The War Wagon (1967) User Reviews

An Armored Wagon full of gold

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 11 July 2005]

I believe you would have to say that this is the first time John Wayne was not on the side of law and order in a movie since Three Godfathers. Between then and The War Wagon, a past that is less than savory has been hinted at, but only in The War Wagon has it been explicitly said he's an outlaw.

An outlaw with revenge on his mind. He's going rob Bruce Cabot, the slimy villain who's taken over his ranch and discovered enough gold on it to make him a rich man.

This is a caper film, maybe the only one Duke ever made. Though it might not come to mind, this film is definitely in the tradition of Topkapi and How to Steal a Million. Granted the comedy isn't exactly highbrow like the other two films, still the War Wagon is an honorable addition to that genre.

Helping Wayne along in his enterprise are Kirk Douglas a gunfighter/ safe-cracker, Howard Keel a cynical Indian, Robert Walker, Jr. a young alcoholic explosives expert and Keenan Wynn an old codger who works for Bruce Cabot and is essentially their inside man.

Kirk Douglas in his memoirs The Ragman's Son held the Duke in enormous respect even though their political views differed radically. The three films they did together show the good camaraderie they developed.

The title of the film refers to an armored vehicle with a Gatling gun that Bruce Cabot uses to ship gold. I won't say what the plan is on how the War Wagon is dealt with, but anyone who has watched the George Marshall/Glenn Ford film, Imitation General, will have some idea.

A good entertaining John Wayne western which is as good as it gets.

A Subtle (but Fun) Parody of Traditional Western Movie Conventions

[aimless-46 · 7/10 · 19 October 2006]

I didn't like the "War Wagon" when it was first released, I found it rather silly and vaguely offensive. The problem was me, I was not ready to recognize, let alone relate to, a subtle parody of the western genre. I should have been more receptive because in the mid-60s a huge amount of genre parody began to appear on television ("Batman", 'Wild Wild West", "F- Troop", "Get Smart"), which could be traced back to gently tongue-in-cheek series like "Maverick" and "Zorro".

"Cat Ballou" (1965) was the first feature length parody of Western genre clichés. But its parody elements were obvious, even if you were not that familiar with the conventions of the Western genre you could recognize exaggerations and revisions. In addition, up to this point John Wayne films had given the Western genre only very traditional treatments.

But "The War Wagon" was only the first example of director Burt Kennedy's tweaking of the genre. He would follow it up with "Support Your Local Sheriff" (1969), "Hannie Caulder" (1971), and "Support Your Local Gunfighter" (1971). Wayne would toy with parodic elements two years later with "True Grit", and would stay much less traditional with the remainder of his westerns.

"The War Wagon" is also a genre hybrid as western is mixed with buddy picture and big heist movie. Taw (John Wayne) recruits an old enemy Lomax (Kirk Douglas) as he seeks revenge on a ruthless mine owner (Bruce Cabot) who not only framed and sent to him prison, but appropriated his ranch and personal possessions after a huge gold strike was discovered on ranch property (here we go with the exaggeration-the only things missing are stealing Taw's wife, adopting his children, and leaving his toilet seat up). Cabot transports his gold in a "Wild Wild West" inspired armored wagon.

The interplay between Wayne and Douglas (who always seems right on the verge of accepting Cabot's standing offer of $12,000 to kill Wayne) is clever and sarcastic, working with the many exaggerated elements to provide the film's considerable humor.

"The War Wagon" finds Wayne on the wrong side of established authority, for at least the third time as his Ethan Edwards character in "The Searchers" also operated well outside the law and Quirt Evans in "Angel and the Badman" had to be bad enough that he could be reformed by Gail Russell.

Howard Keel plays the civilized Indian sidekick mostly for comic relief and the characters actually demonstrate an awareness of the movie context when they self-reflexively (deliberately drawing attention to their playing characters in a movie) refer to a tactic as an old Indian trick. Ultimately the joke (and the irony) is on Wayne and Douglas, as their seemingly one-sided deal with the Indians (a few blankets in exchange for their participation) causes the Indians to end up with most the rewards.

"The War Wagon's" understated parody style would inspire John Huston ("The Life & Times Of Judge Roy Bean") and George Roy Hill ("The Sting"); and of course many others.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

Decent late period Wayne Western

[Get_your_azz_to_Mars · 6/10 · 31 March 2014]

'The War Wagon' will never be considered one of John Wayne's great Westerns like 'Rio Bravo', 'The Searchers', or 'Red River', but it is a an enjoyable Western with fine performances and great rapport between Kirk Douglas and John Wayne. The action sequences are well done, the humor dry as the desert it takes place in, and the caper story line rather refreshing for a John Wayne film.

