Hawks' rehash of Rio Bravo is a particularly entertaining and successful western, though quite long.
Easy-going gun for hire John Wayne kills young man; regrets it. His sister Michele Carey shoots him - the bullet's lodged in. Leaves town and buddy Robert Mitchum and girl Charlene Holt. Travelling abroad, he teams up with young James Caan and clashes with gunslinger R.G. Armstrong (who displays a certain 'professional courtesy'), who could be as fast as he is. They return to the first town and band together to save the day, having first to deal with Mitchum, who's become an alky (and amusingly spends much of the film in torn and disgusting clothes!)
With Arthur Hunnicutt, Paul Fix, Edward Asner. Written by Leigh Brackett, from Harry Brown novel.
PB: How was Mitchum to work with?
HH: He's great - one of the easiest men to work with - and he makes fun of everything he does. I once told him "You're a big phony - you're one of the hardest working guys I ever saw." He said, "Don't tell anybody."
Photographed by Harold Rosson (his final film before retiring), music by Nelson Riddle.
Finale showdown with a sharpshooter who can't use his gun hand, youth who can't hit anything, hungover wounded sheriff and old man is especially satisfying.. Many great touches throughout. Great women characters as usual.
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