May 25, 2007 By Lou Gaul Calkins Media Film Critic 3 min read

This weekend, movie lovers across the globe will be saying, “Happy birthday, Duke!” May 26 marks the 100th birthday of John Wayne, and two companies – Warner Bros. and Paramount – have teamed to present re-mastered, special editions of three of his screen favorites and newly offered DVD versions of six of his lesser-known movies.

A Howard Hawks favorite co-starring Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan and Angie Dickinson, will be available in a “Rio Bravo: Two-Disc Special Edition” ($20.99) and “Rio Bravo: Ultimate Collector’s Edition” ($39.99).

The less-expensive edition contains a re-mastered version of “Rio Bravo,” a 1973 documentary (“The Man Who Made the Movies: Howard Hawks”) and two new making-of featurettes. The “Ultimate” release features all of those items plus collectibles such as a re-printed press book, a Dell comic book and copies of the original “Rio Bravo” lobby cards.

“The Cowboys: Deluxe Edition” (1972) contains a restored and re-mastered image, plus commentary by director Mark Rydell, two making-of featurettes and the theatrical trailer. In the film, the Duke’s character turns 11 schoolboys into ranch hands for a dangerous cattle drive and battles a sadistic enemy (Bruce Dern at his villainous best).

The Duke displays his acting skill during “True Grit: Special Collector’s Edition” ($19.99), for which he won an Oscar (1969) as best actor. The extras include four making-of featurettes and the original trailer.

Six Wayne titles previously unreleased on DVD are available in a boxed set ($49.99) or individually ($12.99). They are: “Allegheny Uprising” with Claire Trevor, “Reunion in France” with Joan Crawford, “Tycoon” with Laraine Day, “Without Reservations” with Claudette Colbert, “Trouble Along the Way” with Donna Reed and “Big Jim McLain” with Nancy Olsen.

And what do local experts consider the Duke’s greatest movies?

Movies Unlimited, the Philadelphia-based mail-order company that specializes in appealing to film fans, recently conducted a poll among staff members of its catalog, critics, broadcasters and educators to answer that.

“We thought the poll would be an appropriate way to celebrate the May 26th centennial birthday of John Wayne, a true icon of the movies,” Jerry Frebowitz, president of Movies Unlimited, said in a press release. “John Wayne’s films have sold more than any other actor in our 29-year history, and they continue to sell extremely well.

According to Movies Unlimited, the star’s top titles are:

1. “The Searchers” (1956), directed by John Ford and co-starring Natalie Wood

2. “The Quiet Man” (1953), directed by Ford and co-starring Maureen O’Hara

3. “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” (1962), directed by Ford and co-starring Lee Marvin

4. “Stagecoach” (1939), directed by Ford and co-starring Claire Trevor

5. “True Grit” (1969), directed by Henry Hathaway and co-starring Kim Darby

6. “Rio Bravo” (1959), director by Howard Hawks and co-starring Dean Martin

7. “The Shootist” (1960), directed by Don Siegel and co-starring Ron Howard

8. “Red River” (1948), directed by Hawks and co-starring Montgomery Clift

9. “North to Alaska” (1960), directed by Hathaway and co-starring Stewart Granger

10. a tie between “Donovan’s Reef” (1963) with Marvin and “McLintock!” (1963) with O’Hara; directed by Ford and Andrew V. McLaglen, respectively.

The runner-up titles in the poll were “Fort Apache” with Henry Fonda, “She Wore A Yellow Ribbon” with Ward Bond, “The Sons of Katie Elder” with Martin, “El Dorado” with Robert Mitchum and “Hatari!” with Red Buttons.