Western

The Shootist

- He's got to face a gunfight once more to live up to his legend once more. To win just one more time.

Afflicted with a terminal illness John Bernard Books, the last of the legendary gunfighters, quietly returns to Carson City for medical attention from his old friend Dr. Hostetler. Aware that his days are numbered, the troubled man seeks solace and peace in a boarding house run by a widow and her son. However, it is not Books' fate to die in peace, as he becomes embroiled in one last valiant battle.

Release Date : 1976-07-21

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : The De Laurentiis CompanyParamount Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : J.B. Books

Original Name : John Wayne

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bond Rogers

Original Name : Lauren Bacall

Gender : Female

Character Name : Gillom Rogers

Original Name : Ron Howard

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Hostetler

Original Name : James Stewart

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mike Sweeney

Original Name : Richard Boone

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jack Pulford

Original Name : Hugh O'Brian

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jay Cobb

Original Name : Bill McKinney

Gender : Male

Character Name : Marshall Thibido

Original Name : Harry Morgan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Beckum

Original Name : John Carradine

Gender : Male

Character Name : Serepta

Original Name : Sheree North

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dobkins

Original Name : Rick Lenz

Gender : Male

Character Name : Moses

Original Name : Scatman Crothers

Gender : Male

Character Name : Burly Man

Original Name : Gregg Palmer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Barber

Original Name : Alfred Dennis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Streetcar Driver

Original Name : Dick Winslow

Gender : Male

Character Name : Girl on Streetcar

Original Name : Melody Thomas Scott

Gender : Female

Character Name : School Teacher

Original Name : Kathleen O'Malley

Gender : Female

Character Name : Man Outside Metropole (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Berle

Gender : Male

Character Name : Books' Victim in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)

Original Name : Johnny Crawford

Gender : Male

Character Name : Extra (uncredited)

Original Name : Chuck Dawson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man Delivering Headstone (uncredited)

Original Name : George Dunn

Gender : Male

Character Name : Barfly (uncredited)

Original Name : Duke Fishman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Books' Victim in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)

Original Name : Christopher George

Gender : Male

Character Name : Books' Victim (uncredited)

Original Name : Jonathan Goldsmith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Books' Victim in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)

Original Name : Leo Gordon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Murray the Bartender (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles G. Martin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Barfly (uncredited)

Original Name : Jim Michael

Gender : Male

Character Name : Barfly (uncredited)

Original Name : Ernesto Molinari

Gender : Male

Character Name : Paper Boy (uncredited)

Original Name : Darren Patrick Moloney

Gender : Male

Character Name : Books' Fellow Lawman in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)

Original Name : Ricky Nelson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gambler (uncredited)

Original Name : James Nolan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Barfly (uncredited)

Original Name : Nick Raymond

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pulford Confidant (uncredited)

Original Name : Henry Slate

Gender : Male

Character Name : Books' Victim in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)

Original Name : Bob Steele

Gender : Male

Character Name : White-Haired Bartender (uncredited)

Original Name : Ralph Volkie

Gender : Male

Character Name : Barfly (uncredited)

Original Name : John Zimeas

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

The big man bows out and leaves an indelible mark. Legendary gunfighter J.B. Books rides into Carson City, diagnosed with terminal cancer he has a short time to live. After taking a room at the widow Bond Rogers' house, he becomes something of a mentor to Bond's son, Gillom. Dignified, eloquent, perhaps even incredibly sad, The Shootist mirrors John Wayne's personal situation and closes his career (and life) with a poignant last hurrah. Based around the popular novel from Glendon Swarthout (Where The Boys Are), and directed by the astutely knowing Don Siegel (The Duel at Silver Creek), The Shootist begins with edited scenes from Books' (Wayne's) life, where he literally ages before us during this montage. Cut to his arrival in Carson City in 1901 and we are about to be witness to the end of an era. Wayne is backed up in his swansong by Lauren Bacall (Bond Rogers), James Stewart (Doc Hostelter) and an engagingly important Ron Howard (Gillom Rogers). While a big shout out has to go to Bruce Surtees' cinematography which perfectly captures the elegiac nature of it all. The message well and truly hits home and hard come the bloody finale, where with one nod of his head big John Wayne, alias J.B. Books, says more than words surely ever could. RIP - The Duke. 8/10

barrymost

@barrymost

2021-06-23

I publicly take back every negative thing I ever said about John Wayne. I was so far wrong in claiming that he was just a very famous, highly overrated actor, but I blame my misconceptions on the fact that I was probably introduced to him via some of his lesser movies, or perhaps just not the kind of movie I like or usually bother with. I never have been big on Westerns, but after viewing The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, I thought he was okay. Now having just seen The Shootist, I apologize for everything I've said against him before. He was truly brilliant in this, his final movie, and it was a fitting ending for a memorable career that spanned three decades. Forget everyone else; his performance makes the movie! It really, really could've done without the unnecessary amount of bad language, but the story was great, being alternately tense and touching throughout. And, in the end, John Wayne really could say so much with just a single nod. Here's to the Duke!

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2023-06-03

John Wayne's final big screen role sees him playing a terminally-ill gunfighter determined to go out with his boots on - and to take as much local riff-raff with his as he goes. He settles down in a boarding house run by a slightly puritanical widow - Lauren Bacall, and her teenage son played by Ron Howard. Once his doctor, James Stewart, has confirmed the worst, he manipulates some of the local ne'er-do-wells into ensuring he gets the send off he desires. His relationship with Bacall thaws, somewhat, and we end with a gentle nod to both of their different sorts of humanity. Make no mistake, this isn't at all soporific, and Wayne and veteran sparring partner Richard Boone have the odd scene to remind us of both of their younger days (Boone only survived Wayne by 2 years). It is a great, fitting send off for a man who in 1976 was as enduring a legend as Hollywood had ever produced.