John Wayne almost missed his first movie with Marlene Dietrich. Eighty-six years ago today, the future Western legend appeared opposite one of Hollywood’s biggest stars in Seven Sinners, but producer Joe Pasternak initially wanted another actor for the role.
Released October 25, 1940, the romantic drama paired Wayne with Dietrich after Pasternak abandoned plans to cast Franchot Tone. According to the American Film Institute, the producer changed direction after discovering Wayne was available. The unexpected pairing would lead to two more films together.
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The Casting Change That Brought Two Stars Together
Wayne had already achieved a major breakthrough with John Ford’s Stagecoach in 1939. But Seven Sinners offered something different: a leading role opposite Dietrich in a contemporary romance rather than another frontier adventure.
Directed by Tay Garnett, the Universal Pictures production cast Dietrich as Bijou Blanche, a nightclub singer repeatedly expelled from South Seas islands after attracting trouble.
Wayne played Lieutenant Dan Brent, a Navy officer who falls for Bijou despite warnings that their relationship could threaten his career.
The AFI production history also reveals another unexpected detail: Garnett appeared as a drunken sailor during the film’s fight sequence, according to contemporary studio publicity materials.
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The Movie Revealed a Different Side of John Wayne
Unlike the rugged heroes audiences would increasingly associate with Wayne, Brent is a romantic leading man whose feelings threaten his professional future.
Dietrich’s Bijou commands the screen through nightclub performances, sharp dialogue, and an ability to attract both admirers and enemies.
The film’s distributor, Kino Lorber, highlights Dietrich’s musical performances, including “I’ve Been in Love Before” and “The Man’s in the Navy.”
The movie’s reception remains divided. Rotten Tomatoes lists an 80 percent critics’ score from five reviews, compared with a 43 percent audience score from more than 100 ratings.
Still, the pairing proved significant. AFI identifies Seven Sinners as the first of three movies featuring Wayne and Dietrich together.
For Wayne fans accustomed to the Duke’s Western persona, the anniversary offers a reminder that his Hollywood career extended well beyond the saddle.
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