Summary

• John Wayne was initially offered the role of Tommy the Cowboy in The Frisco Kid but opted out.
• Harrison Ford replaced Wayne and starred alongside Gene Wilder in the Western comedy set in the 1850s Gold Rush.
• Ford's performance in The Frisco Kid was overshadowed by Wilder's, leading to a forgettable film despite his rising stardom.

To some, The Frisco Kid is a hidden gem from the 70s, but to many, the film is almost unheard of. Harrison Ford starred alongside Gene Wilder in the lesser-known Western comedy directed by Robert Aldrich, but before Ford was solidified as a member of the cast, John Wayne had previously agreed to play his character.

It's hard to believe that Ford and Wayne were once considered for the same role. After all, when The Frisco Kid was released, Wayne was in his late 60s, and Ford was in his 30s. At this point, Ford was a budding actor, whose name was just beginning to spread as Han Solo in the first Star Wars movie. On the other hand, if John Wayne appeared in The Frisco Kid, the film would have been his last work. The Western icon had read the script and agreed to play the role, leaving many fans to ask the same question: what changed his mind?

What Is The Frisco Kid About?

Set in the 1850s, The Frisco Kid follows the journey of a Polish rabbi, Avram Belinski (Gene Wilder), who, after being robbed by con artists, entered the Wild West on foot on his way to San Francisco during the Gold Rush. He stumbles upon an Amish colony, which takes care of him and gets him a train ticket. Avram then works on the railroad in Ohio to save up before heading west again. Along the way, a kind horseman named Tommy Lillard (played by Harrison Ford) befriends the innocent rabbi, but Avram soon discovers that Tommy isn't who he thought he was.

Tommy turns out to be a bank robber with a soft spot for the helpless Avram. Despite their differences, the two become best friends, and upon meeting the three con artists again, Avram kills a man in self-defense. Eventually, he overcomes his guilt when one of the con artists, Matt, challenges him to a duel. With Tommy's help, Avram wins the duel, exiles Matt from San Francisco, and marries Rosalie Bender, the woman of his dreams, with Tommy as his best man.

John Wayne Was Offered the Role of Tommy the Cowboy

The Western legend John Wayne was originally the first choice for Harrison Ford's role in The Frisco Kid. After reading the script, Wayne expressed his interest, and if he had taken the role, The Frisco Kid would have been his final film. However, because of Wayne's prestigious status in the film industry, his involvement would have been an expense that was far beyond the production's budget, necessitating a huge cut in its profit. The producers tried to lower his fee, so eventually, Wayne opted out.

Harrison Ford, in turn, got the role. Fresh off his breakout role as Han Solo in the original Star Wars trilogy, The Frisco Kid came along when Ford was trying to establish himself as a serious actor. When he was cast to star alongside the Willy Wonka star, Gene Wilder, who was known to be selective when joining projects, Ford gladly accepted the role.

While some reports have mentioned that Wayne's departure from the film was due to his lack of belief in the script, Wilder claimed that Wayne loved the character Tommy and was thrilled to star in The Frisco Kid, but he walked away from the role because the production couldn't afford him. Afterward, the film looked toward the up-and-coming Han Solo star, who was still relatively new to Hollywood.

Despite Ford's involvement, The Frisco Kid was still regarded as a Western comedy among critics and viewers. The film tanked after its release, even with Wilder's established fan base and Ford's rising stardom. Mediocre at best, The Frisco Kid was soon forgotten in both actors' filmographies. As for John Wayne, his health had gone downhill significantly by 1979. He had been out of Hollywood for three years due to stomach cancer, which prevented him from returning to the silver screen. However, he ended his long-celebrated career with a Western classic — The Shootist, which marked the Duke's final film.

Harrison Ford Was Frequently Compared to John Wayne on the Set of Frisco Kid

Wayne had already become a Western icon in the mid-70s, approaching the final chapter of his career while Ford was only starting out as an actor. Ford had played a few Western roles prior to playing Tommy the Cowboy in The Frisco Kid, but since he was the second choice to John Wayne, Ford was routinely being criticized and compared to Wayne on set. According to the film's producer, Mace Neufeld:

"Robert Aldrich, [The Frisco Kid's director] gave [Harrison Ford] a pretty hard time."

Ford's involvement in the film was soon glossed over by his more prominent achievements. He went on to make Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back and soon was brought on as Indiana Jones in the George Lucas-created action/adventure series. Compared to his iconic roles, Han Solo and Indiana Jones, Tommy the Cowboy hardly stands out.

Harrison Ford's Tommy the Cowboy Is Overshadowed by Gene Wilder's Rabbi

Roger Ebert only gave two stars in his review of The Frisco Kid. While he complimented Wilder's performance in the show, he barely mentioned anything about Ford or his character other. Compared to his general dissatisfaction with the film and Wilder's attention-grabbing acting, Ebert easily overlooked the downsides of Ford's portrayal of Tommy the Cowboy.

After all, Ford was still considered a new actor in Hollywood. His acting wasn't extraordinary and his fame was far behind Wilder and the director of the cult classic The Dirty Dozen. Similarly, Variety managed to spill a few kind words about Ford's character before criticizing Aldrich and Wilder's contributions. However, despite Ford's performance, The Frisco Kid's disappointing performance at the box office, mixed critical reviews and unimpressive audience feedback (the film holds a 54% rating on Rotten Tomatoes), it was soon forgotten.

The Frisco Kid Has an Odd Connection to Another Hollywood Icon

John Wayne wasn't the only Hollywood icon attached to the film. Interestingly, The Frisco Kid is often brought in relation to another big name in Hollywood — Mel Brooks. Perhaps the frequent referencing and comparisons to the Oscar winner caused a certain confusion among the audience. Many seem to mistakenly believe that The Frisco Kid was indeed a Mel Brooks film. Wilder was at the peak of his career when The Frisco Kid was released, fresh off his memorable performances in a number of Mel Brooks classics, so it makes sense that some fans would naturally draw this connection.

The mix of drama and comedy present in The Frisco Kid would have had no problem fitting into Mel Brooks' filmography; in fact, The Frisco Kid hit so close to home that many critics immediately likened it to Brooks' previous films. However, although some fans might argue that Brooks could have been a better choice as director, others who had a satisfying experience with the film had no complaints about Aldrich's sensitivity and satirical comedy.