John Wayne once revealed the worst Western he ever starred in

No movie star ever had a better sense of what his audience wanted, and how to deliver it, than John Wayne. From his outstanding performance in John Ford’s 1939 masterpiece “Stagecoach” Onward, Wayne was considered one of Hollywood’s surest box office bets due to his talent for making westerns or war pictures that had greater appeal in the scripting and directing departments. It obviously helped that two of the greatest filmmakers of his time, John Ford and Howard Hawks, were frequent collaborators, but Wayne identified other directors and writers who could work effectively and competently on scripts that dealt with themes near and dear to the Duke’s heart (e.g. family, patriotism and harsh individualism).

Have critics always admired Wayne’s direction? Absolutely not. Fortunately, the feeling was mutual. As Wayne once said of critics, “When people say a picture of John Wayne got bad reviews, I always wonder if they know it’s a redundant statement, but I don’t care. People like my pictures and that’s all that matters.”

Wayne’s connection with the moviegoing public seemed well-established until the 1960s, when the baby boomers began to reject his old chauvinism and reactionary views of other cultures. Although most of his films still managed to turn a profit, younger audiences were more excited about the explosion Bending to spaghetti western convention. Finally, as the 1970s began, Wayne was no longer a reliable character, and perhaps most annoyingly for the Duke, the films began to feel like retreads of retreads. It eventually got to the point where he could no longer deny the decline in quality, and being the outspoken type he was, he had to say something about it.

Directed by his frequent collaborator Andrew V. McLaglen, Cahill’s “U.S. Marshal” portrayed 66-year-old Wayne as a long-time lawman whose very young sons (ages 17 and 12) help empower a bank. Robbery by temporarily releasing a gang of outlaws from their father’s prison while he is out of town on business. You might expect there would be hell to pay, but these children are so young that the Duke opts to take a softer approach and reconcile with his sons (who feel neglected after their mother’s death).

Despite this slight tweak in formula, “Cahill US Marshal” remains a standard release John Wayne Western. But given his age and appearance (due to his health struggles, Wayne looked 10 years older), it all feels old and slow.

And Wayne knew that. In an interview in 1975, two years after the film’s release, the Duke said Tony McLean’s Heritage Film“It was not a well-made picture. It needed better writing. It needed a little better care in making it.” He’s not wrong, but is this the worst Western he’s ever starred in? That distinction might go to “Rooster Cogburn,” the pointless sequel to 1975’s “True Grit.” At least Wayne finished his career with A beautiful and sad Western in The Shootist. Finally, if he only makes a few subpar oats, this is still a surprisingly great record.