John Wayne turned down the role of which Marshall, James Arness eventually playing the role for 20 years?
James Arness with him in "Big Jim McLain", "Hondo", "Island in the Sky", and "The Sea Chase", and starred in "Gun the Man Down" for Wayne's company. He also starred in a 1988 TV remake of Wayne's 1948 classic "Red River" An urban legend has it that John Wayne was offered the leading role of Matt Dillon in the longtime favorite television show "Gunsmoke", but he turned it down, instead recommending James Arness for the role. The only part of this story that is true is that Wayne did indeed recommend Arness for the part. Wayne introduced Arness in a prologue to
Gun the Man Down actor Peter Graves. Andrew V. McLaglen, the film's director, was the son of actor and former boxer Victor McLaglen, and went on to direct ninety-six episodes of "Gunsmoke" starring James Arness, as well as five movies starring John Wayne, among many others. "Gun the Man Down" also remains notable for being the first of many westerns McLaglen directed. Gun the Man Down Gun the Man Down is a 1956 Western film directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and starring James Arness and Angie Dickinson in her first leading role. The film was produced by Robert E. Morrison for his brother John