It isn’t always being fast or even accurate that counts. It’s being willing.
Today on Classic Movie Rev we are taking on a great classic western movie The Shootist (1976), which was John Wayne’s last movie. Wayne was plagued by cancer during his life, and his death was also linked to cancer. That makes it more interesting that he chose a movie about an elderly gunfighter dying of cancer.
Don Siegel directed the film that was based on a novel by Glendon Swarthout published in 1975 and having the same title as the film.
This movie has a relatively low 7.7 rating on iMDB.com[1]. On rottentomatoes.com the film has 90 percent on the Tomatometer and 88 percent audience approval[2]. The great film critic Roger Ebert gave it 4 ½ stars and said:
Books settles down to die. But all these gunfighters had the same problem: People weren’t content to let them die in bed, because they made too good a trophy.
So there is a tricky dilemma: To die with some measure of dignity, and to avoid being shot in the meantime. As the film opens, Books has eight days. You will be surprised with what gentleness and humanity he lives them, before the inevitable gunfire at the end. And unless you have already discovered that John Wayne is an actor as well as a movie star, you will be surprised by the dimensions he provides for J.B. Books.
There are a lot of returning actors, and most of them are great as are the new ones.
Actors
Returning
John Wayne played the role of dying gunfighter J.B. Books Wayne was covered in Chisum (1970).
Lauren Bacall was amazing as Bond Rogers, a widow running a boarding house and raising a teenage son. Bacall was first covered in the Film-Noir Dark Passage (1947).
James Stewart stepped out of retirement to play Dr. Hostetler, a man trusted by Books. Stewart was first covered for a film where he starred with John Wayne, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence (1962).
Richard Boone was Sweeney, another ill-tempered fellow that had vowed to avenge his brother who was earlier killed by Books. Boone was covered in The Alamo (1960).
Hugh O’Brian plays card dealer and gunfighter Pulford and is one of the more sympathetic bad guys in this film. O’Brian was covered in The Man From the Alamo (1953).
Harry Morgan plays Marshall Thibido. Thibido is a bit of coward that finds great joy in Books impending death. Morgan was first covered in the horrible John Wayne Film-Noir Big Jim McLain (1952).
John Carradine played Beckum the undertaker, which is perfectly appropriate for an actor first covered in Billy the Kid Versus Dracula (1966).
Bill McKinney plays the role of Cobb, a mean SOB that is having a growing influence of Bond Rogers son, Gillom. McKinney was covered in Against All Odds (1984), but don’t forget what he did to Ned Beatty in that other movie.
New
Ron Howard played teenage Gillom Rogers. Okay, Ron Howard is a great director. I’m not going to talk about any of that stuff. He was born in Oklahoma in 1954. His father was veteran character actor Rance Howard. His younger brother is actor Clint Howard, hahaha. Ron started in movie and television bit parts in 1956. This continued until 1961 when he was credited in Five Minutes to Live (1961) with singer Johnny Cash. He had a major role in The Music Man (1962), but one of his best childhood performances was the next year as a child who was being raised by his father after the sudden death of his mother, in The Courtship of Eddie’s Father (1963). We should never forget that he was in Village of the Giants (1965). By the time the movies came out, Howard was already working on the first of two iconic television shows. He played the role of Opie on “The Andy Griffith Show” 1960-1968.
After the show ended, Howard continued to work in television and film. He was excellent in the George Lucas directed nostalgia-fest American Graffiti (1973). He returned to another iconic television role as Richie Cunningham on “Happy Days” 1974-1984. He continued making films such as The Shootist (1976), directing films, and work on television.
Howard continues to work and has directed some of the best movies made during the last 30-years. These movies include Splash (1984), Cocoon (1985), Gung Ho (1986), Parenthood (1989), Backdraft (1991), Apollo 13 (1995), A Beautiful Mind (2001), and Cinderella Man (2005).
Sheree North had a small part as a down and out old girlfriend of Books named Serepta. North was born in 1932 in California. She was trained as a dancer and worked extensively on stage. Her best-known films are Lawman (1971), Charley Varrick (1973), Breakout (1975), and Cold Dog Soup (1990). She also had a robust career on television. North died in 2005.