The problem? When the picture ends it leaves you feeling empty. The characters are not particularly interesting (save for Douglas) and the villain is your standard cattle baron murderous jerk. The war wagon itself is an interesting prop and well used, but never really becomes the menacing character it should've been. I enjoyed the movie as a fan of John Wayne and Westerns in general, yet I doubt most of his fans will find this film particularly impressive when compared to many of his other Westerns directed by Hawks and Ford. That isn't to say you should avoid seeing 'The War Wagon', but you should temper your expectations for what is really just an empty Saturday-afternoon adventure. You'll like it while you're watching it and then forget it as soon as the credits roll.

Cool Western with a great cast

[redbeard_nv · 15 December 2001]

Take the idea of gold shipment transported by an impenetrable vehicle, armored, armed and escorted by a team of armed guards. Your goal, rob it.

Sounds like another bank job/caper flick starring Nick Cage or taking place in Vegas? Sure! But, make it an old time western, then cast John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Bruce Cabot, Bruce Dern, Keenan Wynn and Howard Keel as a Jewish Indian and you have the makings of a classic.

The War Wagon, complete with catchy title tune, is another notch in the Duke's gun for being dead on target for what his fans crave: A solid, stoic hero, framed, robbed of all his possessions and jailed by an evil banker (Cabot), he is released and vows revenge by stealing his regular gold dust shipment. The problem is that the gold is transported in the title vehicle, an armored stagecoach with gattling gun mounted on top; an unstoppable juggernaut escorted by two teams of riflemen and riders. Throw in Kirk Douglas as an old friend who's been hired to kill him, a drunken, shaky nitro expert, played by the ever pre-pubescent looking Robert Walker Jr., a half Jewish/Half-Indian compadre (Howard Keel), a bitter, miserly thief (Keenan Wynn), his young, enslaved wife (a luminescent Joanna Barnes, also a "Spartacus" alumni)), toss in typical Western scum like Bruce Dern, and you have a high adventure caper flick that will keep you entertained for the length of the picture.

The on-screen magic of Wayne and Douglas is never in better form than here, with all the usual hijinks the stars can pack into this epitome of the Saturday Matinee Action movie before they became techo-terrors of dueling visual effects.

Interesting, Well-Paced and Colorful; a Fine Noir Western All Round

[silverscreen888 · 7/10 · 28 June 2005]

This is a "caper" film, about what would be a heist in other circumstances. Since the ethics of the perpetrators are those which should have made the authorities make the robbery unnecessary, their act is justified in this situation. This noir western is a bit slick-appearing at some times; but it is physically attractive, has a good cast portraying colorful and somewhat desperate characters, and a strong theme song. Dimitri Tiomkin supplied the very capable score; and Burt Kennedy did a solid job of directing throughout. The very appealing storyline concerns Taw Jackson, played ably by John Wayne, who returns from prison to get back what he can from Bruce Cabot, who stole his ranch and framed him. All he can do is to recruit a group of "mission fighters", beginning with the man who had shot him 5 years earlier, Lomax, played by dynamic Kirk Douglas-and raid the "war wagon"--his enemy's vehicle for transporting gold, a Gatling-Gun-equipped armored stagecoach. Taw's team includes a drunken young dynamite expert he met in prison Robert Walker Jr., Keenan Wynn who is insanely jealous of his young wife, Valora Noland as the wife, Levi Walking Bear in the charismatic person of Howard Keel, his liaison to needed Indian allies, and more. Gene Evans, Joanna Barnes, Ann McRea, Terry Wilson and Frank Mcgrath are among those also doing good professional work in this interesting narrative. Only Noland is a bit weak in this cast. There are some humorous lines and interesting character moments as Wayne assembles his group and plots an attack worthy of "The Dirty Dozen" or "Where Eagles Dare", involving trees that fall at the right moment, Indians faking an attack as a diversion, dynamite used to block off access to a bridge, and a log that swings down and opens the rolling piggy bank violently. What happens after this successful robbery leads to a compromised denouement and ending; but the film is vividly put together, professionally mounted and decently scripted by Clair Huffaker from his own novel. The film stands as a reminder of what any well-made film about an ethical central character can provide relative to any un-ethical and not-fictional man's story competing for a cinema viewer's attention. Moments such as Wayne's visit to his ranch and his talk with the man who stole it, the recruiting of Lomax, the relations of the group, and the raid itself are all memorable. Underrated and always visually interesting.

Good Caper Film With Wayne a Loser for Once

[Bob-45 · 7/10 · 11 June 2004]

I generally don't like caper films. Usually, when they end, I'm still waiting for a beginning. This one is much better than usual, largely due to the action packed finale, bawdy humor and a flamboyant performance by Kirk Douglas. Wayne, as Taw Jackson, has an unusual role. Possibly for the first time since TROUBLE ALONG THE WAY, he plays a loser. He's lost his ranch, been shot and falsely imprisoned for three years by Bruce Cabot. How this has happened is never made clear; and one wonders why Wayne seems universally disliked by his former neighbors. Considering his former wealth, one would imagine at least one of his ex-ranch hands would treat him well. Just WHERE are his ranch hands. This is never made clear, and it weakens the believability of the story.

