HDNET Movies will present a double bill of "The Alamo" and "The Sons of Katie Elder" to celebrate for John Wayne's birthday.
As Ethan Wayne sees it, there is good news and bad news concerning the roundup of classic westerns that he’s hosting for HDNET Movies. “They’ve scheduled 20 really cool old films,” he says. “Unfortunately, people will have to listen to me for about a minute before each one of them, while I introduce them.”
But seriously, folks: Most viewers should enjoy every minute of those introductions throughout Western Icons with Ethan Wayne, the series set to kick off at 7 pm ET Friday with a double bill of Mackenna’s Gold and Paint Your Wagon, and conclude May 28 with a 24-hour Memorial Day marathon.
For one thing, Wayne — son of the late, great John Wayne and president of John Wayne Enterprises — will be showing behind-the-scenes photos and other memorabilia (including costumes and other items from movies starring his father) during the introductions. In addition, he will share anecdotes about his dad and other Western Icons who are represented in the HDNET Movies series.
“This was really a fun thing to do,” Wayne says, “because it gave me an excuse to just sit at home and watch a few of these old movies that I haven’t seen in a long time. Some of the people who were in them were great people, and they were part of my childhood. Here, you get to see them when they were in their prime.”
Not surprisingly, he was especially happy to take another look at the movies featuring his father. The Western Icons lineup includes a double bill of The Alamo and The Sons of Katie Elder on May 26 — what would have been The Duke’s 111th birthday — and a May 27 presentation of The Unforgiven.
“I’m always glad to see my dad — who I really loved and cared about — at a time in his life when I didn’t know him. He was 56 when I was born, so when I see him when he’s younger — it’s something special. The funny thing is, I’m 56 now. And to see him in the earlier films, it helps me connect and understand where I came from and who I am. Because then I can see a resemblance. Whereas, when I was younger, I didn’t see it.”
While preparing for Western Icons, Wayne combed through the John Wayne Enterprises archives to read correspondence between his father and other stars. He was amused, but not surprised, to see how respectful his father remained even while joking with contemporaries on the other side of the political divide.
“He was civil, he was respectful — and he could articulate his opinion in front of someone who had a different idea,” Wayne says. “And he could do it while maintaining mutual respect. I think that came out of how he grew up. I didn’t know this when my father was alive, but I found out after he passed that he was head of his high school newspaper, head of the debate team, captain of the football team, and into the drama club. He was very involved. And I think at an early age, he learned how to discuss issues, be on one side or the other, and share your ideas with the other person, in hopes that you’ll plant some seed that grows on their side that might get them to see why you’re so passionate about your cause, or your views on a particular issue.
“I was glad to be reminded of that now, at a time when things are so divisive. People seem to always be on one side or the other, and there’s no working together on so many issues today. It just reminded of a time when we were all one. Like ‘OK, you think it should be red and we think it should be orange. But we’re going to settle on something and keep moving forward. We’re not going to just dig our heels in and bring everything to a screeching halt.’”
You can see a video preview of what Wayne will be sharing with viewers for Western Icons with Ethan Wayne here.
