- Film Review
- Reviewed By Tony Sloman
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5 out of 5
"Ride, boldly ride..." sings George Alexander over the Remington-styled western paintings that accompany the titles to this elegiac masterwork. It's a fabulously entertaining, immensely skilful and warm-hearted tale from ace director Howard Hawks. John Wayne plays gunfighter Cole Thornton, a flawed hero whose actions lead to the suicide of a boy (Johnny Crawford) in a superbly staged preface to the plot, and whose resulting wounds dictate the pace and outcome of the movie. More than a match for the Duke is the great Robert Mitchum, in one of his best screen roles as alcoholic sheriff JP Harrah, destroyed for the love of a woman. This film suffered on its release by comparison to Hawks's earlier western masterpiece Rio Bravo, but with the passing of time this screen meditation on ageing proves to be one of the most pleasurable of all Hollywood movies.
Plot Summary
Western from director Howard Hawks, starring John Wayne, Robert Mitchum and James Caan. Gunfighter Cole Thornton joins forces with old friend and sheriff JP Harrah to rid the town of El Dorado of a cattle baron's hired guns. As Thornton has a paralysed arm and Harrah has a drink problem, they face a stern test of their resolve.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Cole Thornton
- John Wayne
- JP Harrah
- Robert Mitchum
- Mississippi
- James Caan
- Maudie
- Charlene Holt
- Joey MacDonald
- Michele Carey
- Bull Harris
- Arthur Hunnicutt
- Kevin MacDonald
- R G Armstrong
- Bart Jason
- Edward Asner
- Doc Miller
- Paul Fix
- Nelse McLeod
- Christopher George
- Milt
- Robert Donner
- Pedro
- John Gabriel
- Jason's foreman
- Jim Davis (1)
- Maria
- Mariana Ghane
- Luke MacDonald
- Johnny Crawford
- Saul MacDonald
- Robert Rothwell
- Matt MacDonald
- Adam Roarke
- Jared MacDonald
- Chuck Courtney
- Saul MacDonald's wife
- Anne Newman
- Matt MacDonald's wife
- Diane Strom
- Jared MacDonald's wife
- Victoria George
- Dr Donovan
- Anthony Rogers
- Swedish gunsmith
- Olaf Wieghorst
Crew
- Director
- Howard Hawks
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