As such, it was no great shock to find out that JohnWayne turned down Stanley KubricksDr.
Strangeloveimmediately after he was asked to play the role of Major Kong in the anarchic anti-war satire.
The politics of the project likely clashed with Wayne’s outspoken patriotism.
Hot off the success ofThe Producers, director Mel Brooks wanted Authenticity when he cast the parody.
As a fan ofThe Producers, Wayne was intrigued enough to ask for the script.
However, this would not have been the case with Wayne in the lead role.
Throughout his entire career,Wayne rarely cracked wise, even in his most broadly comedic movies.
As such, there is no doubt he would have played the role of the Waco Kid dead straight.
This would have made Littles Bart a more comedic character, which could have hurt the movies entire story.
Wayne rejecting the role was a blessing in disguise for the tone of Brooks' movie as a whole.
In a debauched, corrupt, racist Wild West, he is often seemingly the only sane man left.
