Kirk Tells It Like It is

[poliphilo]

Here's a story Kirk Douglas likes to tell. It featured in the Observer this morning but I've come across it before and the ultimate source is probably Kirk's autobiography. Anway, I'm taking the liberty of putting it in my own words.

Kirk has invited his mate John Wayne to the premiere of Lust for Life- the bio-pic in which Kirk plays Van Gogh and  Wayne comes up to him afterwards, visibly upset and says, "How could you do it? There are so few of us real men left. You should be setting an example, not playing miserable little queers."

And Kirk replies, "You do understand it's all dressing up and make-believe, don't you- this business we're in? I mean, you're not really John Wayne."

Comments

[sovay]

And Kirk replies, "You do understand it's all dressing up and make-believe, don't you- this business we're in? I mean, you're not really John Wayne."

Yay.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

And Kirk is still around- at 100. It's brilliant.

[sovay]

And Kirk is still around- at 100. It's brilliant.

I'm really happy that he is. With marbles intact, as far as I can tell, which is really important. And I have liked him as an actor for years.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

He was a thinking actor. And got to be in a lot of very good movies as a result.

[fflo.livejournal.com]

hahahaha --- that's great!

[davesmusictank.livejournal.com]

And Kirk says to Scottie "Beam me op"

John Wayne

[(Anonymous)]

From an obit in the Daily Express.
"I’m Duke Morrison and I never was and never will be a film personality like John Wayne.
I know him well.
I’m one of his closest students.
I have to be.
I make a living out of him.”
Starting with the name Marion, probably didn't do him any favours.

Re: John Wayne

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I like that.

And I like Wayne. I don't think he was really such a dummy.

[nineweaving.livejournal.com]

That's a wonderful story. Thank you.

And all hail Kirk Douglas.

Nine

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

All hail!

[howlin-wolf-66.livejournal.com]

I'm glad someone had the strength of character to take Wayne down a peg or two.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

They were good mates in spite of their political differences. They made three or four films together and- according to Douglas- argued all the time (but in a friendly fashion.)

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

yes, but he really WAS John Wayne.

My parents, on one of their very first dates, went to see a play at St. Lawrence playhouse (on the St. Lawrence River,). Their actor in Residence was none other than Kirk Douglas, although Mom said he wasn't using that name yet. And you might be interested in this: http://www.stlawu.edu/new-residence-hall/news/new-residence-hall-named-after-actor-kirk-douglas-39-0

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's nice that Douglas is being honoured in that way. He's one of the great film actors, I think, and allowing for some very human flaws, a pretty decent guy.