Entertainment and action from beginning to end, a great superstar
in the type of role that made him such; a nice mixture of vets and
kids in support; and several setpiece scenes to remember. The
bee's nest in the railroad car, for one. Yipe. Slam bang finish, made better by great work from Mike Henry, Jack
Elam, Wayne; and future studio boss Sherry Lansing, memorable
as a vengeful woman with a nasty scar. That's why she's vengeful.
Victor French adds much to this splendid audience pleaser, as a
traitorous soldier, turned sniveling coward, when finally caught
years later by Wayne and company. As always, Howard Hawks tempers the action with comedy; and
provides two strong roles for women; Lansing, and Jen O'Neill -
who's just fine here, thanks very much. My #4 film of 1970.
Young People, if you want to see a Bad John Wayne movie, check
out BARBARIAN AND THE GEISHA. He didn't make 'em any worse
than that. CIRCUS WORLD also sucks. But Kids, if you're lookin' for a bad Howard Hawks movie, Stop
right now. He didn't make any. The man's second only to
Hitchcock on my all time Directors list.
in the type of role that made him such; a nice mixture of vets and
kids in support; and several setpiece scenes to remember. The
bee's nest in the railroad car, for one. Yipe. Slam bang finish, made better by great work from Mike Henry, Jack
Elam, Wayne; and future studio boss Sherry Lansing, memorable
as a vengeful woman with a nasty scar. That's why she's vengeful.
Victor French adds much to this splendid audience pleaser, as a
traitorous soldier, turned sniveling coward, when finally caught
years later by Wayne and company. As always, Howard Hawks tempers the action with comedy; and
provides two strong roles for women; Lansing, and Jen O'Neill -
who's just fine here, thanks very much. My #4 film of 1970.
Young People, if you want to see a Bad John Wayne movie, check
out BARBARIAN AND THE GEISHA. He didn't make 'em any worse
than that. CIRCUS WORLD also sucks. But Kids, if you're lookin' for a bad Howard Hawks movie, Stop
right now. He didn't make any. The man's second only to
Hitchcock on my all time Directors list.