John Wayne collaborated with John Ford multiple times, but Wayne’s own son later stated that Ford was a “sadistic” person. John Wayne and John Ford made 14 movies together, and many of them were in the Western genre. One of these movies was Fort Apache, the first part of the Cavalry Trilogy.

Fort Apache was a John Wayne movie with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, but it wasn’t an easy movie to make. Ford sH๏τ it in Monument Valley, and reports indicate that Ford wanted his cast on edge. This even affected Wayne himself, who had brought his son Michael to watch the shoot, something Ford was unhappy about.

John Ford Was ‘Sadistic’ To His Actors

According to the book, John Ford: Hollywood’s Old Master by Ronald L. Davis, Ford was unkind to most of his cast and crew, but they still respected and followed his every lead. However, one person who saw this firsthand was John Wayne’s son, Michael, who came to Monument Valley to watch the shoot.

Michael said his dad liked to fool around when he was nearby, but this was not something that Ford liked. When Wayne would start playing shooting at the sky with his son, Ford was reported to have yelled for them to “get that go**amned kid out of here.” This, however, was not why Michael considered Ford to be sadistic.

According to Michael, Ford set out to make his film shoots “uncomfortable.” Michael also said that the “rougher it was,” the more that the director liked it. Michael also said that Ford wanted to get his actors and crew fighting with each other, and this was how he kept people on their toes.

“They didn’t know when he was going to snap the trap. That’s the way he controlled. I think he was sadistic.”

It seemed to work in movies like Fort Apache, as he got great performances from notable actors such as Henry Fonda, Shirley Temple, and John Wayne’s regular co-star Ward Bond. Many would return to work with Ford more in the future, so it had no ill effects.

John Wayne’s Son Said His Dad Never Believed His Own Hype

Michael said that his dad never let John Ford get to him, even with Ford often belittling the Duke’s acting abilities. Michael said that John Wayne knew this was what Ford was like, and he didn’t let things get to him. The primary reason for Wayne’s refusal to buckle under pressure was that he remained grounded.

Michael said that John Wayne “never believed his own hype.” According to the Duke’s son, his father knew “what space he occupied,” and he knew that Ford was going to use him to the best of hisability. Wayne told him, “Michael, when you start believing your own bullsнιт, that’s when you’re in trouble.“

Even on sets like Fort Apache in Monument Valley, Michael said that John Wayne always maintained his sense of humor and remained even-tempered, even when John Ford was trying to antagonize him.