Was John Wayne Right For Demanding 10x Higher Pay From Darryl Zanuck to Appear in 'The Longest Day'?

Filmed in the 1960s, The Longest Day is considered one of the greatest war movies ever created. Nevertheless, its production encountered several difficulties. Allegedly, there was considerable friction between Western icon John Wayne and producer Darryl Zanuck, which eventually prompted Wayne to take measures against Zanuck.

The Longest Day (1962)

Production for The Longest Day began in March 1961, following the acquisition of the book rights. Filmed in the vein of a docu-drama, the movie meticulously identifies each major player on-screen as they prepare for the monumental event of D-Day . The film's expansive narrative offers a detailed and authentic portrayal of the pivotal historical moment.

Tracking the Allies from the lead-up to the landings, through to the beach assaults and engagements at such iconic locations as Pointe du Hoc and Pegasus Bridge , the film showcases the monumental scope of the operation. It evolved into a labor of love for producer Darryl Zanuck, who assembled a stellar cast comprising luminaries like Henry Fonda , Sean Connery , Richard Burton, Kenneth More and the iconic John Wayne.

John Wayne publicly punishes Darryl Zanuck

In contrast to his fellow actors, John Wayne took on a brief cameo in The Longest Day . While the majority of the cast received $25,000 , Wayne declined this amount, opting instead for a substantial $250,000 fee despite his minimal screen presence. Surprisingly, producer Darryl Zanuck agreed to Wayne's demand, enabling the actor to earn ten times the compensation of the film's leading stars for his brief contribution.

John Wayne never served in the US military

This high fee was particularly controversial, given John Wayne had never served in the military, unlike others in the film. This disparity didn't sit well with viewers. While the Western star received a significant payout, he was still placed at the end of the credits.

Reflecting on this in later years, Wayne remarked , "It was highway robbery. But I needed the money at the time, and that b****** Zanuck had it coming."

An earlier snub

How did this rivalry between Darryl Zanuck and John Wayne start?

The feud between Darryl Zanuck and John Wayne all goes back to Wayne's decision to undertake the dual roles of producer and director for the 1960 film, The Alamo , where he also starred as Davy Crockett. It focused on the 1836 battle of the same name and Wayne was deeply invested in the project, channeling considerable personal funds into it. However, the film failed commercially, failing to recover its costs and marking a significant setback for Wayne.

Darryl Zanuck called out John Wayne specifically

Sometime after The Alamo was released in theaters, Darryl Zanuck participated in an interview, where he mentioned John Wayne. In particular, he commented on how he didn't like when actors decide to make their own production companies.

He didn't leave his comments as vague generalizations - he said "poor old Duke" was one of many who'd done this.

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Having heard Zanuck's comments, Wayne decided that he wanted to make him pay... Literally.