MovieChat Forums > Without Reservations (1946) Discussion > Top Billing

Top Billing

posted 16 years ago by mortycausa
5 replies | jump to latest

Someone in the reviews claims that this was the last time John Wayne didn't get top billing in a movie. That isn't strictly true. For The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence, Wayne and James Stewart flipped a coin to decide the issue of top billing. Whoever won the coin flip would get top billing in the trailers and the other would get top billing in the credits. Stewart won the toss, so in the previews and on posters, his names first or top. When the credits come on at the beginning of the movie, Wayne is first.

Thought that was interesting. Often deals have fallen apart because of this issue. According to IMDB's bio info on Wayne, Hatari was supposed to star he and Clark Gable, but Gable died. Who would have gotten top billing? Anyway, the problem between two mega stars was handled pretty maturely, I think, by Stewart and Wayne in Liberty Valence.

The movie, Without Reservations, isn't bad, but it isn't anything special either. Wayne was quite good at comedy. He really a good sense of humor that came out in places in his movies. Too bad he didn't do more comedy.

It's interesting to note that the talk about Cary Grant by the characters in the movie reveals that even at that time Grant just wasn't a mere star, he was already an icon.

[–] kimpunkrock 16 years ago

Yes that commenter made a bunch of mistakes. He also does not get top billing in the Longest Day.

That commenter should stick to things she knows and that is not John Wayne.

http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/index.jsp?cid=186977

The Truth is out there.

[–] stayup_all_night 13 years ago

Technically Wayne had top billing in 'The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance', because his name appears first on the credits. That's what you go by, moreso than movie posters. John Ford, the director of the movie, also said that he wanted Wayne to have top billing.

[–] mortycausa 10 years ago

Actually, that's not what you went by at the time. Getting your name first on the trailers and previews was considered more important. And Stewart's name is first there. That's why the winner of the coin-toss received that as first dibs.

[–] jwkenne 10 years ago

This is why many modern films have two stars, one displayed dexter base, and the other sinister chief. One is first left-to-right, the other is first top-to-bottoms.

[–] Prismark10 8 years ago

Generally top billing is if your name is on the top left hand side of the screen.

It's that man again!!