John Wayne Highlands, fierce fighters against communism, bestowed on Wayne a brass bracelet that he wore in the film and all subsequent films. Wayne finally won a Best Actor Oscar for "True Grit" (1969), two decades after his only other nomination. Wayne took on the role of the eponymous detective in the crime drama "McQ" (1974). His last film was "The Shootist" (1976), whose main character, J. B. Books, was dying of cancer—which Wayne himself succumbed to three years later. "The Shootist" (1976) contains numerous plot similarities to "The Gunfighter" of nearly thirty years before, a role which Wayne had wanted but
The Oscar (film) left stunned and crestfallen, clapping his hands weakly, while everyone in the assemblage whom he has wronged enjoys the comeuppance for this wholly self-absorbed, unfeeling individual. Cameos: "The Oscar" made its network television debut on February 12, 1969, on ABC's "Wednesday Night Movie". ABC moved the film up a half-hour, to 8:30 Eastern, due to cancelling the comedy show "Turn-On" after only one episode. TBS later included "The Oscar" in a film series called "Bad Movies We Love". While the film is technically a drama, many consider it to be an unintentional comedy, with critics skewering the script and performances.