John Wayne and Dennis Hopper? Surely some mistake? The hell it is! After a few years in the Hollywood Wilderness (he managed barely five films in the seven years before this one), director Henry Hathaway gave Hopper another chance.

It's another troubled teen role, but Hopper nailed it, allowing himself to be slapped around by both Wayne and his co-star Dean Martin.

It sparked a career comeback for him and suddenly Hollywood was knocking again. He'd even work with Hathaway and Duke again, reteaming with them for Wayne's Oscar-winning turn in True Grit.

Hop Triv – Ultra-conservative Wayne and super-liberal Hopper surprisingly got on pretty well. “I was and am good friends with his boys, so I became his very favorite pet ‘pinko'."