RS v JW

Randolf Scott would make a better Hondo than John Wayne.

Wayne is a good cowboy on the flicker-shows but he is larger than life.  Scott is more wiry and soft spoken and would make a better scout than Wayne in L'Amour's classic book, adapted for the silver screen.  Better in the way LAmour described him, at least.

Can you tell I just watched Ride Lonesome?



Oddly, the 1953 movie predates the novel.  L'Amour had written a short story that Wayne saw and wanted to make a movie out of.  The author did retain the right to novelize the screenplay.  So he HAD to have been thinking about Wayne when he wrote the full length book.  And there was no way for Randolph Scott to jump ahead in the casting line because it was John Wayne's baby from the get go.

Gun content? It's cowboys!

Ok, in the book, Hondo is a light sleeper and wakes ready for action. He has to, scouting in Apache territory. It's necessary to stay alive. And he sleeps with his SA Colt in his right hand. Uncocked, of course.