Was The Conqueror the cursed film that killed John Wayne? In 1954, producer Howard Hughes filmed it just 137 miles downwind from a nuclear test site. The crew didn’t know the desert was radioactive — or that they were taking it home with them. Over 90 cast and crew later developed cancer… including John Wayne, Susan Hayward, and director Dick Powell. Sure, Wayne smoked heavily and loved his red meat — but even with that, the numbers don’t lie. It’s regularly cited in film history books, document

From early days to enduring legacy, John Wayne shares how his journey in film began with football. 🏈 | JOHN WAYNE