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This is just not typical Wayne. Not like the westerns of which he had critical acclaim. To take into account that Wayne already had a body full of 'cancer' when he was making this film. In example, being that just two movies (barely a year and a half) later, he had to have oxygen administered to him, on the set of that last movie that he acted in 'The Shootist'. That was do to the fact that on the set of that old western picture that was shot in about, 1948' out in a desert area, where there had been previous nuclear testing performed. The location managers, happened to put the production company on that site to shoot the movie, it wasn't Wayne being stupid or his fault it was where they were set up to work...everyone else from that movie was gone long ago, Wayne was one of the last to go. Considering all the 'weight' on top of him, I really enjoyed the story and the action, and I am utterly impressed at the caliber of performance that Wayne brought to this picture!!
Also I wanted to mention my respect for Lawrence Roman and John Sturges, the writer and the director, who were the other part in making this what it was.
The back drop of Seattle was especially interesting to me, being born in the northwest originally. It seemed a different setting for Wayne, altogether. Astheticlly pleasing.
Also an impressive aspect for me in this is, John Wayne has a deep commanding voice of course and yet offers sympathy and sensitivity for the other characters at times. On the other hand he also didn't take crap from those around him looking to give it to him.
I guess thats a real balancing act, that kind of makes him sensible too I would think.
Inasmuch I reverted back to my childhood days with the partly cloudy skies of Washington, "The state" as I watched 'Lon' (Wayne) move around the city from place to place, tracking the trail of 'antagonist' Manny Santiago (lettieri). Pretty fun at the point that Lon is in the Men's room with Santiago, pounding him for all he's got and bloodying the city's cornerstone criminal. Lon would return to his bachelor landing pad, out at the dock, his trusty boat. An attempted car theft and after a loud commanding shout, Lon drops the fleeing felon with a single 'solid' aimed gunshot! POW!! Awesome Wayne stuff. Watching him take the witness's statement with the recorder was classic seventies persona kind of nostalgia.
I recommend this feature to any truly discriminating Wayne fan that has not seen it. It was a departure from his other major roles. I think, even though, as it has been said Mr. Morrison always played John Wayne in everything that he ever did. I once heard a man from Hawaii say, "It doesn't matter what the movie on the marque was, if John Wayne is in it, I'm gonna go see it." Lets face it...it was never his 'range of character' that people went to see anyway.
Just good Ol' John Wayne. For me, this movie is right around the caliber of 'BULLITT' (McQueen) Wayne comes through with 'Cowboy' style.(***)
score 10/10
buzznzipp1995 12 July 2006
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1418372/ |
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27-2-2021 00:06:06