The Shootist

[imjin138]

Yesterday I took my daughters to the zoo in Milwaukee and we finished about 2PM. I had nothing to read at home so we stopped by the public library in Racine and I checked out a book titled 'The Shootist' I read it years ago before seeing the movie. I like the book and the movie though they are different in some respects.

The Movie I first saw back in 76 with my Grandfather at an old theater named the Capitol one screen, a balcony just like you think movie theaters should be and it was pretty neat. I have seen the movie many times since then and I always enjoy it.

From the DVD I have of it, it is pretty clear that John Wayne campaigned to get the role. Apparently George C. Scott, Gene Hackman and James Coburn were considered. But The Duke's health was an issue for the producers, he got the role and I cannot imagine anyone else playing J. B. Books.

Also according to the DVD Hugh O'Brian who played Jack Pulford didn't take a salary in order to get the role just so he could play opposite the Duke.

I didn't realize it was on AMC last night until I looked at the guide so I watched it again. I still like the movie and probably always will.

 

[ACP230]

I like the movie. Particularly the opening scene.

 

[sigp220.45]

I liked it, but the not-so-subtle anti-gun, anti-violence message at the end bugs me - Ron Howard looking at Books' blood spattered Colt, then throwing it away in disgust while Books nods his approval and croaks. I wish he would have wiped it clean with his shirt and stuck it in his waistband.

 

[imjin138]

In the novel, Gillom wasn't such a nice guy, he actually put Books out ofhis misery.

 

[ladder13]

Good movie, just watched it again.

 

[Faulkner]

The Shootist was the only John Wayne movie I saw when it was originally in the theaters. I was in middle school then and I can remember the Duke being larger than life.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Guys drop like flies in western movie gunfights, but this film emphasized the idea of "deliberation" as discussed between John Wayne and the kid. And Books does not not hesitate at all. But others do and get killed by him for it. I always liked the macabre idea Books has about going out fighting. He wanted to end it in a shootout and chose three unsavory guys to do it. If they can. Then when the time comes his survival instincts kick in and we all know what happens then.
If I was there I'd go around back and grab that engraved Great Western .45 Ron Howard threw away like an idiot.

 

[DOEBOY1]

If memory serves me I thought Ron Howard was anti gun. I try and steer clear or anti gunners and promoting anything they do to make a living. I think Steve Stegal is anti gun also so I stopped watching his movies. Besides the hypocritcy he runs like a sissy. Doeboy

 

[Old 44 Guy]

The Shootist is my favorite John Wayne movie. He goes out with class. Never mind the last scene with Gillam, he's just doing his best for Hollywood anti gunners. It was J.W.'s last film.

 

[bk43]

I think Steve Stegal is anti gun also so I stopped watching his movies.

Seagal is an almost total whack job IMHO but he is also a reserve deputy, martial arms expert and ace custom 1911 shooter and owner. Favors Caspians I believe.

On topic, I can't watch either Gran Torino or The Shootist without thinking of the other. The parallels are scary and probably Clint's final role also.

Bob

 

[usmc1369]

the shootist is a good movie but john wayne was a wussy don't ever forget that he made movies while others did their part. even reagan made vd movies for the cause

 

[Faulkner]

the shootist is a good movie but john wayne was a wussy don't ever forget that he made movies while others did their part. even reagan made vd movies for the cause

The post above, while not necessarily untrue, leaves an impression that is not totally accurate.

The controversy over why John Wayne did not enlist has never subsided. His critics have always maintained that none of his excuses for staying at home and building his career while Americans were fighting and dying for their country held up in the light of his purported patriotism.

It is true that a number of those who were actors before the outbreak of war did enlist, but very few of them actually saw combat. They were considered too valuable to lose in war and most of them were kept out of harm's way. Their jobs were often in intelligence or in boosting morale among the enlisted men and very rarely did they go into danger zones. Very often, when they did, it was all a matter of propaganda concocted between the major studios and the American military.

James Stewart was an exception. He joined the army air force and risked his life in thirty bombing raids, rising to the rank of colonel during the war. Clark Gable enlisted in the army air force as well in a state of grief after he lost his wife, Carole Lombard, in an airplane crash during a tour to raise war bonds. His job was to film actual combat from American bombers in action, earning himself the rank of major.

