Wayne had been battling cancer for more than a decade and was not in the best of health when making this film. The shootist was duke waynes last screen film credit, though he did make many more television appearances and even commercials between early 1976, when this film was shot, and his death in mid1979. John waynes very last film, an elegy for a dying cowboy, expresses the essence of his screen image, while borrowing elements from his own life. John wayne in 1976 in his last ride the shootist, the.
The shootist featured a cast of famous actors who came together to support wayne known to be in bad health with the possibility that it would be his last film. Don siegels the shootist and the problem of john wayne. Actual figures vary because wayne did so many obscure films early in his career, but it was around his 175th film. Spoilers 4 james stewart only agreed to play a cameo role in the film because john wayne had specifically requested him. Throughout the film, books imminent demise is compared with the decline of the west, as represented by the automobiles and streetcars that have begun to blight the main street of waynes home town. He didnt like the fact he hadnt been offered the role of the aging and ailing gunfighter j. Film des als darsteller in western legendar gewordenen schauspielers john wayne. May 9, 2006 by emanuellevy made in 1976, three years before he died, john waynes last picture, the shootist, in which he plays an aging cowboy dying of cancer, became a most appropriate swan song to his illustrious 50year screen career.
Don siegels terrific film is simply beautiful, and beautifully simple, in its quiet, elegant and sensitive telling of the last. Theres a calmness in the plot of this film that i find very refreshing. The shootist was john waynes final movie role and no actor, before or since, had a more fitting last appearance on the silver screen. John waynes last movie, the shootist raymond on film. Behindthescenes of john waynes last film the shootist 1976. In this, waynes last film, he plays an aging gunfighter dying of cancer, trying to go out with dignity. The shootist is a 1976 american western film directed by don siegel and based on glendon swarthouts 1975 novel of the same name.
Shootist, the internet movie firearms database guns in. The horse shown during the final scene of true grit, directed by henry hathaway. Answer to the question what movie was john waynes last leading role. John wayne may 26, 1907 june 11, 1979 the shootist. The supporting cast includes lauren bacall, ron howard, james stewart, richard boone, hugh obrian, h. The shootist dvd, 2001, widescreen for sale online ebay. Behindthescenes of john waynes last film the shootist 1976 onset interviews with john wayne and behindthescenes footage of waynes last film the shootist from director don siegel. Bill mckinney as jay cobb, owner of cobbs creamery. The shootist 1976 contains numerous plot similarities to the gunfighter of nearly thirty years before, a role which wayne had wanted but turned down.
It is john waynes final film, and possibly his best performance. It was known that it might be waynes last film, so theres a remarkable supporting cast above all james stewart in a fine cameo as the carson city doctor wayne and stewart had costarred in fords the man who shot liberty. The entire cast did a masterpiece of acting, maybe for wayne and his true illness. During the making of the shootist 1976, don siegels rich, elegiac western about. The last shootist is the sequel to the classic western the shootist a book that is not nearly as well known as john waynes final film. Watch the shootist streaming online hulu free trial. Although it may be sad to watch the shootist with the knowledge that this film would serve as john waynes last film, it hits harder when viewed as a film imitating life.
Like the searchers 1956 before it, the shootist explores the burdens of being a legend, a topic undoubtedly close to the actor. What was the name of john waynes horse in his last movie. Behindthescenes of john wayne s last film the shootist 1976 by eyes on cinema. John waynes last feature film appropriately revolved around the death of an iconic gunfighter and the end of the old west itself. Ironically, in john waynes last motion picture, the shootist, he didnt use colts but rather a pair of presentationgrade replica revolvers. Beau john the untold story of john waynes last film.
While the shootist unintentionally became iconic actor john waynes final film when released to theaters in august 1976, many fans may not. It was directed by don siegel and is based on a 1975 novel of the same name by glendon swarthout. The shootist is the 1976 western that marked the final acting role for john wayne, who portrays an aging gunfighter dying of cancer who faces one last duel. Wayne had hated and insulted siegel back in earlier days, when someone mistakenly told him siegel was a. It is unknown if john wayne was aware that he was dying of cancer when he agreed to film the shootist. American actor, director, and producer john wayne 1907 1979 began working. The shootist is one of the greatest westerns ever made, although it is rarely named as such. Spitting images of colt saa revolvers, the replicas were specially hand engraved by carl e. The shootist 1976 full movie download full hd youtube. John wayne in 1976 in his last ride the shootist, the dukes final role. The shootist behindthescenes of john wayne s last film the shootist 1976. Beau john the untold story of john waynes last film project. For a postpeckinpah film, it seems strained that wayne would arrange a fourway showdown just by sending out party invitations, a ploy which has a generic laziness. The shootist is a terrific western starring the legendary john wayne.
