Robert Duvall Recounts Turbulent Experience on Set of True Grit
Renowned actor Robert Duvall has opened up about his tumultuous time on the set of the 1969 film True Grit, according to a report by The Express. The 94-year-old actor, who played the role of Lucky Ned Pepper in the Western classic, revealed that his fiery temper, which was well-known among his peers, often led to clashes with the film’s director, Henry Hathaway.
At the time of filming, Duvall was 38 years old and still an up-and-coming actor in Hollywood. He shared a New York apartment with fellow actors Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman, and the trio was known for their love of practical jokes. However, Duvall and Hackman were particularly notorious for their short fuses, which often led to explosive bar fights, as reported by The Express.
Duvall’s method acting approach often led him to incorporate his real-life emotions into his performances. He would frequently pick out an audience member he pretended to hate and then shout ‘f*** you!’ when he left the stage following a curtain call. This intense emotional investment in his roles sometimes put him at odds with the film’s director, Henry Hathaway. In a 2015 interview, Duvall recalled: "The director and I didn’t get along — I don’t get along with a lot of directors." He also added: "Henry Hathaway… we won’t talk about him," as quoted by The Express.
Duvall’s disagreements with Hathaway stemmed from the director’s dictatorial and aggressive directing style. The actor remembered: "He’d say, ‘When I say, ‘Action!’ Tense up, Goddam you.’ It’s hard to work under that as a young actor." The pair’s fierce arguments eventually drew in John Wayne, who was the film’s star and a close friend. The Western legend, who was passionate about the project, ended up fighting with Duvall himself, threatening to punch him if he didn’t stop arguing with Hathaway, according to The Express.
Despite his reported clashes with Hathaway, Duvall spoke highly of John Wayne. Although Wayne won the Best Actor award for his role as Rooster Cogburn, he later referred to it as "beginner’s luck." Duvall, however, had a more positive assessment of the actor, saying: "Wayne wasn’t as bad as some supposedly serious actors I’ve seen who trained at the Actors Studio and all that… Wayne was interesting to be around. He was pleasant and outgoing," as reported by The Express.
The on-set tensions and Duvall’s fiery personality have become a fascinating footnote in the history of True Grit. As The Express previously reported, Duvall’s performance as Lucky Ned Pepper remains one of the most memorable aspects of the film, and his candid reflections on his time on set offer a unique glimpse into the complexities of Hollywood’s golden era. With his illustrious career spanning over six decades, Duvall’s experiences on True Grit serve as a testament to the enduring legacy of the film and its place in cinematic history.
