10 Underrated John Wayne Movies Beyond Westerns

John Wayne is most famous for his Western films, which sometimes means his other movies don’t get the recognition they deserve. He began acting in the late 1920s, but his career really took off when he first worked with director John Ford on the iconic Western, Stagecoach.

For the next thirty years, John Wayne dominated the Western film genre, especially through his frequent collaborations with director John Ford. While he’s best known for Westerns and war movies, many of his other roles are surprisingly diverse and often go unnoticed.

Back To Bataan (1945)

Besides his famous Westerns, John Wayne appeared in numerous war films. He deeply admired the genre and even advised Steven Spielberg against making the comedy 1941, feeling it disrespected the military. While some of his war movies blended Western themes, many stood alone as war stories, such as Back to Bataan.

Most John Wayne fans overlook Back to Bataan, even when talking about his war movies. This black and white film is set in the Pacific during World War II, after the Battle of Bataan, and features Wayne as an American officer attempting to inspire Filipinos to fight against the Japanese.

Although the movie received positive reviews and an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s largely forgotten by even devoted fans of John Wayne. Despite this, it offers a raw and honest portrayal of a lesser-known aspect of World War II.

Trouble Along The Way (1953)

Released in 1953, Trouble Along the Way is one of John Wayne’s lesser-known films – a sports movie! Though he’s famous for Westerns and playing cowboys, Wayne was actually a college football player. He played for the USC Trojans, but his football career was cut short by a broken collarbone.

John Wayne played a down-on-his-luck football coach named Steve Williams in the film Trouble Along the Way. He was given a second chance coaching at a small Catholic school hoping to revive their football program and avoid financial ruin. Ultimately, the movie tells a heartwarming story about sports and overcoming adversity.

I’ve always been amazed by Michael Curtiz, especially considering he directed Casablanca years before this film. Honestly, seeing a John Wayne sports movie helmed by a director of that caliber should have cemented this as a classic! It’s a real shame it’s become one of Wayne’s most overlooked works, because it truly deserves more attention.

Seven Sinners (1940)

While John Wayne is famous for his roles in Westerns and war films – several of which are now considered classics – he also explored other genres. For example, around the time he became well-known with the movie Stagecoach, he starred in a romantic drama called Seven Sinners in 1940.

I remember being so excited when I learned Marlene Dietrich was starring alongside John Wayne in Seven Sinners! He played Dan, a Navy man, and she was Bijou Blanche, this incredibly captivating singer. All the guys in the movie – and probably the audience too – were completely drawn to her. It was a really fun dynamic to watch him try to win her over.

This movie marked John Wayne’s debut in a romantic leading role, and it’s a well-made film. Wayne and Dietrich shared a strong connection on screen, and the challenges their characters faced felt believable and impactful.

The Life Of Jimmy Dolan (1933)

When people discuss John Wayne’s early films, they usually begin with Stagecoach, the movie that made him a star. But it’s easy to forget about the good films he appeared in before that, where he wasn’t the main actor. One example is The Life of Jimmy Dolan, released in 1933.

The film features Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as Jimmy Dolan, a well-known boxer who unintentionally causes a reporter’s death during a boxing match. Though he’s cleared in court, a determined lawman believes justice hasn’t been served and starts pursuing Jimmy, seeking to punish him for what he sees as a crime.

John Wayne plays a minor role as a boxer named Smith, offering a glimpse of the iconic actor he would later become.

Wake Of The Red Witch (1948)

Wake of the Red Witch is a less famous film starring John Wayne. Directed by Edward Ludwig, the movie features Wayne as Captain Ralls, a tough ship captain. He intentionally sinks a ship – the Red Witch – and its $5 million gold cargo due to a conflict with Mayrant Sidneye, who owns a competing shipping line.

Despite Batjak’s decision not to formally pursue charges, Sidneye intends to deal with Ralls himself. The role was unusual for John Wayne, who typically played heroes, though his character had motivations for his behavior. Nevertheless, his actions were wrong and against the law, and he ultimately faced repercussions due to the strict censorship standards of the time, known as the Hays Code.

