John Wayne’s major frustration in first starring role – 'I’d had enough!’

John Wayne abandoned what his The Big Trail director demanded of him in great frustration.

The Big Trail: John Wayne stars in trailer for 1930 film

Having had minor film roles as the sound era was coming into Hollywood during the late 1920s, John Wayne finally had his big break with The Big Trail, which was released 95 years ago this week. The 23-year-old prop boy was spotted by director Raoul Walsh moving studio furniture when he cast him in the Western’s starring role as Breck Coleman. The filmmaker suggested that the young Marion Morrison use Anthony Wayne as his stage name after the Revolutionary War General “Mad” Anthony Wayne. However, the Fox Studios boss Winfield Sheehan thought it sounded “too Italian”, so he suggested “John Wayne” instead.

John Wayne movie set feud ‘led to