Hondo (1953)

Based on a short story by Louis L’Amour, this moody frontier drama stars John Wayne as Hondo Lane, a cavalry rider who comes to the aid of rancher Angie Lowe (Geraldine Page) and her son when they are trapped in the middle of Apache raids on the territory. Serving as the pair’s protector, Hondo forms a bond with them that changes all of their lives. With Ward Bond, Leo Gordon, Michael Pate; directed by John Farrow. Not in 3D. 83 min. C/Rtg: NR

Island In The Sky (1953)

When their Army transport plane is forced to crash land in the icy wilderness of Labrador, veteran flyer Captain Dooley (John Wayne) and his four-man crew must battle the elements to stay alive while they await a rescue mission. Intense actioner from director William Wellman also stars Lloyd Nolan, Andy Devine, Harry Carey, Jr., James Arness, and Walter Abel.; based on the novel by Ernest K. Gann. 109 min. BW/Rtg: NR

The High And The Mighty (1954)

This progenitor of the airborne disaster film genre features a memorable turn by John Wayne as Dan Roman, a veteran airline pilot unable to overcome surviving the crash which killed his family. Serving as co-pilot to a brash rival (Robert Stack) on a Honolulu-San Francisco passenger flight that sustains a midair emergency, Roman must try to safely land the damaged plane before the fuel runs out. Co-stars Laraine Day, Claire Trevor; William Wellman directs. 148 min. C/Rtg: NR

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

John Ford’s epic western stars James Stewart as U.S. senator Ranse Stoddard, who returns to his old home after 25 years for the funeral of an old friend, rancher Tom Doniphon (John Wayne). When asked about the rancher by a reporter, the senator tells the story of their friendship and how his life was saved after an attack by sadistic outlaw Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin). Vera Miles, Edmond O’Brien, Andy Devine, and Woody Strode also star; from a short story by Dorothy M. Johnson. 122 min. BW/Rtg: NR

Hatari! (1962)

The title means "danger" in Swahili, and that’s just what Sean Mercer (John Wayne) and his band of "big-game wranglers" face daily in the jungles of eastern Africa as they capture wild animals for zoos around the world. Red Buttons, Hardy Kruger, and Elsa Martinelli also star in director Howard Hawks’ rousing adventure film; the memorable Henry Mancini score includes "Baby Elephant Walk." 158 min. C/Rtg: NR

Donovan's Reef (1963)

"Guns" Donovan (John Wayne), "Boats" Gilhooley (Lee Marvin), and "Doc" Dedham (Jack Warden) are former Navy men who live a leisurely life on an idyllic Pacific island where they had fought during World War II. But Donovan finds his boozing and brawling ways could be coming to an end when he falls for Doc’s estranged daughter (Elizabeth Allen), who arrives on the island to determine if her father is worthy of collecting a sizable family inheritance. Cesar Romero and Dorothy Lamour co-star; directed by John Ford. 109 min. C/Rtg: NR

McLintock! (1963)

Rousing western-comedy starring John Wayne as feisty cattleman G.W. McLintock, who finds his life suddenly complicated with the arrival of estranged wife Katherine (Maureen O’Hara). Seeking a divorce and wanting custody of their teenage daughter, she carries on a battle with McLintock that leads to a famous drag-down muddy brawl. Yvonne DeCarlo, Stefanie Powers, Jerry Van Dyke, and Jack Kruschen star in this Movies Unlimited favorite. 126 min. C/Rtg: NR

In Harm's Way (1965)

Otto Preminger directs this masterful actioner of Navy men in the Pacific after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. While veteran officer Rockwell "Rock" Torrey (John Wayne) deals with the loss of his command and the return of his estranged son, longtime friend Paul Eddington (Kirk Douglas) faces his own personal and professional demons. They both get a shot at redemption with a mission to capture a strategically located island. Patricia Neal, Tom Tyron, Paula Prentiss, and Henry Fonda co-star. 167 min. BW/Rtg: NR

The Sons Of Katie Elder (1965)

Reuniting for their mother’s funeral, Elder brothers John (John Wayne), Tom (Dean Martin), Matt (Earl Holliman), and Bud (Michael Anderson, Jr.) learn that their father was killed after losing the family ranch in a card game. Setting out to find the murderer, the boys tangle with a local sheriff who ends up dead, leading them into a violent conflict with a rival clan. Rowdy and exciting western actioner also stars Martha Hyer, George Kennedy, Jeremy Slate, Dennis Hopper. 121 min. C/Rtg: NR

El Dorado (1967)

Howard Hawks successfully reworks his earlier "Rio Bravo" with that film’s star, John Wayne, playing Cole Thornton, a gunslinger who returns to the title frontier town after a year and finding an ugly range war brewing between nasty land baron Bart Jason (Ed Asner) and a settler’s (R.G. Armstrong) family. Cole and his new ally (James Caan) join forces to stop Jason and help a drunken lawman (Robert Mitchum) keep the peace. With Charlene Holt, Michele Carey, Christopher George. 126 min. C/Rtg: NR

True Grit (1969)

In one of his best-loved movies, John Wayne took home an Oscar for his portrayal of boozing, one-eyed former U.S. marshal "Rooster" Cogburn. Hired by a young girl (Kim Darby) to find her father’s killer, Rooster finds himself saddled with unwanted help when she insists on coming along, and a would-be bounty hunter (Glen Campbell) joins them in their search. Jeremy Slate, Robert Duvall, Strother Martin also star in this touching, thrill-packed western based on Charles Portis’ novel. 127 min. C/Rtg: G

Rio Lobo (1970)

Ex-Union officer Cord McNally (John Wayne) recruits two former Confederate soldiers to help track down the traitor who conspired with the rebels to rob a Union payroll train. McNally’s mission takes him to the town of Rio Lobo where he finds the man he’s looking for keeping the local ranchers under his boot. Jorge Rivero, Jennifer O’Neill, Jack Elam, Christopher Mitchum, Victor French co-star in this rousing western tale that was director Howard Hawks’ last film. 114 min. C/Rtg: G

Big Jake (1971)

John Wayne stars as Jacob "Big Jake" McCandles, a grizzled old cowboy who hasn’t seen his family in years. But when his grandson is kidnapped by a band of outlaws and held for a million dollar ransom, and a rescue attempt mounted by the Texas Rangers fails, Big Jake may be the only one who can save the boy. Maureen O’Hara, Richard Boone, Christopher Mitchum co-star in this western actioner. 109 min. C/Rtg: PG-13

The Shootist (1976)

In his last film, John Wayne stars as "J.B." Books, an aging gunslinger who learns he has cancer. Refusing to die a slow and painful death, Books decides to use the little time he has left to even the score with some old enemies in the hopes he can go out in one final blaze of glory. Moving, and sadly prophetic, western drama also stars Lauren Bacall, James Stewart, John Carradine, Ron Howard; Don Siegel directed this adaptation of the novel by Glendon Swarthout. 98 min. C/Rtg: PG