Saddle-up, Pilgrim, for 'Ten Decades of 'The Duke': The Official John Wayne Centennial Celebration'

Saddle-up, Pilgrim, for 'Ten Decades of 'The Duke': The Official John Wayne Centennial Celebration'

100th Birthday of The Most Enduring Film Star of All-Time to Be Saluted by Famed Contemporaries, Noted Film Festival and Home City of Newport Beach, California

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., March 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2007 annual Harris Poll of America's favorite film stars finds Hollywood legend John Wayne at number three -- an incredible feat considering his last film was released in 1976. Wayne has never been out of the top ten since the poll began in 1994 and has placed in the top three slots eight times, proving that he remains as popular and enduring as ever (In fact, on average, his films are shown 3-4 times daily on national broadcast/cable outlets).

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070306/LATU037 )

May 26 marks the 100th anniversary of John Wayne's birth and in salute to his life and impressive 50-year film career, the city of Newport Beach (Wayne's longtime home town in Southern California) is commemorating "Ten Decades of 'The Duke': The Official John Wayne Centennial Celebration" (April 21 - 28). Produced in collaboration with the Wayne family and the Newport Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau, the celebration will be a featured part of the 2007 Newport Beach Film Festival (April 19 - 29) and promises to be an unforgettable series of special moments recalling one of the 20th century's most beloved personalities.

The weeklong event will launch with the first-ever presentation of the newly established John Wayne Courage Award, created specifically to honor noted individuals who have blazed their own trails in the field of motion pictures and the arts. The presentation of the award will occur during an opening night gala at The Island Hotel Newport Beach on Saturday, April 21.

The celebration will be highlighted by screenings of many of Wayne's most memorable films. Each screening will be accompanied by rarely seen footage, photos and personal appearances by notable co-stars, filmmakers and contemporaries.

The roster of films include Wayne's Academy Award-winning performance in the hit film "True Grit" (1969) plus the Howard Hawks film "Rio Bravo" (1959), considered one of the true classics of the western film genre. Other films to be showcased include "Stagecoach" (1939), "The Sands of Iwo Jima" (1949), "The Quiet Man" (1952), "The Searchers" (1956), "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" (1962) and "The Shootist" (1976) among others.

Other festivities include an art unveiling, original prop and costume displays, a scholarly film symposium, etc. An elegantly casual fund raiser in support of the John Wayne Cancer Foundation (www.jwcf.org) will close the celebration on Saturday, April 28, at The Balboa Bay Club and Resort. The evening, themed around the rousing Wayne film comedy "Donovan's Reef," will showcase Wayne's love of the movies, exotic film locales and good times had in the company of family and friends.

"Though my dad's movie projects took him to many different locations around the world, he always loved returning home to his family and friends in Newport Beach," said Ethan Wayne, Wayne's youngest son and president of Wayne Enterprises. "We are thrilled to be celebrating his 100th birthday in connection with this year's Newport Beach Film Festival. It is a fitting and appropriate venue to honor and remember his legacy."

In a remarkable career that spanned half-a-century, John Wayne appeared in more than 175 films (including a record-breaking 142 leading roles), garnering along the way the Best Actor Academy Award (1969), three Golden Globe Awards, four People's Choice Awards and both the Congressional Gold Medal (1979) and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1980).

"There has never been a bigger internationally recognized movie icon than John Wayne and the fact that he called Newport Beach home for nearly two decades is a cherished part of our city's history," said Gary C. Sherwin, president and CEO, Newport Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau. "It's appropriate that Newport Beach be the host city for this extraordinary celebration -- this is where John Wayne came to relax, recharge, enjoy good times, and not play a role other than friend, husband, and father."

Born in Winterset, Iowa, Wayne is considered among the "Top 100 Icons of the Century" (Daily Variety, October 2005) and one of the "100 Greatest Americans" of all time (Discovery Channel, April 2005). Add one more distinction -- Wayne will enter cyber-space in March 2007 at www.johnwayne.com (Wayne's first-ever official fan club and website).

In addition to the John Wayne centennial, the 2007 Newport Beach Film Festival will highlight more than 350 films, offering an ambitious and international selection of features, shorts, documentaries, and animation that will compete for both jury and audience awards. Now in its 8th year and set just a few blocks away from spectacular coastline (and less than an hour from Hollywood) the festival will host several premieres, galas, and yacht parties, attracting an estimated 35,000+ film lovers from across the country and around the globe.

"We are truly proud to honor two things John Wayne loved: Cinematic excellence and the community of Newport Beach," said Gregg Schwenk, executive director, Newport Beach Film Festival. "The festival is excited to host the many special screenings and events during the Centennial Celebration. The 2007 Festival line-up will offer a unique view of classic and contemporary filmmaking at its finest."

For more information about the Official John Wayne Centennial Celebration readers can contact www.visitnewportbeach.com, www.newportbeachfilmfest.com or www.johnwayne.com.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070306/LATU037
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Newport Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau

CONTACT: Tim O'Day of O'Day & Associates PR, +1-714-783-7415,
tim.oday@odayandassociates.com, for Newport Beach Conference & Visitors
Bureau; or Jessica Roswell of Newport Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau,
+1-949-719-6100, jessica@nbcvb.com

Web site: http://www.jwcf.org/

Web site: http://www.newportbeachfilmfest.com/

Web site: http://www.johnwayne.com/

Web site: http://www.visitnewportbeach.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: For news media inquiries and images, please contact Tim O'Day or Jessica Roswell

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