The 1965 John Wayne Western The Sons of Katie Elder went through a bunch of changes before it was produced.
Originally, it was to be a historical film about Texas outlaws, the Marlows. John Sturges (The Magnificent Seven, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral) was the director and Alan Ladd was to star.
But over 12 years, Henry Hathaway became director, the script became less about history, and John Wayne became the lead.
And the title? Producers referred back to one of the alleged aliases of "Bi

True West March/April 2025
In This Issue:
Western Books & Movies
More In This Issue
- Truth Be Known
- What Has Taught Me: Deb Goodrich
- Earp, Cowboy Songs & Prairie Hygiene
- Trails of the Old West
- The Frontier Characters of South Dakota
- The Bowie Knife
- The Kindled Flame 1835
- King of the Scatterguns
- Selling the Mythic West and the Real West
- A Gut Punch Turns into a Miracle Reprieve
- The Beginnings of the Bird Cage
- Frontier Colossus