MovieChat Forums > The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) Discussion > THE Duke is coming - the scene I almost ...

THE Duke is coming - the scene I almost fell off the couch

posted 12 years ago by JeePee
9 replies | jump to latest

maybe nobody has noticed and maybe nobody will agree with me having fun with a scene in this movie when wayne is given 16 seconds for unfettered duke-walk - with a surprise body movement!

wayne just had his talk with the guy cleaning the carriage's wheels. The next scene is when the bad guys are shown watching him leaving the aforementioned guy. The very next scene, which starts at 34:12 on my DVD (which has a length of 1:56:48), is the scene I am talking about.

The scene shows Wayne approaching his brothers (who are sitting/hanging around at the end of an arcaded sidewalk).
with the cut to this scene the music has changed to this stompy "don't mess with him, he has a mission" rhythm. the music is important to the whole scene.
and then not only do his brothers watch him doing the duke-walk, but also due to the camera's point of view do we the audience not only watch him but also watch his brothers watch him. everyboding is wathcing wayne doing the cat-walk!

but the moment that made me rolling on the floor is when wayne has finally made it to his brothers: he does not really stop, he does not just walk along - he, well just see for yourself ...

[–] porfle 11 years ago

He does that extended walk and then pauses just long enough to do a little shuffle and say "Well?" before leading them all off to their next destination. (He repeats the "Well?" once or twice more as they make their rounds.)

I've also noticed this scene every time I've watched this movie and look forward to it. John Wayne had his own way of being cool that nobody else could even try to match.

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[–] devilchasnme 9 years ago

That "Well" when they're off to see the banker is one of my favorites in this movie and really one of my favorites in all movies. It's such a small thing and typical John Wayne.

[–] wrlord2001 10 years ago

wha? you've never seen someone walk before?

[–] Foxlair45 9 years ago

Too cool for words!!

[–] gtrbxer 9 years ago

The Duke had that classic strut. Not like today's posers.

[–] ronaldt49 8 years ago

That Corncob up the Butt Strut!

[–] runit73 8 years ago

Watched the movie on AMC today. I noticed that scene. John has a distinctive walk. I was thinking he has back pain. He seems stiff, but graceful at the same time.

[–] joegerardi-1 7 years ago

Paul Fix (Sheriff Billy Wilson in this movie) was a lifelong friend of The Duke, and was there at the beginning of The Duke's career. I've read articles on Wayne that credit that walk to Paul Fix- telling Wayne he needed something distinctive to set him apart, and told him to kick his toes into the dirt with every step, hence the gait.

It's also why you see Paul Fix in so many John Wayne movies- Wayne never forgot a friend, and always got them parts.

..Joe

[–] TwittingOnTrender 7 years ago

It's a weird gait, but even wearing baggy, too-short trousers he manages to carry it off!

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