I don't know if I can pick a favorite! I can't believe he doesn't have any votes on this list of the best western characters of all time! blasphemy!
http://truegrit.wikia.com/wiki/Top_10_list:Best_Western_Characters_Of_All_Time
I've seen about 20 Wayne films and most of his characters are indistinguishable (which is the writer's fault, not the Duke's); this is why I easily choose Rooster Cogburn as my favorite JW role. It's a standout character. Rooster's a fearless, drinking, profane, gunslinging, lovable big lug with a heart of gold. Heck he even loves his cat General Sterling Price.
shareWayne's own favorite, at least at one time, was Col. Nathan Brittles in "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon." It is a splendid performance, but sometimes it is forced a bit to suggest age (at his wife's grave, for instance). So I like to plug his overlooked performance in "Rio Grande." It is clean, straightforward and consistent. In fact, were consistency the primary standard I think it is his best.
shareI'm glad that my favorite, Captain/Lieutenant Colonel Nathan Brittles from "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon", has already been mentioned. It is my favorite Duke movie period and my favorite Duke character as well, although the reason it's my favorite movie has a lot to do with Ben Johnson's excellent performance as Sergeant/Captain Tyree and [to a much lesser extent] Victor McLaglen's 1SG Quincannon. Both of the Confederate scenes [the death and burial] still choke me up every time I watch. It's also good in that Brittle's goal in this war western of avoiding a war is finally achieved and he is also able to remain at the end with the only family he has left... The U.S. Army and its Cavalry
My other top 2 would be Ethan Edwards (The Searchers) and Rooster, though unlike the other 2 characters' movies (which are my #1&2 JW movies) I would place True Grit farther down the list (& gave it only 9 out of 10, instead of the 10 stars I gave to the others).
Courage is being scared to death- and saddling up anyway
A lot of good ones, but Big Jake is my favorite. He has SO many classic lines in that movie.
shareI thought Wayne was better and more memorable in The Searchers, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Sands of Iwo Jima and Stagecoach
shareReally difficult question here, but these are my top choices.
Quirt Evans (Angel and the Badman)
Jim Brannigan (Brannigan)
Rockwell Torrey (In Harm's Way)
Chance Buckman (Hellfighters)
Duke Gifford (Operation Pacific)
"I'm not reckless . . . I'm skillful!"
If I must pick one, it has to be Rooster Cogburn. True Grit was the first John Wayne movie I ever saw, so Rooster will always be special to me.
If I'm allowed a list, however (in no particular order), I can really go to town.
Rooster Cogburn: True Grit, Rooster Cogburn
Lt. Kirby York: Rio Grande
Sean Thornton: The Quiet Man
Ethan Edwards: The Searchers
Wil Anderson: The Cowboys
Ringo: Stagecoach
G.W. McLintock: McLintock
Col. Thomas: The Undefeated
Lt. Spig Wead: The Wings of Eagles
Robert Marmaduke Hightower: Three Godfathers
Take a wild guess!
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