However, the caper is the thing and, whoah, it's a doozie. Getting there is a lot of fun and worth seeing. It's also interesting the cynicism presented her. In one scene, a stablekeeper dismisses Wayne with contempt, while Douglas, a hired killer, is treated with the greatest of respect(!) By 1967, Wayne had come a long way from his denunciation of HIGH NOON for it's unsympathetic, cowardly townspeople.

While not a must see, THE WAR WAGON is very entertaining. I give it a "7".

How are we going' to take it? With the Prussian army?

[hitchcockthelegend · 7/10 · 21 August 2011]

John Wayne and Kirk Douglas appeared together in three films between 1965 and 1967. First off was "In Harm's Way" in 1965, then the ensemble picture that was "Cast a Giant Shadow" in 1966. Then came this film, their first Western, and sadly their last outing together. Sadly because The War Wagon shows a real genuine chemistry between two men who were very different socially; but on screen they clearly had regard for what each one gave to a movie. Directed by Burt Kennedy and coming out of Wayne's own Batjac Productions, The War Wagon centres around two old friends (some what grudgingly it seems) who plan to rob the vehicle of the title. An armoured stage coach, resplendent with Gatling Gun, manned front middle and centre with crack shot gunmen, and full of gold, lots of gold! Adding fuel to the fire is that the Wagon is run by a man called Frank Pierce (Bruce Cabot), who stole Taw Jackson's (Wayne) ranch as he "cough-cough" served time in jail. Further upping the intrigue is that Pierce wants to hire known gunman Lomax (Douglas) to kill Jackson, oblivious that the two men are plotting to rob him.

If that all sounds like a caper movie then you would be right, because it is, and a splendid one at that. A caper movie in a Western setting, lusciously photographed by Duke Wayne's favourite cinematographer, William H. Clothier at Durango in Mexico, and rattling along at a fair old clip. Support comes in the form of Howard Keel (a humorous turn as Indian Levi Walking Bear), Robert Walker Jr, Keenan Wynn, Valora Noland and look out for Bruce Dern in a short but effective role. We got quips aplenty as the two machismo fuelled stars play off each over with glee, we got one almighty punch up that had me personally laughing out loud and for those that like good stunt work, well we are well served there also. It's also a film to note because it sees Wayne playing a baddie, an ex convict leading an odd bunch of robbers, driven by revenge and greed. A role that by the looks of it, Wayne loved immensely. So saddle up folks, and as soon as you hear the quirky strains of Ed Ames' warbling "Ballad of The War Wagon," you should know you are in for a smashing little treat. 7/10

Caper film straddles the boundary between serious and parody western with middling results.

[AlsExGal · 6/10 · 28 November 2019]

Framed ex-con/rancher Taw Jackson (John Wayne) is out for revenge. He plans to steal the title vehicle and $500,000 in gold, which belongs to Frank Pierce (Bruce Cabot), the man who framed him and stole his land. To help him carry out his plan, Jackson recruits gunfighter Lomax (Kirk Douglas); Levi Walking Bear (Keel); explosives expert Billy Hyatt (Robert Walker Jr.); and inside man Wes Catlin (Keenan Wynn). Nothing goes exactly as planned, and there are enough twists and turns along the way to keep the film from being a bore.

Keel walks off with the acting honors with his parody of the Indian sidekick of the hero. Wynn yells like he's being paid by the decibel. Walker Jr. is sincere and occasionally funny. Douglas and Wayne's scenes together play like duels to see who can steal the scene.

This film boasts one of Dimitri Tiomkin's last scores. William Clothier (photographer of 1960's "The Alamo" and 1964's "Cheyenne Autumn") did the very good cinematography. This is not one of either Wayne's or Douglas' best, but it is good enough to warrant a watch. Made by Universal, this is one of the few pre 1970 (heck, pre 2000 for that matter) films of any genre that AMC (Always More Commercials) still plays.

One of Wayne's best and most unusual.

[fredschaefer-406-623204 · 7/10 · 11 July 2014]

Most us die hard and passionate John Wayne fans have to admit that his work in the 1960's falls a little short of the great run he had in the previous decade and a half, a run that included RED RIVER, SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON, RIO GRANDE, SANDS OF IWO JIMA, THE QUIET MAN, HONDO, THE SEARCHERS, and RIO BRAVO. By this point in his long and hard working career, the Duke had gotten things down to a pretty good formula: plenty of fist fights and gun battles before he settled things with the bad guys in the final scene, with plenty of broad humorous touches along the way. It was what his fans expected and Wayne was ever diligent in not disappointing them. But with THE WAR WAGON, Wayne slyly tweaked his tried and true image and made one of the most unique films of his career.

First and foremost,Wayne's Taw Jackson is most certainly not a righteous upholder of law and order, instead he has just gotten out of prison early on a trumped up charge and determined to get some payback on the man who framed him and stole Jackson's ranch (and the gold on said land) out from under him. For one of the few times ever, Wayne plays a character quite comfortable working outside the law, mainly because the law has become nothing more than the corrupt tool of Pierce (Bruce Cabot)the tin pot tyrant who is getting rich on Jackson's gold- transporting it in an armor plated stagecoach, refitted with a wicked looking Gatling gun and accompanied on the road by a large armed posse. Taw Jackson is in many ways a forerunner of a character we would come to know in the years ahead: the wronged man who's out to even the score.

