The War Wagon (1967)

The story of a man who was shot, robbed and imprisoned who returns to steal a large gold shipment from the man who wronged him. The gold is transported in an armored stage coach, the War Wagon.

Director:

Burt Kennedy

Writers:

Clair Huffaker (screenplay), Clair Huffaker (novel)

Stars:

John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Howard Keel

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Wayne	...	Taw Jackson
Kirk Douglas	...	Lomax
Howard Keel	...	Levi Walking Bear
Robert Walker Jr.	...	Billy Hyatt (as Robert Walker)
Keenan Wynn	...	Wes Fletcher
Bruce Cabot	...	Pierce
Joanna Barnes	...	Lola
Valora Noland	...	Kate
Bruce Dern	...	Hammond
Gene Evans	...	Deputy Hoag
Terry Wilson	...	Sheriff Strike
Don Collier	...	Shack
Sheb Wooley	...	Snyder
Ann McCrea	...	Felicia
Emilio Fernández	...	Calita (as Emilio Fernandez)

Storyline

Taw Jackson returns from prison having survived being shot, to the ranch and gold that Frank Pierce stole from him. Jackson makes a deal with Lomax, the man who shot him 5 years ago to join forces against Pierce and steal a large gold shipment. The shipments are transported in the War Wagon, an armored stage coach that is heavily guarded. The two of them become the key players in the caper to separate Pierce from Jackson's gold.

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Plot Keywords:

heist | gold | wagon | caper | rural setting | 

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Taglines:

When These Two Men Ride - The Legend of the West Was Born!

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Howard Keel threatened to punch John Wayne if the older actor seized hold of him again. Keel later turned down a role in The Green Berets (1968). He was previously committed to a theater tour.

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Goofs

John Wayne's stunt double is obvious in long shots during the fight in the saloon.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Hoag: Sheriff! Taw Jackson's back in town!
Sheriff Strike: You sure?
Hoag: Well, he's ridin' down the street right now, big as life.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Teen-Age Crime Wave (1994)

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Soundtracks

Ballad Of The War Wagon
Sung by Ed Ames
Music by Dimitri Tiomkin
Lyric by Ned Washington

User Reviews

Another solid John Wayne film, with Kirk Douglas thrown in

Solid entertainment in the Wayne style, as John and Kirk team up to liberate a gazillion bars of gold from Bruce Cabot, the man who stole Wayne's ranch and goldmine. John Wayne is in fine form as usual; Kirk is equally fine as the hired gun who is willing to doublecross Cabot. Kirk shows a fine comic ability as he taunts both Cabot and Wayne. You can tell he's having a good time in the film; each time he grins it makes me laugh.

Keenan Wynn is pretty unlikable as one of Cabot's men who is on Wayne's side, but then his character is supposed to be unlikable. Robert Walker Jr. is nervous and unsure as the explosives expert that Wayne met in prison. Howard Keel is new to the John Wayne guild, but he's a welcome addition. Always a great comic actor, he is wonderful as Wayne's indian friend who continually needs to be rescued from his own ineptitude. Bruce Dern has a juicy but small role as one of Cabot's hired guns; he throws big toothy grins about and has a lot of fun with his job.

Pure action entertainment, and also a lot of fun. Pick up this film on the new DVD widescreen version; it's a great way to watch it.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

27 May 1967 (USA)

Also Known As:

The War Wagon

Filming Locations:

Pilares de Nacozari, Sonora, Mexico

Box Office

Gross USA:

$11,990,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Batjac Productions, Marvin Schwartz Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1