“Wake of the Red Witch” deserves more recognition for presenting John Wayne in an unusual role. It’s a fascinating film that offers a glimpse of what the actor could have brought to more villainous characters.

The High And The Mighty (1954)

John Wayne understood his audience expected him to star in Westerns, and he largely stuck to that genre. However, he occasionally ventured into different types of roles throughout his career. Many of these films, like the 1954 release The High and the Mighty, haven’t received the recognition they deserve because they weren’t typical Westerns.

The movie is a disaster thriller starring Wayne as Dan Roman, a co-pilot who must land a plane single-handedly after an engine failure on a flight from Hawaii to California. When the pilot becomes incapacitated, Dan is left to handle the emergency landing himself.

This film is one of the few truly unsuccessful movies starring John Wayne. Although the story of a determined man facing death would become a common theme later on, Wayne himself gave a remarkably strong performance.

Without Reservations (1946)

Though John Wayne is famous for Westerns, Without Reservations is a standout among his other films and deserves more recognition as one of his best performances. It’s unusual for Wayne, being a romantic comedy where he plays a Marine who falls for a popular novelist.

Claudette Colbert plays Kit Madden, a writer traveling to Hollywood to oversee the film adaptation of her popular novel. While John Wayne wasn’t known for comedy, this movie showcases him at his funniest, and is widely considered his best comedic performance.

Wayne and Colbert have great on-screen chemistry, making their comedic scenes feel effortless and funny. The film Without Reservations is also fun because it features cameo appearances by famous actors like Jack Benny, Raymond Burr, and Cary Grant.

Pittsburgh (1942)

Released in 1942, Pittsburgh stars John Wayne and Marlene Dietrich as lovers, building on the strong connection they first showed in Seven Sinners two years earlier. Wayne plays Pittsburgh Markham, a successful businessman, and Dietrich is his romantic interest, Josie Winters.

The film centers on a love triangle involving Pittsburgh, Josie, and Cash Evans, played by Randolph Scott. While initially hinting at the looming presence of World War II, the movie ultimately prioritizes the emotional drama between these three characters.

Critics had a mixed to negative reaction to Pittsburgh, despite the film doing well at the box office. Many negative reviews unfairly compared it to John Wayne’s Westerns, contributing to the film remaining largely overlooked since its release in the 1940s.

They Were Expendable (1945)

The 1945 John Wayne war film, They Were Expendable, is adapted from William Lindsay White’s 1942 nonfiction book. The movie tells the true story of the brave sailors of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three as they fought to defend the Philippines during World War II.

John Wayne starred as Lt. J.G. “Rusty” Ryan, a determined soldier eager to join the fight and contribute to the Allied victory in the war. The film was well-received and earned Academy Award nominations for its excellent sound and visual effects.

As much as I love this war movie with John Wayne, it feels like it always gets overshadowed by his bigger hits like Sands of Iwo Jima, The Longest Day, and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon. Honestly, though, I think it’s just as good as those classics and definitely deserves more recognition as one of his best performances.

The Quiet Man (1952)

While it’s hard to say The Quiet Man is truly underrated given John Wayne’s legacy, it’s surprising more people don’t talk about it when discussing his best work. Films like The Searchers, True Grit, and Stagecoach are often considered his masterpieces, but many believe The Quiet Man actually features his finest performance.

John Ford had trouble getting funding for The Quiet Man; the studio insisted he make Rio Grande first. While both films were well-received, The Quiet Man stood out as a truly exceptional movie – a delightful romantic comedy set in Ireland about a man reconnecting with his roots.

John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara had amazing chemistry, but The Quiet Man truly showcases their best work together. It’s a wonderfully crafted film – funny, smart, and with just the right touch of romance. Wayne delivers a career-best performance, and the movie deserves to be considered as highly as his classic, The Searchers. It’s a gem that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.

2025-11-29 00:02