It's Jackson's plan to take down Pierce's self named War Wagon and make off with a fortune; but of course he'll need some help and this is where the movie becomes a mashup of the western and heist genres, the one where a group of disparate individuals come together, pool their talents and take on a dangerous mission. Jackson't team comes to include Robert Walker Jr. as a teenage explosives expert with weakness for drink; Howard Keel as Levi Walking Bear, an Indian who knows the ways of the white man ("grab all you can, while you can."); Keenan Wynn as a foul tempered teamster who works for Pierce and who drags his child bride (whom he bought) with him everywhere so he can keep an eye on her. Wynn cornered the market on playing cantankerous old men, but if Walker is remembered at all today, it is for his guest starring role on the original STAR TREK.

Jackson also acquires an uneasy partner in the person of Lomax, a mercenary gunman who is mulling over an offer by Pierce to kill Jackson, but is intrigued enough by the possibility of an even bigger payday if he helps take down the War Wagon. Lomax is played by Kirk Douglas with all of the considerable charm he could muster; Douglas and Wayne have terrific chemistry on screen, playing two men who are as much friendly enemies as they are allies of convenience. The interplay between Lomax and Jackson, especially their dialog, is one of the great strength's of the film and it's a good example of how Wayne was not afraid to share the screen with actors of Douglas's caliber, who were every bit as charismatic as himself; how having a strong personality to play off only made them both look better.

Jackson, Lomax and their crew come up with a scheme to waylay the War Wagon in open country with the help of a tribe of local Indians who have been displaced by Pierce; there's a fake out with an Indian attack, some tense moments with nitro glycerin and some intricate timing with a rigged battering ram. But as in all good heist movies, there are complications, double crosses and twists and the heroes don't necessarily walk away with everything they wanted. It's interesting that Wayne's character doesn't get his ranch or his good name back either.

Besides the principles, there is a great supporting cast of familiar faces including Gene Evans, Emilio Fernandez, and the very busy Bruce Dern, who would go on to shoot Wayne in the back a few years later in THE COWBOYS. Terry Wilson and Frank McGrath, who'd just finished a long run on TV's WAGON TRAIN, appear as the town Sheriff and as a bartender; Sheb Wooley, who was one of the gunmen waiting by the train station in HIGH NOON and later played on RAWHIDE, turns up as one of Pierce's hired guns who runs afoul of Wayne.

Director Burt Kennedy was able to strike the right balance between action and humor, he would go on to direct SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL GUNFIGHTER, one of my favorites; Kennedy and his crew got some great location shots in Durango, Mexico, the same place Sam Peckinpah would shoot PAT GARRETT AND BILLY THE KID a few years later.

With the possible exceptions of Paul Newman and Steve McQueen, John Wayne was the biggest male movie star of the turbulent 1960's, and THE WAR WAGON, with its great opening credit theme song, was one of the chief reasons why this was true. I do remember it playing on double bill with the equally great EL DORADO at the local drive in when I was a kid. Now that was entertainment.

Great Western, good chemistry

[smatysia · 8/10 · 22 January 2000]

The chemistry between John Wayne and Kirk Douglas really came through. Howard Keel was very good as an Indian trying to move with the times. Great photography of the scenery around Durango, Mexico. Should be considered a John Wayne classic.

Moving and fun Western with humour , including great main cast : Wayne and Douglas , adding a reliable plethora of support actors

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 22 March 2017]

The Duke plans vendetta on a powerful mine owner (Bruce Cabot) who stole his gold claim and accused him of murder for which he spent a large number of years in prison . Wayne then assembles a band to support him , including an impulsive , wise-cracking young (Robert Walker) , a dumb renegade Indian (Howard Keel) , an old man (Keenan Wynn) accompanied by a young girl , and , and of course , the fastest gun in the West , Kirk Douglas , as the hired hand sent by the ambitious owner who framed him to kill him . They are happily joined in harness against Cabot and his hoodlums . As the gang has to assault a heavily armored stagecoach where the nasty owner transports his gold from ¨Pierce Mining Company¨ .When These Two Men Ride - The Legend of the West Was Born! .The War Wagon Rolls And The Screen Explodes!

