John Wayne and Robert Mitchum pair up for the first time in a western, and very good it is too. The Duke is the hired gunman who turns down a job that would send him into direct conflict with old buddy Mitchum, only to find himself returning to protect him when a young sharpshooter lands the role. Hawks’s western has plenty of spark, thanks to its stellar cast, and is exciting enough to be head and shoulders above its peers.
cast
John Wayne as Cole Thornton
Robert Mitchum as Sheriff J.P. Harrah
James Caan as Mississippi
Charlene Holt as Maudie
Paul Fix as Dr. Miller
Arthur Hunnicutt as Bull Harris
Michele Carey as Josephine MacDonald
R.G. Armstrong as Kevin MacDonald
Ed Asner as Bart Jason
Christopher George as Nelse McLeod
Marina Ghane as Maria
Robert Donner as Milt
John Gabriel as Pedro
Johnny Crawford as Luke MacDonald
Adam Roarke as Matt MacDonald
crew
Director: Howard Hawks
USA | 120 minutes | 1967