Scatman Crothers played blacksmith Moses. He was born in Indiana in 1910. Scatman was a singer, songwriter, and musician. He was active in the Chicago jazz scene during the 1940s. He began working on radio in 1948, and by 1951 he was appearing in movies. Scatman was in a number of important movies such as Porgy and Bess (1959) and Hello, Dolly! (1969) but I first remember his voice from the animated The Aristocrats (1970). He appeared in Lady Sings the Blues (1972), Blaxploitation Black Belt Jones (1974), Linda Lovelace for President (1975) and oddly, I’m not going to comment, the great One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), the Gene Wilder/Richard Pryor comedy Silver Streak (1976), a great small role in the final John Wayne film, The Shootist (1976), and the Clint Eastwood thing Bronco Billy (1980).
The next two movies are really important. He was given what was a big role in the book “The Shining,” but in the movie of the same name, he rode up the mountain and died. He was still good. In Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) he played the kick the can guy in the nursing home. It makes me cry every time.
He was in a cute John Travolta/Oliva Newton-John film, Two of a Kind (1983), and he was the voice of Jazz in The Transformers: The Movie (1986) and I don’t know who that is. On television, Scatman did voices for “Hong Kong Phooey” 1974 about a karate fighting dog. Look it up if you don’t know it. Also, on TV, he played Harlem Globetrotter Meadowlark Lemmon in “Harlem Globe Trotters” 1970-1971, he did voices for “The Super Globetrotters” 1979 and appeared in “The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island” 1981. He also did voices for Scooby-Doo films and television. Scatman died in November 1986 and was inducted posthumously to the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1987.
Using archive footage and uncredited, Christopher George was a Books’ Victim in Flashback who I first covered in El Dorado (1967). Bob Steele was also a Books’ Victim in Flashback who I first covered in Of Mice and Men (1939). Leo Gordon was also Books’ Victim in Flashback. Ricky Nelson was a fellow lawman in Flashback. Johnny Crawford was another Books’ Victim in Flashback. Another uncredited Books’ victim was Jonathan Goldsmith. Goldsmith was covered in Go Tell the Spartans (1978). He is the original most interesting man alive.
Story – The Shootist 1976
Gillom Rogers (Ron Howard) begins telling the story of J.B. Books (John Wayne) as gunfighter and lawman. They show clips of killing from other John Wayne movies such as Red River (1948), El Dorado (1967), and Rio Lobo (1970). The 19th century fades to the 20th century.
J.B. Books is heading through a mountain valley when he is set upon by a robber. Books pulls a derringer and belly shoots the man. He leaves the man to die.
He rides into Carson City, Nevada and the year is 1901. The town grew as a result of a silver strike and was the location of one of the US Mints. In the movie, the town has moved away from its’ western roots, and this is symbolized by a mule pulled trolley that runs on tracks down the Main Street.
In a Cobb’s Creamery wagon, Cobb (Bill McKinney) and his young assistant Gillom Rogers pull up to where Books and his horse are blocking the road. Cobb is snotty with Books and almost draws on him out of sheer meanness.
Books goes to see Dr. Hostetler (James Stewart) who he trusts because the man took a bullet out of him some years prior. Books has a fancy pillow that he stole from a cathouse that he sits on. Books has seen a doctor, but he wants Dr. Hostetler to examine him without knowing what the other doctor has said. Books describes the pain as being in the lower back. The doc begins with a rectal exam.
After some research, the Doc confirms its cancer, but they never say what kind. The Doc says he has maybe two weeks to live and that he can do anything he wants until the pain gets too bad. The Doc sends Books to the widow Roger’s boarding house.
When Books gets to the boarding house, Gillom is outside sweeping. Bond Rogers (Lauren Bacall) rents a room to Books. Gillom is a little resistant to taking orders from Books. He makes arrangements to eat in his room and to have his clothes cleaned. After some fussing Gillom takes Books’ horse to the livery stable. Books gives his name as William Hickok.
