The film is said to be one of the best westerns of the 70s.
Two legends meet in this movie - the myth of the Wild West, captured here in its ending phase and the legend of John Wayne. The sick, 69-year-old actor appeared on the screen for the last time (he died three years later of lung cancer). He kind of plays himself here - an old, tired gunner John Bernard Brooks, who, after the years of his male adventures, finds out that he has cancer and wants to peacefully live till the end of his days in a town in Nevada. However he is being chased by his own fame: young cowboys look for opportunities to face the yet unbeaten King of the West. Action takes place in the year 1901, but the sad story by Glendon Swarthout goes even further, back to the year 1871. The past moments from Brooks's life are illustrated by John Wayne's older westerns: "Red River", "Hondo", "Rio Bravo", "El Dorado".
The critics emphasized the beauty of the cinematography by Bruce Surtees and the acting - especially John Wayne's.
Two legends meet in this movie - the myth of the Wild West, captured here in its ending phase and the legend of John Wayne. The sick, 69-year-old actor appeared on the screen for the last time (he died three years later of lung cancer). He kind of plays himself here - an old, tired gunner John Bernard Brooks, who, after the years of his male adventures, finds out that he has cancer and wants to peacefully live till the end of his days in a town in Nevada. However he is being chased by his own fame: young cowboys look for opportunities to face the yet unbeaten King of the West. Action takes place in the year 1901, but the sad story by Glendon Swarthout goes even further, back to the year 1871. The past moments from Brooks's life are illustrated by John Wayne's older westerns: "Red River", "Hondo", "Rio Bravo", "El Dorado".
The critics emphasized the beauty of the cinematography by Bruce Surtees and the acting - especially John Wayne's.