Directed by 1 writing credits 3 cast 35 produced by 2 music by 1 cinematography by 1 film editing by 1 production design by 1 set decoration by 1 makeup department 3 production management 1 second unit director or assistant director 2 art department 4. He prided himself on beating the big c in 1964, but the cancer returned in 1979. He left behind him a legacy of 184 films, of which the latter 102 beginning with stagecoach in 1939 made him into a unique legend of cinema. Books, played by john wayne, rides in the shootist, and gives to gillom dollar ol dollar had been the actors favorite horse for 10 years the horse shown during the final scene of true grit, directed by henry hathaway and waynes oscar winning film, was dollar, a twoyearold in 1969 wayne had dollar, a chestnut quarter horse gelding, written. He rose to stardom in the 1939 film stagecoach and would go on to star in over 250 movies. The poster from the 1976 film shows all the legendary actors who made the shootist one of john waynes best western films of all time, richard boone upper left, hugh obrian upper right, jimmy stewart lower right lauren bacall lower left and john wayne. The shootist was a defining film for wayne, who passed away three years later on june 11, 1979, shortly after celebrating his 72 nd birthday. While the shootist unintentionally became iconic actor john waynes final film when released to theaters in august 1976, many fans may not realize that the. John waynes last great filmcareer summation and tribute. Yet the truth when the shootist began filming in january, 1976, was that not only john waynes style of western verged on extinction, but also an entire epoch of moviemaking.
This reality hits hardest during the scene in which james stewarts character is. John wayne in a scene from the shootist 1976, made when he was terminally ill with cancer. Don siegel dirty harry directs it with an autumnal. Behindthescenes of john waynes last film the shootist. Brooks first that honour had been taken by george c.
The shootist is a 1976 american western film directed by don siegel and starring john wayne in his final film role. Costarring ron howard and lauren bacall, waynes director was don siegel. John waynes last film is a respected western that nonetheless hasnt much to offer in either originality or thrills. John wayne s claustrophobic last film john wayne was disappointed by the shootist. Wayne has taken ridicule for just playing himself, this movie and a few others prove that it just wasnt true. With john wayne, lauren bacall, ron howard, james stewart. Donald siegel october 26, 1912 april 20, 1991 was an influential american film director and producer. Three years prior to his death, wayne starred in his last film titled the shootist with costars howard and lauren bacall and directed by don siegel. While the shootist unintentionally became iconic actor john waynes final film when released to theaters in august 1976, many fans may not realize that the duke had another project in the pipeline. Still it is great and holds up today extremely well. After playing in the shootist john wayne managed to resist the cancer for three more years, before finally succumbing in june 1979. Onset interviews with john wayne and behindthescenes footage of waynes last film the shootist from director don siegel. Why was the shootist john waynes last movie answers.
The shootist represents john waynes swan song, the final film where the legend that is john wayne appeared on the screen. Wayne was already 32, with 78 films behind him but the freshness of this. A very good final film from john wayne, also starring jimmy stewart, lauren bacall, ron howard and richard boone. Wayne, of course, essentially invented the onscreen american cowboy. His last film was the shootist 1976, whose main character, j. The film was directed by don siegel and costarred ron howard, bill mckinney, and harry morgan the following weapons were used in the film the shootist. The shootist 1976 was his last feature but he was featured in america at the movies 1976 and western double feature 2. The shootist has been my favorite john wayne movie since it came out in 1976. Marion michael morrison was john duke wayne to his global millions of fans. The shootist, is based on a novel by glendon swarthout and directed by don siegel. The plot is about a hired that is dying of a terminal illness and looks in. Taking place in a rapidly modernizing world filled with old friends and stubborn ideals, the shootist served as john waynes swan song before dying of cancer in 1979. The shootist stands as one of john waynes towering achievements.
After true grit, waynes career had declined sharply. Books, played by john wayne, rides in the shootist, and gives to gillom dollar ol dollar had been the actors favorite horse for 10 years. The bad acoustics of the huge, hollow sound stages worsened his hearing difficulties, and he stayed by himself most of the. The film is based on a 1975 novel of the same name by glendon swarthout with a screenplay by miles hood swarthout and scott hale. Books is the last in a line of tormented souls, starting with matt dunston and running through nathan brittles, ethan edwards, spig wead, tom doniphon, and rooster cogburn. And his final film is a worthy conclusion of this unique career. The action is minimal and the emotions grow fast as john lives out his last week. A hollywood veteran, wayne had done scenes for a variety of films but with the shootist, wayne had insisted to change some scenes to fit his perspective. Books, was dying of cancerwhich wayne himself succumbed to three years later. Director don siegel gives the film a gentle, sentimental touch somewhat surprising, given that he made his reputation on. Hugh obrian on working with john wayne on the film the shootist. Books, the most celebrated shootist extant, in turnofthecentury carson city, nevada. Kourts of long beach, california, and given to the duke by the great western arms company many years before. The shootist 1976 john wayne lauren bacall by x time goes by.
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