The Shootist

The Shootist (1976)

**** (out of 4)

John Wayne, in his final film, plays a dying gunfighter who goes to a small town for some final rest but ends up going up against a group of men who won't let him die in peace.

Many believe that Wayne made this film, like the character, knowing that he was dying but apparently that wasn't the case but even so he managed to get talent like Lauren Bacall, Ron Howard, Hugh O'Brien, John Carradine, Richard Boone, Scatman Crothers and James Stewart to appear. Apparently Wayne had more filmed lined up before his death three years later but none of them ever came to be and that's probably a good thing because THE SHOOTIST really sends the legend out on a very high note.

I say this because so many legends end their careers with bad or at best mediocre movies but at least the biggest movie star in the history of cinema got to go out on top. A lot of the greatness here has to go to Wayne who is simply wonderful in the role of the dying man. I think Wayne's heartfelt performance here also adds to the myth that he knew he was dying because you really do feel as if you're watching someone on their final days. It's quite a tender performance but that toughness is still there and believable.

The supporting players all fit their roles nicely and there's no question it's very nice seeing Wayne act with them one final time. Director Don Siegel does a very good job at keeping the film moving in between the action scenes and he does a very nice job with the more quiet moments. THE SHOOTIST is also a throwback to the Westerns that Wayne was making earlier in his career but there's no doubt that the actor got to go out on top, which is certainly fitting.