This Burt Kennedy Western contains noisy action , adjusted acting , being well-paced and nicely directed . Thrilling and well-written Western with lots of action dealing with an amusing caper in which Wayne has a twisted as well as moving plan : to rob the gold being shipped in an armor-plated stagecoach , ¨The war Wagon¨. Stirring as well as funny screenplay that keeps solidly in the best traditions , adding humor , from prestigious Clair Huffaker who wrote a lot of Westerns and based on his book titled ¨Badman¨. John Wayne gives a nice acting , as always , here sits well with such other big successes of the sixties and seventies, such as : McLintock , Undefeated , El Dorado , The son of Katie Elder , Train robbers , Rio Lobo , Chisum , Big Jack , Cahill , The cowboys , and his greatest hit : Tue Grit . Support cast is frankly excellent as Howard Keel , bizarrely cast as an ironic Redskin , Robert Walker as a brave, stubborn young gunslinger , the beautiful Joanna Barnes , Frank MacGrath ; add a succulent cast of villains that include Bruce Dern , Emilio Fernández , Gene Evans , Terry Wilson and a great secondary : Bruce Cabot , John Ford and Wayne's usual . It packs a colorful and evocative cinematography by William H. Clothier . And rousing and enjoyable musical score by the classic Dimitri Tiomkin .

The motion picture was well directed by Burt Kennedy who maintains comfortably in the ordinary traditions , though has some flaws . Kennedy was a good professional , a fine director who made several Westerns and being usual screenwriter of the notorious filmmaker and also Western expert Budd Boetticher . As Kennedy directed quite a few Westerns, such as : ¨Return of the Magnificent seven¨ , ¨Support you local sheriff¨, ¨The good guys and the bad guys¨ , ¨Rounders¨ , ¨Hannie Caulder¨, ¨Ride to Glory¨, ¨Train robbers¨, ¨More Wild Wild West¨, ¨Wild Wild West revisited¨ , and ¨Dynamite and gold¨, among others . Rating : 6.5/10 . Decent Western for John Wayne and Kirk Douglas fans .

Another "John Wayne" Western. Another Winner!

[steve_kaden · 10/10 · 16 January 2001]

As far as westerns go I really can't think of many that John Wayne has failed at. The only way to rate a John Wayne movie is to compare it with other John Wayne movies. In do so I would give The War Wagon a firm 5 stars.

In The War Wagon you will find some humor, drama, deceit, love and adventure. You will see John Wayne (Taw Jackson) put together a rag tag group of hold up men that you will think couldn't complete a game of checkers without killing each other. In a period of only 4 days this group plans to pull a robbery of $500,000.00. The target - a modified stagecoach built of iron, 47 feet long counting the horses, called "The War Wagon". A great John Wayne movie suitable for the whole family

The War Wagon (1967)

[WandrinStar · 6/10 · 24 January 2012]

(6.5/10) Fun tongue in cheek Western that survives an initial slow start to be entertaining afterwards throughout. Both John Wayne and Kirk Douglas do great and have tremendous on screen chemistry together. Their friendly, competitive rivalry that mirrors their off screen persona's. Works extremely well and carries what would have otherwise been an average western. Even though they had their differences in real life, such as politics, you can tell they had a real respect for one another, and this movie does a good job of capturing that. One of the few roles that put the Duke on the wrong side of the law. Let down by the Western scenery, but was impressed with Howard Keel. I liked it but seeing Wayne and Douglas jell as well as they did makes me wish they could have joined together for a better Western. Good but unspectacular movie is highlighted by a hilarious bar room brawl and an extremely catchy theme.

Nice John Wayne.Kirk Douglas Vehicle

[doug-balch · 5/10 · 20 June 2010]

This another typical solid 1960's Wayne Western, fast paced and entertaining.

Here's what I liked:

• The highly anticipated teaming of John Wayne and Kirk Douglas in their only Western does not disappoint. The wisecracking interplay between these two old pros as they play "frenemies" is a joy to watch and very well handled.

• Douglas somehow managed not to overact too much.

• This was Burt Kennedy's first Western. He went on to make several very good genre comedies, including "Support Your Local Sheriff". This movie is very light hearted as well.

• The plot is fast paced and entertaining. There are few plot holes and all the characters seem to make basic sense.

• The Indians are well handled. A major supporting character is an Indian. There are several Mexican characters who are handled respectfully.

• Be honest, the war wagon is cool!!!! I still vividly remember watching the "War Wagon" trailer in the movie theater when I was 11 years old.

• Very unusual Chinese themed saloon/whorehouse owned by Lomax, Douglas' character. (The whore part went over my head as an eleven year old, but I definitely noticed the Mexican girl's cleavage!)

Here's what wasn't so great:

• It felt like a Vegas caper movie more than a Western.

• I didn't think Bruce Cabot was that great as the heavy. Also, there was no henchman associated with the heavy.

• Interesting supporting cast with Howard Keel and Keenan Wynn, but they don't have much to do. This is always problem in "buddy" movies, where the co-leads suck up all the screen time.

Another solid John Wayne film, with Kirk Douglas thrown in

[Marta · 27 February 1999]

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.

THE WAR WAGON (Burt Kennedy, 1967) ***

[Bunuel1976 · 7/10 · 12 December 2007]

In the mid-1980s, an Italian TV channel showed a vintage Hollywood Western every Saturday night, which is where I first watched this enjoyable light-hearted genre caper. Although writer-director Kennedy would score an even greater success at the box office with his subsequent SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHERIFF (1968), this is arguably his best film. Incidentally, he was so adamant that Kirk Douglas should co-star in his movie that he gave away half his salary in order to appease the opposing studio chiefs! For the record, Kennedy would re-unite with his other leading man here, John Wayne, on the similarly-themed THE TRAIN ROBBERS (1973).

