John Wayne is 62. He has had a lung removed after a cancer operation but still makes cowboy films almost continuously. After 250 pictures he is hotly tipped to win his first Oscar for his performance in True Grit, released this month.
The past two years have been the most remarkable in Wayne's life. He 'licked the big C,' spoke at the Republican Convention, was mooted as a Vice Presidential running-mate for George Wallace and created a wave of controversy by his hawkish film about Vietnam, The Green Berets.
Despite this, he remains the biggest box-office draw in the world. He spoke to Iain Johnstone about his life and his films. Film extracts include: Sagebrush Trail (1933), Stagecoach (1939), The Alamo (1960), The Man who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), Eldorado (1966), The Green Berets (1968), True Grit (1969)

(Colour)