John Wayne was hospitalised on Western set where Duke defended director’s physical abuse

Back in 1948, starred in the Christmas Western 3 Godfathers alongside Pedro Armendáriz and Harry Carey Jr.

Shot in Death Valley, California, the plot is a loose retelling of the biblical Three Wise Men, but in an American Western setting.

Directed by John Ford, this film was a remake of the 1916 silent film starring Wayne’s acting mentor, Harry Carey Sr, who died in 1947.

The Technicolor picture, which celebrates its 76th anniversary this week, was dedicated to his memory with his son playing The Abilene Kid.

3 Godfathers begins with stuntman Cliff Lyons riding Carey’s favourite horse Sonny over the words: “To the Memory of Harry Carey, Bright Star of the early western sky…Carey played a former horse thief in The Three Godfathers and a prison escapee in Marked Men.”

Meanwhile the opening credits included “and introducing” before the name of Harry Carey Jr, even though he had been in many films including Wayne’s Red River prior. During filming, the young actor was shocked to witness Ford’s verbal and physical abuse on the set. However, this was something that Wayne had to explain to his rising co-star.

Wayne, who was briefly hospitalised on set due to bad sunburn from Death Valley’s fierce rays, felt forever in Ford’s debt. . As for why the filmmaker behaved in such a way that would not be put up with by today’s standards, it turns out he found baiting his actors got better performances out of them.