While Wayne and Douglas were on opposite sides with respect to political issues in real life, this was their third film together in as many years – following IN HARM'S WAY (1965) and CAST A GIANT SHADOW (1966). Wayne is his usual laconic and "big as life" self, but Douglas enjoys himself tremendously as a peerless safecracker with a grudge against Wayne – who allows himself to be hired by Cabot to gun down Wayne, all the while being in cahoots with the latter to rob Cabot's heavily-guarded gold deposits! As a matter of fact, while Douglas was a much more versatile actor than his co-star, he did his fair share of Westerns himself over a period of 30 years – from Raoul Walsh's ALONG THE GREAT DIVIDE (1951) to the Australian production THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER (1982) – and which include such notable examples as THE BIG SKY (1952), GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL (1957), LAST TRAIN FROM GUN HILL (1959), LONELY ARE THE BRAVE (1962) and POSSE (1975), in which Douglas directed himself and another co-star from the film under review (Bruce Dern).

Apart from the two Hollywood legends, THE WAR WAGON features a good cast of character actors – Howard Keel (amusing as an Indian crony of Wayne's), Keenan Wynn (as the most ill-tempered member of the gang), Wayne regular Bruce Cabot (as a villainous tycoon) and Gene Evans (as a corrupt deputy); among the younger actors, then, we find Robert Walker Jr. (as the drunken explosives expert) and the afore-mentioned Dern (as one of Cabot's henchmen). Dimitri Tiomkin's score is suitably stirring in the right spots – and the title tune is quite pleasant, too. The last half hour, in which the robbery takes place, is the film's most spectacular and exciting segment – culminating in that deliciously ironic conclusion.

THE WAR WAGON forms part of Universal's "John Wayne: Screen Legend" set, and shares disc space with the much earlier but equally engaging Western THE SPOILERS (1942); overall, it is a more dignified and representative collection than the same studio's previous set – "John Wayne: An American Icon" (both of which are 2-Discers each containing five of The Duke's films).

Cowboys, Indians, and an armored car

[paul_johnr · 6/10 · 18 September 2011]

The personal sentiments of John Wayne and Kirk Douglas were often light years apart. Both socially and politically, these two veteran stars were of different mindsets and caused on-set tension more than once. Yet in a professional case of opposites attracting, Wayne and Douglas worked together – and often exceptionally well – on three motion pictures in the late 1960s.

Their last project was 1967's 'The War Wagon,' a tongue-in-cheek Western financed by Wayne's Batjac Productions company. Made at the tail-end of American cinema's great Western era, 'The War Wagon' combines action and dark comedy in what is very much an homage to the grand tradition that Wayne, in particular, was an integral part of.

Wayne, in his 162nd film appearance, plays Taw Jackson, a New Mexico rancher who has been released from prison after serving three years of his term. Jackson is seeking revenge against Pierce (Bruce Cabot), a mining company owner who stole his land and sent him behind bars on false charges. He aims to hijack Pierce's notorious War Wagon, a steel-lined coach that is used to transport precious metals.

Aware that a half-million dollars' worth of gold will be shipped in the coming days, Jackson brings together some assistants. He hires a dependable gunman (Lomax, played by Douglas), a drunk explosives expert (Billy Hyatt, Robert Walker Jr. of 'The Ceremony'), a paranoid horse driver (Wes Fletcher, Keenan Wynn of 'Shoot, Gringo...Shoot!'), and an Indian who has assimilated to the White ways of doing business (Levi Walking Bear, 'Dallas' regular Howard Keel).

'The War Wagon' offers a few engaging subplots, including the absence of loyalty from Lomax, who already shot Taw years earlier and has been offered a fair sum by Pierce to finish the job. Character actress Velora Noland plays Fletcher's young, bartered wife who is trapped in her relationship and confides in Hyatt, a man closer in age. The supporting cast is dotted with Hollywood veterans, including Joanna Barnes, Bruce Dern, and Gene Evans.

With a cast of Wayne, Douglas, and familiar support, it is inevitable that 'The War Wagon' entertains. The film seems to wink at campy Westerns of previous decades and never takes itself seriously. Clair Huffaker's screenplay (adapted from his novel 'Badman') uses a taut storyline and keeps us guessing at what happens next. The characters in Taw Jackson's entourage, never really fleshed out by Huffaker's writing, are still an amusing group who don't like each other but must rely on one another to stay alive.

Burt Kennedy's direction is reliable, moving the film at a steady pace. The action scenes are sure-handled and Kennedy (who also directed Wayne's 'The Train Robbers') makes good use of the rugged country in Durango for bands of horsemen and scenes involving Indian tribes who are being driven off the land. The direction is complemented by gritty cinematography from William Clothier ('The Comancheros,' 'Stagecoach') and a rousing score by Dimitri Tiomkin.

