November 1, 2011
The American Cowboy Magazine issued a Collector’s Edition to honor John Wayne, the “Duke” famous among many around the world as the iconic cowboy of the American West. The editors chose Ned Scott’s classic portrait depiction of Wayne’s character “Ringo” from the 1939 movie “Stagecoach” to grace the magazine’s cover. My research over the past ten years has shown that this image is an extremely well dispersed, easily recognized and highly revered portrayal of Wayne. It’s not a stretch to claim that this in-character portrait by Ned Scott firmly established the cultural mystique of Wayne over the years as the mythological giant he was to become. The essence of this portrait forever links Wayne to the history of the American West, a principled but often misunderstood human force who overcomes the brutal realities of the landscape while grappling with the duplicity of his fellow men. You cannot get any more American than that!
The official title of this magazine issue is “the John Wayne Special Issue 2010/2011”. Ned Scott photographed Wayne in a number of poses, gestures, expressions–all in costume for his Ringo character. He also photographed Wayne with other cast members, especially with Claire Trevor’s character “Dallas“. Inside the magazine issue are other production photographs from the film which Ned Scott created. It is a wonderful and well deserved tribute to an exceptionally gifted photographer. It is just as remarkable that Ned Scott shuttered this photograph with only three years under his belt as a still photographer in Hollywood. It is one of the iconic John Wayne photos.