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The Shootist
1976
John Wayne, in his last film appearance, stars as famed gunfighter J.J. Brooks. After learning from Dr. Hostetler (James Stewart) that he's dying of stomach cancer and has no more than two months to live, he moves into a boarding house in Carson City run by Bond Rogers (Lauren Bacall) and her son, Gillom (Ron Howard), to die .. Read more
| Starring | John Wayne, Lauren Bacall, Ron Howard, Bill McKinney |
|---|---|
| Director | Don Siegel |
| Genres | Action/Adventure |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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This was John Wayne's last movie and it turned out to be a fitting tribute to a great talent. Dirty Harry director Don Siegel was not a man to dwell on the maudlin, and this fine western plays like a Shane for the 1970s. The Duke stars as a retired gunfighter dying of cancer, with Ron Howard as the wide-eyed innocent to Wayne's Alan Ladd. There's also superb support from the likes of James Stewart, Lauren Bacall and, especially, the under-used Hugh O'Brian as one of the Duke's old adversaries. The opening titles form a touching montage to an outstanding career; how often does a star of Wayne's magnitude leave the stage with such dignity?
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Impressive semi-Western melodrama, very well written and acted all round; the kind of solidly entertaining and thoughtful movie one imagined they didn't make any more.
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From the opening montage of clips from Wayne's earlier films to the final superb shootout in a cavernous saloon,... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
View all -
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
Bullseye
Words fail me in a bid to describe how much I enjoyed this film. I still get a tear in my eye each and every time I watch it. I will leave the other reviewers to describe in detail the contents of the film, all I will confirm is this is one of my very favourite films.
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5 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Wayne at his very best
This isn't just another Wayne vehicle,this is Wayne at his glorious best.Wayne's character encapsulates every role he has ever played and more.What makes this film so poignant is that his role is actually his life story,a man diagnosed with cancer and out to make amends whether right or wrong throughout his life.A MUST see for any Wayne and western fan.
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
the man the myth
totally agree with other review. the only reason not to like this is if you hate john wayne.
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Most recent members' reviews (2)
View all -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
the end of an era
this film was the end of an era, til the unforgiven the shootist was the last truly great western,when you watch the duke in his last film you will understand why
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5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
Bullseye
Words fail me in a bid to describe how much I enjoyed this film. I still get a tear in my eye each and every time I watch it. I will leave the other reviewers to describe in detail the contents of the film, all I will confirm is this is one of my very favourite films.
-
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
Bullseye
Words fail me in a bid to describe how much I enjoyed this film. I still get a tear in my eye each and every time I watch it. I will leave the other reviewers to describe in detail the contents of the film, all I will confirm is this is one of my very favourite films.
-
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Wayne at his very best
This isn't just another Wayne vehicle,this is Wayne at his glorious best.Wayne's character encapsulates every role he has ever played and more.What makes this film so poignant is that his role is actually his life story,a man diagnosed with cancer and out to make amends whether right or wrong throughout his life.A MUST see for any Wayne and western fan.
-
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
the man the myth
totally agree with other review. the only reason not to like this is if you hate john wayne.
-
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Fantastic!
Wayne acts beautifully in this moving film. Having never been a huge fan of Wayne, this film made me see him in a completely different light.
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
The Ultimate Cowboy
I was brought up on the films of John Wayne, infact he was the first Actor I ever saw on the big screen. This was his last film and I think one of his best. He was fighting with cancer in real life as he was in the film. His films have always got a moral to the story, sometimes it is not apparent what it is but it's there. And best of all his films are ageless. You know your children are safe with this guy. Maybe I'm getting old but his films don't. RENT IT and OTHERS and see
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Sure Shooter
John Wayne doing what he did best. Good story and fine supporting cast. Five Stars to the great late John Wayne.
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
JW at his best
It was as if he knew this would be his last film. It is probably JW at his best.
Like 'El Dorado' and 'Rio Bravo', if your a Western fan you will have to have this film in your collection. -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Wayne's finest
The Shootist I have seen most of John Wayne’s films; the Shootist is his finest piece of work and sadly his last. From the opening montage of clips from Wayne's earlier films to the final superb shootout in a cavernous saloon, Don Siegel's film is a subtle, touching valedictory tribute to both Wayne and the Western in general. With none of the indulgence that permeated True Grit, Wayne is perfect as the dying gunfighter attempting to live out his last days in peace and obscurity, but prevented from doing so by various younger gunmen out for revenge or to prove their worth against him.
The performances are uniformly excellent, James Stewart, Lauren Bacall, Ron Howard, Harry Morgan. In the Documentary you are told that the original screenplay had Gillom Rogers (Ron Howard) shooting and killing J.B. Books (John Wayne). In the screenplay, the killing disturbed Gillom so much that he throws away the pistol and leaves the bar, repulsed by the act. Wayne had the screenplay changed so that Books is killed by the bartender, who is then killed by Rogers. If you're one of those who still feel that Wayne couldn't act, watch this and change your mind. Brilliant! -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
John Wayne's Final Film
The Shootist depicts an ageing gunslinger dying of cancer. At the time of making the film Wayne was himself suffering from cancer having had a lung removed.
The film was delicately handled with Wayne and Lauren Bacall humourously feeding off each other's characters.
Very little of the regular shootouts found in most Wayne films, but a terrific storyline, good acting by all, and a must for all Wayne fans.
The final gunfight was well scripted and realistically filmed, bringing Wayne's Western career to a sad end.
An excellent film supported by several well-known actors who all added just that little bit of panashe to a great final film for Wayne. -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
the end of an era
this film was the end of an era, til the unforgiven the shootist was the last truly great western,when you watch the duke in his last film you will understand why
Critics' reviews (3)
-
This was John Wayne's last movie and it turned out to be a fitting tribute to a great talent. Dirty Harry director Don Siegel was not a man to dwell on the maudlin, and this fine western plays like a Shane for the 1970s. The Duke stars as a retired gunfighter dying of cancer, with Ron Howard as the wide-eyed innocent to Wayne's Alan Ladd. There's also superb support from the likes of James Stewart, Lauren Bacall and, especially, the under-used Hugh O'Brian as one of the Duke's old adversaries. The opening titles form a touching montage to an outstanding career; how often does a star of Wayne's magnitude leave the stage with such dignity?
-
Impressive semi-Western melodrama, very well written and acted all round; the kind of solidly entertaining and thoughtful movie one imagined they didn't make any more.
-
From the opening montage of clips from Wayne's earlier films to the final superb shootout in a cavernous saloon,... read more on Time Out
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John Wayne, in his last film appearance, stars as famed gunfighter J.J. Brooks. After learning from Dr. Hostetler (James Stewart) that he's dying of stomach cancer and has no more than two months to ... -
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