Released in 1967, 'The War Wagon' came very late in the game for traditional Westerns; it was around the time that new frontiers were being crossed by directors like Sergio Leone. 'The War Wagon' is aimed at fans of old-time Western stories and doesn't concern itself with a mastery of cinema. There are more than enough clichés and plot gaps to go around and Wayne is making his umpteenth reprise as his old Western self. However, it is impossible not to like the historic combination of Wayne and Douglas, who are almost synonymous with the prairie.

For Western fans, 'The War Wagon' is one of those essentials that should not be missed. Universal Studios has made two releases of the film on DVD, although there is reportedly no difference between them. The more recent was a 2003 disc that is part of the 'Universal Western Collection.' 'The War Wagon' is presented in 2.35:1 widescreen with language options of English, Spanish, and French in Dolby 2.0 mono. Subtitles are provided in English and Spanish only.

Universal's DVD treatment of the film is minimal. Visually, 'The War Wagon' appears to have been transferred from a studio print without cleanup. There are small artifacts throughout the running time and grain, though not overtly noticeable, can be seen on lighter tones. Sound, including dialogue and effects, is generally clear and Dimitri Tiomkin's score is given due recognition in the speakers. The only extras are the theatrical trailer, notes on the production, and written bios of Wayne, Douglas, and Burt Kennedy. Universal's presentation is rather lean, but as one of the actors' lesser films, it will have to do for now.

** ½ out of 4

Roving Reviewer - www.rovingreviewer.blogspot.com

A handsome, no-nonsense genre piece

[tomgillespie2002 · 6/10 · 24 September 2016]

There's a sense of overwhelming square-jawed machismo running through the action-packed western The War Wagon. Playing to the barrel- chested strengths of Golden Age superstars John Wayne and Kirk Douglas, the film goes about its business with a lack of fuss, packing in everything from chaotic saloon brawls, quick-draws and comedy-tinged bickering between its two towering stars, before climaxing with an exciting little set-piece involving the armoured beast of the title. This is the kind of old-fashioned western that inspires comments of "they don't make 'em like that anymore."

Taw Jackson (Wayne) returns to his home town after a stretch in prison. His presence is immediately noticed by corrupt businessman Frank Pierce (Bruce Cabot) who, three years earlier, framed Taw for a crime and confiscated his land in the process. The land turned out to be full of gold, and Taw wants his piece. He plans to steal a shipment of gold being transported in a 'war wagon', a heavily- armoured stagecoach fitted with a steerable Gatling gun on its top, and rounds up a crew of trusted misfits to help him carry out his plan. The final piece of the puzzle is skilled gun-for-hire Lomax (Douglas), the man who played a key role in sending Taw to prison years earlier while in the employ of Pierce. Needing his muscle as well as his skills as a safe-cracker, the two strike up a reluctant friendship and mutual respect, despite their clashing personalities.

Working together for the third time in as many years after In Harm's Way (1965) and Cast a Giant Shadow (1966), Wayne and Douglas have an easy-going chemistry, with Wayne playing the righteous, no-nonsense frontiersman, while Douglas gets to have more fun as the lovable scamp, flirting with anything that moves and leaping onto his horse in various showboating ways. Director Burt Kennedy - who 24 years later would throw cinematic acid in our face with Suburban Commando - has no problem handling these huge matinée idols, and delivers a handsome-looking genre piece. While the film's simplicity and lack of ambition to be anything other than a piece of entertainment doesn't damage the film, it prevents it from being great. But if you're looking for an easy-going 90 minutes, The War Wagon doesn't disappoint.

"Do you always wear a gun over your underwear?"

[utgard14 · 6/10 · 6 July 2015]

John Wayne plays a man released from prison looking to steal a gold shipment from crooked Bruce Cabot, who set Wayne up to go to prison so Cabot could steal his land. He gathers together a gang to help pull off the robbery, starting with old nemesis Kirk Douglas. They've got their work cut out for them, though. Cabot transports his gold via the War Wagon, an armored wagon with Gatling guns.

Duke and Kirk have nice chemistry and banter. Good support from Keenan Wynn, Howard Keel, and Robert Walker, Jr. Keel is lots of fun. Joanna Barnes and Valora Noland provide the pretty. It's an enjoyable western with a few twist and turns. It goes on a little too long and there are no classic scenes or lines. An enjoyable watch but one of the best from either star.

Very good, but not especially great

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 21 February 2007]

The film begins with John Wayne returning to a town after a stint in prison. He'd been setup by an evil jerk (Bruce Cabot) so that while in prison his land could be stolen. The reason for this was because there was gold on the land and stealing it just seemed like the thing to do for Cabot! The Duke naturally wants revenge, so he creates a pretty complicated plan for his gang to steal a $500,000 gold shipment from this mine. The only trouble is, Cabot is using an armored wagon with a Gatling gun and many hired guns to protect the shipment. While you might think the film will end in a pretty predictable and conventional way, the way it's handled makes the film worth sticking with to the conclusion.

