Ron Howard Recalls John Wayne and Don Siegel's Feud on 'The Shootist'

Ron Howard, who starred in John Wayne's final film, "The Shootist," recalled the significant tension between Wayne and director Don Siegel during the 1976 production, stating they "did not get along."

Speaking on the "Talking Pictures" podcast, Howard described how he learned valuable filmmaking insights by observing the dynamic between the legendary actor and the director. He praised Siegel as "a very strong director" and noted that he "really went to school" on him during filming.

Despite the friction between Wayne and Siegel, Howard managed to maintain positive relationships with both. He frequently engaged Siegel with questions about directing, and unexpectedly formed a bond with Wayne by offering to rehearse lines between takes. Howard observed that Wayne typically operated within a "very closed little bubble" and rarely engaged in extensive conversation with others on set, apart from a chess partner and a still photographer.

Howard's conversations with Wayne often revealed the actor's frustrations with Siegel. The director himself shared with Howard his perspective on on-set dynamics, explaining that if a conflict between a director and a star reached a certain point, the director was often the one to be replaced to avoid costly reshoots. Siegel told Howard, "after about two weeks, if you’re the director and it’s you or the star, you’re gone."

Howard recounted a specific instance illustrating the personal nature of their feud. While walking to set, Wayne was visibly upset by a quote Siegel had given to a local newspaper, the Carson City newspaper. Wayne expressed his displeasure, quoting Siegel as saying, "John Wayne eats directors for breakfast. If he takes a bite out of me, he’s going to get indigestion." This comment clearly aggravated Wayne.

Looking back, Howard believes the conflict could have been managed more effectively, suggesting that prolonged festering of disagreements was detrimental. This experience influenced his own approach to directing. "The strategy that I’ve followed over the years is that when there’s a difference of opinion, go right into it," Howard explained. He advocates for directly addressing creative or personal concerns rather than allowing them to escalate into emotional disputes.

Despite the off-camera discord, Howard maintained respect for Siegel's filmmaking abilities, acknowledging that "Siegel made a really good film, and I learned a lot from him," even on days when he and Wayne were "really at loggerheads."