Eloquent last hurrah for a man who superseded mere movie-star status to become an icon of American culture, with Wayne playing aging, legendary gunfighter J.B. Books. Opening with a black-and-white montage of scenes from Wayne's earlier westerns, the film traces Books's career from 1871
to 1901, when THE SHOOTIST is set. As we move through scenes from RED RIVER, HONDO, RIO BRAVO and EL DORADO, Wayne ages before our eyes until he rides up before the camera and the film turns to color. During this sequence a voice-over spoken by Howard tells us that Wayne has killed 30 men in 30
years but was never an outlaw--he even spent time as a lawman. Wayne's credo: "I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them." Wayne rides into Carson City, Nevada, where he is informed by the doctor
(James Stewart) that his cancer. The drama of his life's end is complicated by the presence of a beautiful widow, played by Lauren Bacall, and a host of young gunfighters looking to prove their worth by going up against him.
THE SHOOTIST is an uneven, elegiac tribute to a great career. The script leaves a lot to be desired, but is compensated for by some fine performances (especially Wayne's), Bruce Surtees' poignant cinematography, and Don Siegel's carefully paced direction. leave a comment