This is a decent but not particularly outstanding John Wayne and Kirk Douglas Western. While it was fun to watch, the plot seemed a bit far-fetched and too many perfectly timed events had to occur just right for the robbery to be a success. My advice, then, is NOT to think too much and just sit back and enjoy the performances--particularly that of Douglas who seemed to stand out more than Wayne. Also, if you are looking for the sweep and majesty of a John Ford directed Western, this isn't the case--as the film just looks pretty ordinary. This was the case of most of Wayne's movies during the last decade or so of his life and among those, THE WAR WAGON is one of the best.

Very good

[SanteeFats · 8/10 · 26 July 2013]

This movie has gotten some bad reviews and I can not understand why. It is funny, very tongue in cheek, with plenty of action. John Wayne is Taw Jackson, a man wronged by the bad guy, played by Bruce Cabot, and sent to prison. Now, out of said prison, Jackson teams with his old enemy played very ably by Kirk Douglas. They get some shaky sidekicks to help them rob the War Wagon, an armored wagon with a Gatling gun inside and many riders outside. Keenan Wynn plays a very jealous old man with a very young wife/woman that he apparently traded for. There is the explosives expert who is also an alky. Taw also enlists the aid of some local Indians to attack the wagon and force it to go where they want it. The Indians get some stuff but lose some warriors so I think they got taken advantage of in the movie, but hey it is a movie. All in all I think this is a very good movie.

John Wayne and Kirk Douglas

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 2 July 2016]

Former prisoner Taw Jackson (John Wayne) has returned to town. Frank Pierce (Bruce Cabot) sends his man Hammond (Bruce Dern) to offer Lomax (Kirk Douglas) $10k to kill him. Pierce had Jackson falsely imprisoned before and stole his ranch when gold was discovered. Lomax was the man who shot him but this time Jackson offers Lomax $100k to rob a gold shipment on Pierce's War Wagon, an armored stage coach. They rescue Levi Walking Bear from Mexican bandits. Lomax recruits drunken explosive expert Billy Hyatt. With an inside man and Indian warriors, Jackson aims to take back what was his.

This is a no-brainer western. Wayne and Douglas together make a compelling duo. The recruitment is a little messy and the actual robbery needs to be bigger. There is a lot of talk of explosives but it's hardly used in the robbery. It's an old fashion western and a fun watch for the most part.

The War Wagon Delivers!

[FightingWesterner · 9/10 · 17 February 2010]

John Wayne seeks to avenge himself against big-shot Bruce Cabot, after the nasty mining company owner had him shot, run off his land, his goldmine stolen, and railroaded into prison. He assembles a team consisting of gunman/safe-cracker Kirk Douglas (the man who shot him!), drunken explosives expert Robert Walker Jr., sardonic Indian Howard Keel, and crazy old Keenan Wynn in order to take Cabot's iron-clad monstrosity and it's $500,000 cargo.

Fast, funny, and full of action, The War Wagon is incredible entertainment. Wayne and Douglas are in fine form and make quite a team, heading a great, colorful cast.

Director Burt Kennedy does a fine job of keeping the action rolling along nicely and the unpretentious, tongue-in-cheek script by Clair Huffaker has just the right amount of comedy without letting things turn silly. The exciting climax is quite a ride for action-lovers.

Recommended.

Action!

[pvilleguy · 6/10 · 15 May 2006]

This is a fairly typical John Wayne action film of the 60's. The characters are all stock, except for an outstanding performance by Kirk Douglas as the outlaw, Lomax. Another difference is that there isn't a lot that's really heroic about Wayne's character here. He's not quite an anti-hero because he's convinced he was wrongly imprisoned, but here the alleged culprit (Bruce Cabot's Frank Pierce) does not seem to have the community cowed, and the townspeople don't seem to have a lot sympathy for Taw Jackson (Wayne). Taw Jackson is nowhere near as complex, nor are his motivations as clearly explained, as Wayne's greatest character, Ethan Edwards of "The Searchers" (1956), but he is clearly a man for whom there seems to be little sympathy. Complex character analysis is not the point of the film, though. The point is the Gatling gun firing and the War Wagon running amok. On that level, this is not a bad little escapist movie with a nice little twist at the end. It airs pretty regularly on TV, so I wouldn't make a special trip to the video store to rent it -- if I was going for a John Wayne film I'd be after the aforementioned "The Searchers" or "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" either of which is far superior fare to the War Wagon. But for some light entertainment that doesn't take itself too seriously (mostly thanks to Douglas), it's not a bad way to go.

Predictable

[mharrison-17627 · 1/10 · 14 October 2019]

A mediocre western with a middle-aged/elderly cast and very slow pacing. Casting Howard Keel as a Native American Indian was a definite mistake. It's easy to see why Wayne was disappointed with the movie. Bruce Cabot was OK when he played Wayne's friend but he did not have the range to play a convincing villain.