Pain and Altruism: the Suicides in John Wayne’s Films (IN: Suicide and the Creative Arts, edited by S Stack & D Lester)

The variation in the portrayal of motives for suicide in the cinema have not been systematically addressed in the literature. This chapter tests aspects of a biographical approach to explaining some of the variation in suicide motives in film. In particular, it focuses on biographical experiences & values of a major film star, John Wayne, & relates them to the motives for suicide in his films. Two aspects of his background are analyzed: his experience with physical pain & his patriotic values. Given his status as one of the foremost stars in film history, it is plausible the way in which Wayne’s films framed suicide influenced the framing of suicide in other films. (24 refs.)