At the livery stable, owner Moses (Scatman Crothers) tends to the horse while Gillom looks for whiskey. Under the saddle, Moses sees the name J.B. Books carved in the leather. Gillom is really excited that the famous killer is in his house.
When Gillom gets home, he tells his mother that the man is not Wild Bill Hickok and he is, in fact, J.B. Books. In the morning, Bond demands that he leave. Books refuses to leave. She calls the city, and Marshall Thibido (Harry Morgan) comes to evict Books. Thibido is afraid he is going to be killed. He wants Books to leave town. Finally, Books tells Thibido that he is dying. When he finds out, he starts laughing and mocking the killer. He asks Thibido to not tell people he is dying.
After Thibido leaves, Books catches Gillom eavesdropping outside the window. Gillom has told Cobb so now six people know. Books apologizes to Bond for lying to her. She is pretty hot about him lying to her. He tells her he has cancer and will not be a burden. He says he will give her extra money to help out. She walks away and is very sad.
When Books goes back a newspaperman named Dobkins (Rick Lenz) is waiting for him. Dobkins wants to write a series of articles about Books. However, Dobkins wants to hype it up and talk about violence and killing. Books sticks a gun in his mouth and runs him out of the house. Bond walks in on the eviction and is horrified, especially after Books kicks the man in the butt.
Books goes back to the Doc to pay, and the Doc gives him a bottle of laudanum[3] for the pain. Books makes the Doc give all of the details of what is going to happen as his cancer gets worse. Finally, Doc says that a man with Books’ courage should not go through the pain of the death that is coming.
Bond comes to Books’ room. She apologizes this time, and a bond of respect begins to grow between the two. Books asks her to go for a drive in the country. She refuses to go at first, but Books wears her down.
Pulford (Hugh O’Brian) who owns the Metropole Saloon finds out that Books is dying. He thinks it is too bad because he believes he could take Books in a fair fight. A man calls Pulford a lier and is thrown out of the bar. He comes back in and shoots at Pulford. Pulford shoots him through the heart at 80-feet.
The next day Books and Bond go for a ride in a buggy. They get along well. They talk about Gillom and his need to “let the badger loose.” On the way back into town they run into Sweeney (Richard Boone) who is driving a horseless carriage. The men have some history, but it is not brought out until after he leaves. Apparently, Books killed Sweeney’s brother.
That night Books is woken by a sound outside. He gets out of bed before a man shoots into the bedding and jumps through the window knocking himself out. Books shoots the man on the floor. A second man fires at the bed and jumps through the window. A kerosene lamp catches firs, and books shoots the second man. Books puts out the fire before it spreads. Gillom comes in and sees the two dead men.
Bond is not taking very well to the killing and Gillom’s idol worship of Books. Bond has to tell her son that Books is dying. In the morning, all of the other lodgers move out leaving Bond in a bad financial position.
Thibido comes by and says he will post a man outside. Bond is rough on Books. Thibido tells about the shot that Pulford made and suggest they should fight. Books finally pulls a gun on him and gets him to leave.
Books rides the trolley to the livery stable where Moses (Scatman Crothers) is singing about the dead Books to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic while grooming his horse. Moses gives Books $100 dollars. Gillom has already sold the horse without Books knowing. Books wants $300, and they start haggling. Books lets Moses win and get the horse for $298.
When Books gets back to the house, he starts chewing on Gillom for selling his horse. The boy says that he was just doing it because his mother was in such bad shape with money. They come to a good understanding. Gillom asks for a shooting lesson. They agree to keep it a secret from Bond. They both shoot about the same pattern. Cobb has been teaching Gillom. Gillom wants to know how Books killed so many people if Gillom is just as good. Books said winning is more about being willing than being good. He then talks about being back shot by an amateur. This could be another reference to Wild Bill Hickok. About a quarter-century prior to the period, this film is set in, 1876, Hickok was shot in the back and killed while playing poker in Deadwood, Dakota Territory in what is now South Dakota. He was said to be holding two pairs, aces and eights, which has since been known as the dead man’s hand[4].
