Exploring the early westerns of John Waynefrom his first starring role in the The Big Trail (1930) to his breakthrough as the Ringo Kid in John Fords Stagecoach (1939)the authors trace his transformation from Marion Mitchell Morrison, movie studio prop man, into John Wayne, a carefully crafted film persona of his own invention that made him world famous. Waynes years of training went well beyond honing his acting skill, as he developed the ability to do his own stunts, perfected his technique as a gun handler and became an expert horseman.
