This movie was really good, the first act was a little long, but that's more a problem of movies of the era, so I'm not faulting it for that. The story is good and the turn in the middle is very good. Then there's that's build up to the inevitable conclusion. But then we get a very Hollywood copout ending. As much as I appreciate giving us something unexpected, this doesn't feel right. Nowhere before this does Monty say that he refuses to fight. And John Wayne is this hell-bent on "teaching him a lesson?" And that lesson is only going to be taught by forcing a gun fight? No. This didn't feel genuine at all. I'm sure the studio stepped in or Wayne wanted to redeem himself or something. I could have gone for this ending if it was set up but it clearly wasn't.
Wayne as the bad guy was very cool and unexpected. He's very good in this. He gets a lot of crap for being a bad actor when he really isn't. Sure, he's phoning it in in many of them and I guess I've just seen his A list. And Montgomery is fantastic as always.
Wayne as the bad guy was very cool and unexpected. He's very good in this. He gets a lot of crap for being a bad actor when he really isn't. Sure, he's phoning it in in many of them and I guess I've just seen his A list. And Montgomery is fantastic as always.