Working with an acting legend can be a great opportunity for young directors. You can learn from them and the film gets more attention. But Don Siegel was no longer a newcomer when he filmed with western legend John Wayne. The last sniper was from 1976 the last film by John Wayne and a nightmare for director Don Siegel.
John Wayne didn’t respect director legend Don Siegel
Actress and John Wayne’s filming partner Lauren Bacall spoke to The Hollywood Interview’s Alex Simon in 2007 about working on The Last Sniper. The film was her second collaboration with Wayne after The Yellow Stream. According to her, she got along very well with John Wayne, whom she called by his nickname ‘Duke’:
Duke Wayne and I got along really well considering we didn’t agree on anything! That was really amazing. It was great working with him.
However, that apparently didn’t count for the director. Opposite film legend and Dirty Harry director Don Siegel seems to have misbehaved with John Wayne:
He was so terrible to Don Siegel. He kept saying things like, ‘You call this a set-up? What kind of director are you?’
Being constantly questioned like that is definitely not easy as a director. According to Far Out Magazine, Wayne also had a major influence on the film as his contract included script and casting approval. As a result, Don Siegel had no sovereignty over the actor.
It was clear to Lauren Bacall why John Wayne was acting like that. At the same time, unlike Wayne, she respected the director Don Siegel:
Duke wanted to direct the film. He was difficult, boy. And Don Siegel was a wonderful director. I like the film a lot and after all, Duke was a dying man who made this film.John Wayne’s legacy is not only remembered positively
John Wayne was very respected by many filmmakers, however The actor was not unproblematic. Even today there are actors like Christoph Waltz who don’t have a very high opinion of the Western legend.
With his last film he certainly wanted to go out with a bang, after all it was known that his best years were over. But not everyone will remember him fondly for his behavior.