Because John Wayne had four children, he was exempt from the draft, but that would not have prevented him from enlisting. So why did he stay out of uniform? Wayne insisted that he did try to enlist but was rejected because he was unfit due to a shoulder injury back in college, a chronic inner-ear problem from working underwater for so long when making Reap the Wild Wind, and a bad back from doing so many of his own stunts. Another reason given was that Herbert Yates of Republic Studios refused to release him from his studio contract. All the other actors who enlisted had to have the approval from their studios.

Studio director George Sherman said, "It frustrated Duke like hell that he couldn't join up. Despite his screen image of being a tough guy who couldn't be beaten in a fistfight, he was, by 1941, in pretty bad shape. There were times around 1939 when we were working and he'd do a stunt and really hurt himself. His back had taken so much beating that he suffered for many years, but he never complained about it and still insisted on doing some of his own stunts. In the end, I was one of a number of people who said to him that he could serve his country best by making films to boost public morale. And that's what he did. But I know he felt tremendous guilt about not serving. It's plagued him all his life."

 

[max]

I believe that John Wayne was physically unable to serve. That being said, I believe he did as much for the war effort as anyone.

The day I took my physical there was a college football player who flunked his. He went on to play pro football and I got drafted.

 

[sigp220.45]

He was never 4F. Initially he was deferred for family support reasons, was later classified as 1A but that was changed to 2A (deferred for the national interest), allegedly after pressure by the studio.

He could have enlisted any time he wanted. My Dad enlisted in the Army Air Corps and even though he was an enlisted guy who mostly drove trucks he's waaaaaaaay more of a hero than "The Duke" could ever have been.

I do like his movies, though. He just chose to play hero rather than be one.

 

[Gregor]

John Benner from TDI uses scenes from "The Shootist" to illustrate gunfight tactics. Mainly the mindset, then then final shootout in the saloon.

 

[Gun Smoke]

My favorite Duke movie is the "The man who shot Liberty Valance" but the Shootist is a close second...I read a funny story about John Wayne recently....Had been to a movie promotion with his agent and was in full cowboy outfit gunbelt, hat and spurs and while driving back to his hotel he had to use the restroom so his agent pulled into a dive of a beer joint and the Duke walked in and walked past everyone drinking at the bar and did his business and walked out, tipped his Stetson and remained straight faced but when he got back in the car he laughed all the way back telling his agent that when he walked in the music stopped and everyone stopped in mid drink and he said you could hear a pin drop....

 

[Bat Guano]

A few years ago the screenwriter for "The Shootist" gave a presentation over at the museum at Cody on the movie and how and why it came out the way it did. He was the son of the original author, Glendon Swarthout. Pretty interesting. He also wrote a sequel to it in which the kid goes on in life to "enjoy" a rep as the person who killed Books, and his later life turns out.

The elder Swarthout wrote some pretty intense westerns: "They Came to Cordura", "Tin Lizzie Troop" and so on.

I agree on the incredible parallels between this movie and Gran Torino. Very powerful movies.

 

[imjin138]

I have read both of those books and enjoyed them, I would like to read the sequel to the Shootist.



As for being a hero, John Wayne did not serve in the military that is true, I still like his movies. Mike Farrel and Alan Alda both served in the military and I can't stand either one of them.

I served as an 11B and I'm no hero either just did what I was trained to do.

 

[feralmerril]

Here is what wickipedia has got to say about john waynes not going in the service:John Wayne - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia I would like to add my few thoughts: First, he was really close to 35 years old at the time of pearl harbor. 2nd, he had I think, 4 kids. Also the studio threatned to sue him if he enlisted. I havent been in the service either but tried to enlist a number of times and was rejected for health reasons so maybe I aint qualified for my views, but I would guess it would have been highly unlikely that the service would have put him in harms way due to both his advanced age and also being so high profile. No doubt he knew that, and that weighed with the other factors already stated along with his golden oppertuneity of just starting to be a top star no doubt influeanced his thinking. I know I will give him a pass on it!

 

[watchmanjimg]

Same here. At the very least his films boosted morale and national pride.