The Shootist

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).
The Shootist

Original theatrical poster
Directed by Don Siegel
Produced by M.J. Frankovich
William Self
Written by Glendon Swarthout (novel)
Scott Hale
Miles Hood Swarthout
Starring John Wayne
Lauren Bacall
Ron Howard
James Stewart
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date(s) August 11, 1976 (USA)
Running time 100 min.
Language English
IMDb profile

The Shootist is a novel written by Glendon Swarthout, published in 1975.

The book was made into a 1976 Western film which marked the final film role of John Wayne, with Scott Hale and Miles Hood Swarthout, son of the author, writing the screenplay.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The Shootist tells the story of John Bernard (J.B.) Books (John Wayne), an aging gunfighter, the most celebrated "shootist" extant, who is struggling with terminal prostate cancer. Arriving in El Paso, Texas (film: Carson City, Nevada) in 1901, Books first seeks the second opinion of an old friend, and doctor, Doc E. W. Hostetler (Jimmy Stewart). Once Hostetler confirms the presence of this disease, Books rents a room from the widow 'Bond' ("thats a crackerjack of a name") Rogers (Lauren Bacall), and her son Gillom Rogers (Ron Howard). Books' presence in town is soon known to most, and the news soon spreads by telegraph throughout the country. This results in the arrival of troublemakers to lure Books back to his past. Not only does he have to deal with his inevitable death, but he has to deal with the vultures who come to profit from both his life and his death.

Books has never had trouble facing death in other men, but now struggles with the fact that death is calling on him.

[edit] Background

The character of J.B. Books serves to parallel the dying days of John Wayne, who died from stomach cancer three years after filming ended. The film was his last movie, and the knowledge of Wayne's health during the filming leads to a lot of interesting imagery as the film progresses. Lauren Bacall had watched her husband Humphrey Bogart die of throat cancer, and thus it is likely she was especially in touch with the parallels.

A popular urban myth holds that Wayne was dying of cancer when he made this film. Although he was in poor health during filming, he had been cancer-free since undergoing surgery to remove his left lung in 1964. The cancer would not return until the final year of his life.

At the time the movie rights were purchased, John Wayne was not seriously considered for the role, due to questions about his health and his ability to complete the filming. The producers wanted George C. Scott instead, but Wayne actively campaigned for the role and made the completion of filming a personal mission.

The film was filmed on location in Carson City, Nevada and at studios in Burbank, California. Besides changing the location from El Paso to Carson City, and having his horse Dollor written in, Wayne also changed the ending of the screenplay. Books was supposed to shoot Pulford in the back, and then Gillom shoot Books. Wayne said he never "shot anyone in the back", and didn't want the young Gillom killing him. They changed the film to have him shoot Pulford in the head, the bartender kill Books, and Gillom kill the bartender.

The horse in the final scene of True Grit would ride with Wayne through several westerns, including this, his final movie. Dollor, or "ole Dollor" would even get in the script, at Wayne's insistence, because of his love of the horse.

Upon its release in June 1976, The Shootist was a minor success, earning nearly $6,000,000 (nearly $21,000,000 in 2005 dollars). It received fair-to-excellent reviews, with enormous praise heaped on Wayne by many critics. It was named one of the Ten Best Films of 1976 by the National Board of Review, along with All the President's Men (film) and Network (film), and was nominated for two Oscars, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA award, and a Writers Guild of America award.

The setting of the film is interesting in that the flavor of an old Western is apparent, but so are the beginnings of modern conveniences like automobiles, telephones, and electricity. Most of the men wear large, Western style hats, though Gillom prefers a cloth cap of a type that was only coming into fashion.

John Wayne and Lauren Bacall had made one previous film together two decades earlier called Blood Alley (1955), a seafaring adventure set in China.

James Stewart and John Wayne had also made one previous film together, John Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962).

[edit] Cast

Although Bacall received higher billing, Howard's character was just as prominent.

[edit] Crew

[edit] Awards

  • Novel
    • Western Writers of America, Spur Award Winner - "Best Western Novel" - 1975 (as: "one of the best western novels ever written." and as: "one of the 10 Greatest Western novels written in the 20th century.")
  • Film
    • Writers Guild, nomination: "Best Adaptation of a Screenplay" - Scott Hale and Miles Hood Swarthout
    • Academy Awards, nomination: "Best Art Direction-Set Decoration" - Robert F. Boyle and Arthur Jeph Parker)
    • Golden Globes, nomination: "Best Motion Picture Actor in a Supporting Role" - Ron Howard
    • BAFTA Film Award, nomination: "Best Actress" - Lauren Bacall

[edit] References

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Films directed by Don Siegel

The Verdict • Night Unto Night • The Big Steal • Duel at Silver Creek • Count the Hours • China Venture • Riot in Cell Block 11 • Private Hell 36 • The Blue and Gold • Invasion of the Body Snatchers • Crime in the Streets • Baby Face Nelson • Spanish Affair • The Gun Runners • The Lineup • Hound Dog Man • Edge of Eternity • Flaming Star • Hell Is for Heroes • The Killers • The Hanged Man • Stranger on the Run • Coogan's Bluff • Madigan • Two Mules for Sister Sara • The Beguiled • Dirty Harry • Charley Varrick • The Black Windmill • The Shootist • Telefon • Escape from Alcatraz • Rough Cut • Jinxed!

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../t/h/e/The_Shootist_cfff.html"
In other languages