The 1967 film The War Wagon paired two of Hollywood’s biggest names. John Wayne and Kirk Douglas starred together in this Western heist film.
The movie holds an 82% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with Wayne playing Taw Jackson and Douglas playing Lomax.
Despite their on-screen chemistry, the two clashed off-camera throughout their careers together. Douglas later reflected on working with Wayne.
“With John Wayne, we argued all the time and we made four pictures,” he told MovieWeb. “With Burt, I made five pictures. I miss those guys. When you get to my age, you find that most of your dear friends are gone.”
Douglas said he missed both men later in life.
John Wayne and Kirk Douglas holding the reins of their captured armored stagecoach in a scene from the film The War Wagon.Archive Photos / Getty Images
How Politics Nearly Derailed John Wayne and Kirk Douglas’ Friendship
Douglas addressed his relationship with Wayne directly in a Dick Cavett Show interview.
“I don’t want to get involved in a conversation about John Wayne,” he said. “I’ve made quite a few pictures with John Wayne and, by the way, I’ve always called him John. Everybody calls him Duke. We have never seen eye-to-eye on a lot of things.”
According to The Mirror, their political differences clashed during The War Wagon‘s production. Douglas showed up late to set after filming a commercial endorsing Democrat Edmund G. Brown for California governor.
That delay reportedly enraged Wayne, a prominent conservative. He retaliated the very next day, arriving late himself after shooting his own ad endorsing Republican Ronald Reagan.
Despite the tension, Douglas still praised Wayne’s work ethic during their time together. He called him “one of the most professional actors” he ever worked with.
The two eventually built mutual respect despite their differences. Their political rivalry never fully disappeared, but it also never stopped them from working together.
Related: ‘I Don’t Care for It Much’: 1965 John Wayne Classic He Dismissed Has a 100% Rotten Tomatoes Score
This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on Aug 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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