The Shootist 1976

     The aging gunfighter John Books visits a doctor that he knows for a second opinion.  He has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.  This doctor confirms his condition and John was sure that he would.  Books is a famous gunslinger and he starts using an alias to hide his identity.  He takes a room at a local boarding house but the son of the woman owner recognizes him.  He tells his mother and she talks to Books right away about not wanting his “kind” in her home.  She allows him to remain when he explains his condition.  The word gets around town who he really is.  All of the other gunslingers in town and the surrounding area want to try their luck with drawing against Books.

     This is full of top rated actors and the plot is good as well.  Ron Howard is very young plus he looks younger than he is.  He was 22 years old at the film’s release.  The world of the gunslingers is on its way out and the west is becoming more populated and civilized.  The typical western genre is going by the wayside and this film is more of a human drama with western people.  At this time, Eastwood and Leone were filming an entirely different type of western movie.  Books doesn’t want a book to be written about him filled with untrue information about his life.  He doesn’t want the local newspaper to write about his life as a gunman either.  He wants to go out his own way and be done with it!!  4* (I really liked this movie)  

   

100 min, Western directed by Don Siegel with John Wayne, Lauren Bacall, Ron Howard, James Stewart, Richard Boone, Hugh O’Brian, Bill McKinney, Harry Morgan, John Carradine, Sheree North, Rick Lenz, Scatman Crothers, Gregg Palmer, Alfred Dennis, Dick Winslow.

Note:  Imdb 7.7 out of 10, Roger Ebert 3 ½*, Metacritic 77 out of 100 with 10 critics (8 positive, 2 mixed), empire online 4* out of 5*, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 513 reviews, dove.org 1* sex, 4* language, 3* violence, 2* drugs, other 2* (disrespect for authority, lying, cheating, stealing, illegal activity, frightening scenes), Letterboxd average 3.6* out of 5*.

Special Note:  James Stewart only agreed to play a role in this film because John Wayne specifically requested him.  Stewart had hearing difficulties and his career ended several years before.  Director Don Siegel accused Stewart and Wayne of not trying hard enough with their lines?  The acoustics were bad on the huge, hollow sound stages and this worsened his hearing difficulties.  Stewart knew his lines but he couldn’t hear his cues.  He was only paid $50,000 for his part.  Wayne and Steward worked together on The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance in 1962, 14 years before this film.  Wayne did not have cancer when he made this film.  His left lung and several ribs were removed by surgery in 1964 and 1969.  He was declared cancer-free.  He had stomach cancer in 1975 but it was in remission before filming.  In 1979, his cancer returned.