The Shootist (1976) Synopsis

Dr. E.W. Hostetler: [pointing to Books' pillow] Well if I wanted to go around town unnoticed, I wouldn't carry *that* around with me.
John Bernard Books: [smiling] Stole it from a whore house in Creed.


This John Wayne movie was a great finale to a historic career.  The tone was a fresh breath compared to other Wayne westerns, but it still contained the silly humor that many have become accustomed to.  Here are some things that stood out to me during the film:

• The introduction was well done.  I loved how the film included other John Wayne film clips in the introductory montage because it made it that much more realistic and relate-able.   Wayne is one, if not the, most influential figures in the Western genre, and showing parts of his old films put this film in a really good place at the start.

• Although the tone was darker than other Wayne films, there was still that humor that everyone loves in a John Wayne western.  When Books is making his way to town to speak with the Doctor, he was a classic run-in with a thief on the road.  The man tries to steal his money, but Books shoots him in the belly as he is reaching for his wallet.  He then tells the man to pick his wallet up for him, and then he pushes the poor guy into some water.  What a badass!  The cherry on top in this scene is what he says to the guy as he is riding off: "Friend, you better get another line of work; this one sure don't fit your pistol."  This might have been my favorite scene.  Books shoots a guy in the belly, shoves him in some dirty looking water, then leaves him with a badass quote as he rides away.  Yes.

The opening scene comedy

•  I thought the cinematography was average, but could have been better in what looked like a beautiful part of the United States (it was filmed in Carson City, Nevada).  The tricky part of the film is that most of the scenes are either in town or in the widow's hotel/house.  One well done scene was where the two men tried to kill Books in his sleep.  I thought that the camera position, which took the view of the assassins, was awesome because it made the audience feel like they were holding the gun attempting to kill Books.

• The relationship between Books and the Doctor (James Stewart) is a short but sweet one.  James Stewart does an amazing job of capturing the camera when he is in a scene, making it feel like he is in the movie more than what he actually is.  The laugh they share about the whore house in Creed was beautiful, and it was very interesting to see the films take on how a doctor dealt with something like cancer back in those days.  Instead of the seemingly emotionless doctor like we have nowadays who have to tell someone their dying all to often, this doctor actually recommended that Books choose a different type of death other than the 'one he described'.

•  The ending was spot on.  After finishing his opium and liquor (how awesome was that), he goes to the salon to take on 3 guys who have no chance.  The only reason he died was because of the coward bartender unloading a double-barrel shotgun into Books' back.  I thought that this shootout was far more bloody than any other John Wayne film I've seen.  Most shootouts are G rated and no realism is present.  But this film attempted to create some gore, which is undeniably there in an epic salon shootout.

Well, I loved this film.  I grew up watching John Wayne movies, and I think this is a perfect way to end the legend that is Wayne.  As always, this movie is nothing without the opinions of my peers.  So, review away!