Could not find the trailer in which the two are walking off the set, Wayne says to Dern, "They're gonna hate you for that!" The first video is from the original movie, "The Cowboys", violent fistfight, deadly ending. Frank An interview of Dern years later:
I loved that film...the critics hated it... but that Bruce Dern ( never heard of him before or since )...made my skin crawl...not just the character but his whole persona...errrrk!! I rarely get too involved with characters but I wanted to just shoot him myself for being repulsive, much less killing my beloved Duke...
I remember seeing this film for the first time and believe me, I was in total shock when Wayne got shot !! He can't be dead I'm thinking, but he was ! Took me a while to come to terms with that fact, I really couldn't believe it I've seen the film about 4 times since - its a favourite as I love the storyline and have come to forgive Bruce Dern because he's just too good an actor not to
John was also killed in The Shootist. That was the last film he made. It was said that he was pretty unhealthy then. As far as Bruce Dern and that movie, The Cowboys, goes, Bruce stated that for years he had to go to a chiropractor for his back. Remember the scene where John slammed Bruce up against a tree, in the movie? So, Bruce killed John in the movie, but in real life, Bruce came out of the movie with a serious back problem. I love seeing Bruce Dern's daughter, Laura Dern in movies, like The Last Jedi, where she was an Admiral for the rebellion and allowed the others to escape and rammed the ship she was on into the bad guys ship. She was also in The Founder, as Michael Keaton's wife.
@Cody Fousnaugh - interesting fact about Dern, that must've hurt ! Only watched The Shootist the once - too sad
Yes, in watching an interview with Bruce, he said "just think how you'd feel after having someone like John Wayne slam you up against a tree. We had no "doubles" for those fight scene's.....it was him and I."
Ok, but it was a real tree and a real slam...….at least it sure looks like that. Wonder why they didn't use actor "doubles" or stuntmen. Although, actor Tom Cruise does most of his own fight and car chase scenes. He's noted for doing those.
They do usually use stuntmen, but sometimes actors choose to do their own stunts.. if they get hurt doing them, then they can't sue the studio..
@Holly Saunders I fully appreciate your assessment of Bruce Dern's personality. Appearance-wise, as well as motions, he is perfectly suited to play loonies. He does that very believably well. In "Burbs", he played a strange neighbor having dubious interests, but did it in a laughable way. I believe the guy is an excellent actor, just MO. Frank