That night, Serepta (Sheree North) an old girlfriend and saloon gal comes to visit Books. Books is happy that she has come, and he says that they should have gotten married. She asks him if he wants to get married. Then she launches into the benefits of being married to him and the money that it would bring to her. She then says Dobkins has contacted her about the book he wants to write and offer her the co-authorship and half the money. He pays for travel expenses and sends her away. She gets mad, and he says basically he can’t believe he loved her once.
The next day Books gets up and hears Bond singing and playing the piano. He is very happy. He asks to have his good clothes cleaned because he will need them Monday. She tries to get him to go to church with her. He wants his death to be private. They get into a little spat over religion and souls. It ends badly.
Books goes to get his hair cut and Beckum (John Carradine) the undertaker comes in to talk to him about his funeral. Beckum makes the pitch and says he will do it for free. Books makes Beckum pay for the privilege because Books says that he will do what they did to John Wesley Hardin. Hardin had several run-ins with Wild Bill Hickok and after he died post-mortem pictures were sold[5]. But he was not put on display like Books said. The barber does not charge Books and says he will sell bits of his hair. After Books leaves, the man sweeps the floor and gets the hair of others to add to Books’ bit.
Books asks Gillom to invite Pulford, Sweeney, and Cobb to come to the Metropole on Monday because Books will be there. Gillom realizes what the old man is up to. On Sunday after church, Gillom goes on his mission. That night Books falls in the tub, and Bond has to help him. Bond finally realizes the Books is up to something. It is a sad goodbye, and I have always felt that if they met at another time, they would have been a great couple. When Gillom comes back, Books gives him the horse, having bought it back from Moses.
In the morning, Books leaves most of his money for Bond. Two men deliver the headstone that Books ordered from Beckum.
At the Metropole, the bartender is setting up for the day when Pulford comes in.
Books gets dressed in his best clothes and gets his guns ready. Bond stops him on the way out. He tells her it is his birthday and he is going to a saloon to celebrate. She says the day is nice and is called a false spring, like their meeting.
Thibido lets Cobb out of jail, and Dobkins is snooping around. Gillom is waiting across the street. Books rides the trolley and a young girl comments on the beauty of the day and Books says it’s called a false spring. Sweeney shows up in his car.
Cobb is sitting at a table by the door, Pulford is in the back at his faro table, and Sweeney sits at another table by the door. The bartender is behind the bar. Books gives his fancy pillow to the trolley driver.
Books goes into the bar with his gun showing. He ignores the other man and orders a drink from the bar. He is watching the three fighters in the mirror. Cobb, the hothead, shoots first. Books jumps over the bar. Books throws a bottle to distract Cobb, and when he does, Books fires over the bar shooting him and then killing him with a second shot.
Sweeney jumps up and fires at Books hitting him in the shoulder. Sweeney charges behind a wooden table but wood does not stop bullets, so Books kills him.
As soon as Sweeney goes down, Pulford fires hitting Books in the arm. Books is on the ground behind the bar and Pulford crosses along the bar front. Books sees his reflection in a glass and sets up for the attack. When Pulford looks around the corner, Books shoots him in the head. The wounded Books leans against the bar as the bartender comes up behind him. Gillom comes in and warns Books, but it is too late. The bartender shoots him in the back with a double-barreled shotgun.
Gillom takes a gun from the wounded Books and kills the bartender with three shots to the torso. Before Books dies, he sees Gillom throw the gun away. He nods and dies happily. Gillom cries and covers his hero with his coat. The Doc comes in the door of the bar and gives a small smile of respect to the shootist. Gillom returns to mother and is no longer a boy.
World-Famous Short Summary – I’d rather die on my feet, than live on my knees – Emiliano Zapata
I hope you enjoyed today’s show. You can find connections to social media and email on my site at classicmovierev.com or in the podcast show notes as well. Remember, this show is completely free and independent. If you want to comment, suggest a movie, or help out, contact me by email at jec at classicmovierev dot com. If you haven’t done so already, please jump over to Apple Podcast and give me a review. It really helps the show get found.
Beware the moors
[1] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075213/
[2] https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shootist
[3] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laudanum
[4] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Bill_Hickok
[5] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley_Hardin
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