The Trail Beyond is back with a second annual publication on the films of John Wayne. This volume is meticulously organized and edited by The Big Trail’s Tim Lilley, who again holds nothing back in offering the best of John Wayne memories through dozens of rare photographs, behind-the-scenes interviews and wonderful new insights on the life and legend of Duke. Just when you think you know all about John Wayne, this book will further enlighten you. For instance, did you know that when Raoul Walsh and John Wayne were building stage sets and cabins near a small wilderness lake for the making of The Big Trail, they were, in effect, starting a township known today as Moran, Wyoming?
This volume contains an eye-opening aerial shot of the underwater tank that was used for John Wayne’s harrowing experience with the giant octopus in the 1948 spectacle, Wake of the Red Witch. Count on adventurous stories as The Trail Beyond salutes Jim Burk, who performed as an actor and worked as a stuntman with John Wayne in The Alamo, The War Wagon, Big Jake, The Undefeated, The Shootist, and many more. Thanks to author June Parker Beck, readers of this volume will have the added pleasure of learning more about beautiful actress Maureen O’Hara (who starred with Duke in five motion pictures) and her heartfelt feelings for him. A transcript of the famous testimony by O’Hara to get a bill passed that would authorize the president of the United States to present a specially struck gold medal to John Wayne, rounds out the article on this special leading lady of the Duke’s.
As The Trail Beyond, Volume II is a treasure trove of unique John Wayne nostalgia including reproductions of vintage movie posters and comics, rarely printed quotes demonstrating the wit and wisdom of John Wayne, and action shots of Duke beatin’ Lee Marvin to a pulp, this 100-page, thrill-packed book enthralled with America’s most cherished cowboy hero is a must-have for every Duke aficionado!