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Created Jul 14, 2011 07:19PM PST • Edited Mar 15, 2012 12:49AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Good 3.0

   John Wayne’s final movie serves as a benediction for gunfighters at the dawn of the 20th Century, and for Wayne’s career as a celluloid gunfighter. It does the latter better than the former, making it more of an obligation for fans of the Duke than for Western fans generally.

   The Shootist brings to mind Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven, to which it compares unfavorably. Clint’s gunfighter elegy hits harder, resonates deeper and is vastly more satisfying. The Duke didn’t lose many fights, but he did this one.

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   Lauren Bacall delivers the movie’s best performance as a strong and lovely widow who makes ends meet by renting out rooms. How Hollywood has changed over the decades. Bacall was in her 50s, yet plays a character in her 40s. Today they’d probably have a thirtysomething actress play the part.

   John Wayne rarely disappoints, and doesn’t here. Still it’s not one of his legendary performances even though it’s his last.

   The rest of the large cast includes plenty of big stars performing well.

   • Ron Howard nicely plays Bacall’s son, who takes a shine to Wayne’s legendary character.
   • Jimmy Stewart handily plays the town doc who gives Wayne’s gunfighter the bad news about his cancer. Still, if given a choice, watch these two legends in the vastly superior The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance than in this movie.
   • Richard Boone, famous as Paladin from Have Gun Will Travel, cameos as a bad guy.
   • Hugh O’Brian shows up as a cocky card dealer.
   • Harry Morgan, famous from M.A.S.H., tickles as a wily sheriff.
   • John Carradine appears old as bones as the town undertaker.
   • Scatman Crothers livens up several scenes as the liveryman.

5. Male Stars Very Good 3.5

6. Female Stars Great 4.0

7. Female Costars Good 3.0

8. Male Costars Good 3.0

10. Film

    OK 2.5

    The story plays just this side of comedy, notwithstanding the pathos of an aging gunfighter afflicted with cancer. Villains who are little more than caricatures give the overall film a lightweight gloss.

11. Direction OK 2.5

12. Play OK 2.5

13. Music OK 2.5

14. Visuals Very Good 3.5

    Carson City and environs looks mighty nice, circa 1905.

15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.5

    Old fashioned Western gunplay, with little to no blood and certainly no guts.

17. Sex Innocent 1.0

18. Violence Fierce 1.8

19. Rudeness Salty 1.6

21. Reality

    Glib 1.5

    How many gunfighters exist in Hollywood movies versus in the real wild West? My guess: somewhere between 100 and 1,000 fold more. This movie has several of ’em.

22. Circumstantial Glib 2.0

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Glib 1.6