, his eventual stardom and collaboration with director John Ford at age 31 in the classic film Stagecoach, and, finally, his directorial debut (The Alamo, 1960). The title seems a misnomer since the book follows Wayne to age 53 (he only lived to be 72). Kazanjian and Enss promise to share "revealing family anecdotes" and "previously unpublished" photos, and though the images show a very handsome young Duke, this slight treatment doesn't shed much new light on a life already heavily documented. Better to steer your patrons toward Michael Munn's revealing John Wayne: The Man Behind the Myth or one of the books written by the legendary actor's children or ex-wives. Not an essential purchase. Rosellen Brewer, Sno-Isle Libs., Marysville, WA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Foreword Jennifer O'Neill v

Acknowledgments vii

Introduction ix

Becoming Duke 1

The Big Trail 23

Home on the Range 45

Stagecoach 61

Married with Children 73

A Reel Cowboy 85

A Private Life Public 103

The Cowboy Is an Actor 121

Civic-Minded Duke 139

For Love of Country 151

Wayne's Alamo 163

Epilogue: Celebrating Duke 174

Filmography 177

Bibliography 188

Index 191

About the Authors 194