Greatest Western Icon: Wayne vs. Eastwood

[wired2max]

I'm torn between who is the greatest of these western legends. On one hand you have the traditional, patriotic, woman-respecting hero in John Wayne. He was in over 100 films, including many of the legendary John Ford. On the other hand you have Clint Eastwood, the dark, gritty, loner and anti-hero who is accredited with the revival of the genre in the 60's and 70's with Sergio Leone's spaghetti westerns. I'm only putting these two in the poll, but feel free to add any of your favorites who have been instrumental to the genre. (Cooper, Stewart, Lancaster)

[Pentangeli]

Eastwood

[rocknblues81]

I'm torn between who is the greatest of these western legends. On one hand you have the traditional, patriotic, woman-respecting hero in John Wayne. He was in over 100 films, including many of the legendary John Ford. On the other hand you have Clint Eastwood, the dark, gritty, loner and anti-hero who is accredited with the revival of the genre in the 60's and 70's with Sergio Leone's spaghetti westerns. I'm only putting these two in the poll, but feel free to add any of your favorites who have been instrumental to the genre. (Cooper, Stewart, Lancaster)

John Wayne is the Hulk Hogan of movies and Clint Eastwood is like the Stone Cold Steve Austin of movies. I think Wayne is very overrated myself. I haven't seen a movie where he actually interested me.

[athf1980]

I voted for John Wayne. I perfer Eastwood as the directer.

[Frosty_86]

Eastwood. Im not a big fan John Wayne's western myself, I think theyre hokey. I like Eastwood's better theyre darker, more serious.

[bigred760]

I love both icons and own westerns on DVD by both. I went with Eastwood because he's in and directed my favorite movie. But he just edges out John Wayne.

[Mr. Mxyzptlk]

John Wayne is by far the greater icon. He practically defines the Western genre. I love Eastwood, but he's simply not the greater Western icon.

[HurricanesR1]

Wayne is the greater icon, but Eastwood has the better movies.

[Le_Big_Mac]

Eastwood.

[Ramden]

I'm really torn. I am such a sucker for Eastwood's westerns. The Dollar-trilogy includes two of the best movies ever been made.
However, John Wayne made "The Searchers", which just happens to be the best movie ever in my humble opinion.
So I'm giving it to Wayne.

[DaMovieMan]

Eastwood by far. Really never liked John Wayne or his films...

[Siegfried]

Although I'm a huge fan of Clint Eastwood, particularly as a director, I think that John Wayne is by far the greater Western icon.
It's only over the past few years that I've actually come to appreciate him for the fine actor that he was.
Anyone seeing his performances in The Seekers, Red River, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and Rio Bravo surely can't deny that he not only had a great screen presence but was also capable of great subtlety as an actor.

[Dr.Frankenstein]

The thing I find amazing about Clint's Western films from the 1960s is how well he himself on film holds up against any of today's tough guy performances(where hero can be as nasty as the villain if need be?)-Eastwood like set the bar it would seem -Western or not for the harden tough guy hero (of sorts...)stereo type-I think he set the stereo type with those old Western films. Clint's gr8!

[JJFlamingo]

This is not as clear cut as one would think. A common criticism of Wayne is that in the hundreds of Westerns he did, he basically played the same character (except in The Searchers, where he was an outright bastard). However, at the same time, many of Eastwood's Western roles are mere variations on the tried and true Man With No Name gimmick...

In the end though, it comes down to the man behind the camera. Eastwood The Director (along with Leone), were far more skilled in telling a story than most of the bush-league hacks who put Wayne thru his paces (except maybe Ford), so on that note, I'm going with Clint.

[JackassFan]

Eastwood, both behind the camera and in front of it.

[ToiletBug]

John Wayne is the Hulk Hogan of movies and Clint Eastwood is like the Stone Cold Steve Austin of movies. I think Wayne is very overrated myself. I haven't seen a movie where he actually interested me.



donno how mubh i agree with those statements...maybe within the western genre...but not all of film..no way.

[Natty2]

Eastwood. Wayne is the more iconic Western actor, but Eastwood is the more iconic actor overall.

Wayne is overrated (and an arsehole as well).

[ToiletBug]

both are icons but clint is probably more credible. He has done more in the acting field even though neither have done much. Love clint though one of my top 5 but he is no george c scott in the acting department.