According to Clint Eastwood, during the filming of "The Shootist" (1976), Don Siegel got into trouble with John Wayne. He asked Wayne to shoot the villain in the back in one of the scenes in the movie. After a long pause, Wayne asked, "You mean I shoot him in the back?". Siegel replied, "Yeah, just shoot him, because he has got four other guys with him". Wayne replied back, "I don't shoot anyone in the back". Siegel then told Wayne that Eastwood would have shot him in the back. Wayne's face turned blue and he said, "I don't care what that kid would have done, I don't shoot him in the back". Eastwood felt that it was a terrible error on the part of Siegel in saying that.
P.S: On this day, 50 years ago, "The Shootist" (1976) premiered in Carson City, Nevada, USA.