John Wayne filmography into other genres as well, including several films dealing with the Second World War (notably "The Longest Day" and "In Harm's Way)". Wayne made some of his most prominent films during this period, including John Ford's "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" (1962) with James Stewart. Wayne's political views came under harsh attack from film critics with the release of "The Green Berets" (1968), which Wayne produced and co-directed as well as starred in. The following year, however, he would be praised by critics for his performance in "True Grit", which would earn him an Academy Award for Best Actor.
John Wayne title was a play on the Dumas classic. He was mentored by stuntmen in riding and other Western skills. Stuntman Yakima Canutt and Wayne developed and perfected stunts and onscreen fisticuffs techniques which are still in use. Wayne's breakthrough role came with John Ford's "Stagecoach" (1939). Because of Wayne's B-movie status and track record in low-budget Westerns throughout the 1930s, Ford had difficulty getting financing for what was to be an A-budget film. After rejection by all the major studios, Ford struck a deal with independent producer Walter Wanger in which Claire Trevor—a much bigger star at the time—received top