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 Corporation, he appeared mostly in small bit parts. His first leading role came in Raoul Walsh's Western "The Big Trail" (1930), an early widescreen film epic which was a box-office failure. Only leading roles in numerous B movies followed during the 1930s, most of them also Westerns. Wayne's career was rejuvenated with John Ford's "Stagecoach" (1939) making him an instant mainstream star. He starred in 142 motion pictures altogether, including the dozens with his name above the title produced before 1939. Biographer Ronald Davis said, "John Wayne personified for millions the nation's frontier heritage. Eighty-three of his movies were Westerns,