This was John Wayne's last film, as he was dying of cancer as he made it, and it is the perfect film for his finale. He plays J.B. Books, an aging gunfighter at the dawn of the twentieth century, who discovers he has cancer. He moves into a boarding house run by the widow Rogers (Lauren Bacall) and her son (Ron Howard). The kindly and respected doctor (James Stewart) gives him medication to ease his pain, as he inevitably slides into the agony of the spreading cancer, but hints that Books might want to find another way to die. He does, and in quietly spectacular fashion, that is perfectly fitting to the character.

What is right about this film? Everything. John Wayne shows his true acting ability here, and some of the dialogue is absolutely perfectly. When Bacall self-righteously confronts Wayne on how he has led his life and how he sees himself as godlike, Wayne replies, "I'm a dying man, afraid of the dark." That reply totally ends the argument, and just makes everything freeze for a second. I think Wayne was a better actor than many gave him credit for, but he often just did the archetypal Good Guy with Rough Edges, as he did perfectly in "True Grit." I think he was slightly better here in "The Shootist" than in "True Grit" or his other films, as he stepped beyond the John Wayne persona to be a real person, and display all the depth he could.

Even the opening of the film is great. We are shown a montage of J.B. Books's life, which is really a series of clips from old John Wayne films, interspersed with new clips to add color, narrated by Ron Howard perfectly, with an introduction to the "creed" that Books (and most of Wayne's characters) followed: "I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them."

The musical score is also just right, with a definite melancholy air, intermingled with lighter sequences that highlight Books's determination to have no regrets and to go out in style.

I've already mentioned John Wayne, James Stewart, Lauren Bacall, and Ron Howard, but the cast-list does not end there. This movie has an amazing number of recognizable actors and actresses, in parts large and small. The list includes: Richard Boone as one of the meanest bad guys you will ever see; Hugh O'Brian as one of the slickest bad guys you'll ever see; Bill McKinney as a nasty but incompetent bad guy; Harry Morgan as the egotistical marshal who can't stop talking; John Carradine as the perfect undertaker; Sheree North as Books' ex-girlfriend, who wants to cash in on his death; Rick Lenz as a nosey, fame-hunting newspaper reporter; Scatman Crothers as the local liveryman and expert haggler; and Melody Thomas Scott in a bit part as a girl on a streetcar. Also, look for Christopher George, Leo Gordon, and Ricky Nelson in uncredited parts, in that opening montage.

This is a Western, a character study, and a tribute to one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. This is a great movie.

(the dolphin swam his review over from the Amazon)

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older