Working with John Wayne, James Stewart, Anne Bancroft, and John Ford! Exclusive with Irene Tsu

John Wayne’s controversial Vietnam war drama, THE GREEN BERETS, was the 12th highest-grossing film of 1968. Wayne not only starred in the film but co-directed as well. Actress Irene Tsu joined Duke’s stock company of actors for the big-budgeted epic, including Bruce Cabot, Patrick Wayne, Jim Hutton, Ed Faulkner, and Chuck Roberson. Shot in hot and muggy Georgia, the production lasted so long that co-star George Takei, on leave from season 2 of the original STAR TREK, saw his TREK character Sulu’s dialogue be rewritten for James Doohan’s Scotty.

Irene joined Rob Word to discuss what it was like working with Wayne and shared stories of two other western film icons, James Stewart and director John Ford.

Irene’s training in ballet and jazz led to her being cast as a teen dancer in director Henry Koster’s 1961 film version of FLOWER DRUM SONG. Koster’s next was the Parisian shot comedy, TAKE HER SHE’S MINE, starring James Stewart and Sandra Dee. Irene got her first speaking part as a teenage French prostitute, which launched her decades-long career as an actress in over 30 feature films, including PARADISE, HAWAIIAN STYLE with Elvis, and several dozen TV shows, including THE WILD WILD WEST, LAREDO, and CADE’S COUNTY.

Irene joined an all-star female cast in director John Ford’s last feature film, 7 WOMEN, in 1965. She currently sells luxury real estate in Beverly Hills and was one of THE LADIES FROM LONESOME, in the Burt Kennedy Western performed live for A WORD ON WESTERNS, March 2024.    • Burt Kennedy’s THE LADIES FROM LONESO...  

Thanks for watching our show. Don’t forget to Subscribe and Share this episode of A WORD ON WESTERNS. If you’re one of our Patreon Members, you help deliver quality programs and, as a member, can watch them without commercials. We appreciate your support.
  / awow  

#classics #actor #famouspeople #hero #hollywood #johnwayne #jamesstewart #movies #moviereview #movieexplained #moviedirector #johnford #irenetsu #greenberets #greenberet ##wordonwesterns #robword #warmoviereview #dancer #interview #conversation