20 Surprising Facts That May Change Your Mind About Evil Dictators

By Chris Waugh /

20. Joseph Stalin Wanted To Be A Cowboy

The guy may have ruled over the USSR for close to 30 years, but Joseph Stalin still had dreams of his own aside from Europe-wide Communist domination - and that was to become a cowboy. Despite being vehemently anti-American in almost every way, Stalin loved cowboy films - particularly those starring John Wayne - and had a private cinema in each of his houses so he could get his regular fix of Wild Westerns. Although he pictured himself taking on Native Americans in the desert, Stalin disapproved of kissing and nudity, banning both from Soviet films for a period.