I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.Creed of J. B. Books
The Shootist opens showing flashbacks of J. B. Books’ career – actually John Wayne in earlier roles throughout his career. We learn that J. B. Books is a gunslinger with few equals – he’s killed thirty men single-handedly with his ivory-handled Colt. The first scene shows Books being held up by a inexperienced highwayman. Books shoots him with a belly gun while handing over his wallet. Friend, you need to find another line of work, Books helpfully offers.
Next, we see Books meeting with old Doc Hostetler (Jimmy Stewart). The doctor tells him he has cancer and offers him a bottle of laudanum, a pain killer. They laugh together about the little red cushion Books stole from a bawdy house in Creed. Books moves into the boarding house with the widder woman Bond Rogers (Lauren Bacall). Mrs. Rogers has a hero-worshipping son, Gillom (Ron Howard). He idolizes a local punk gunman, Jay Cobb, but quickly switches his allegiance to Books once he recognizes who he is.
It is 1901, still the wild West but there are motorcars on the street along with the horses. Streetcars run down the middle of the road. One motorist is Mike Sweeney (Richard Boone) who bears a grudge against Books. At the local saloon is Pulford, a card sharp who is known for his fast, accurate shooting. These three toughs figure in the exciting climax of this great movie that should be seen by all Western fans.
With only days left to live every moment becomes precious. Books shows Gillom how to shoot. Gillom expresses surprise that he can shoot almost as good as Books, a man who has killed 30 men. Friend, there's nobody up there shooting back at you. It's not always being fast or even accurate that counts, it's being willing, Books explains.
The Shootist features an all-star cast, including those mentioned, as well as Harry Morgan as the cowardly sheriff, Thibodeau, Scatman Crowthers as the stable hand, and Sherree North as the aging prostitute who wants to be Mrs. Books so she can publish dime novels after his death. The acting is uniformly excellent, Ron Howard being miscast, playing a teenager when he is actually perhaps 25. In any event, the film belongs to Wayne, who expresses many a tender emotion in his performance while maintaining his tough as nails creed to the end.
Directed by Don Siegel, who brought us great action pictures Dirty Harry and Hell is for Heroes, The Shootist features excellent photography, costuming, and sets. The memorable original music is by Elmer Bernstein, who also scored The Magnificent Seven, Big Jake, and The Sons of Katie Elder.
By the time The Shootist appeared in the theaters, the Duke had departed this planet, a victim of lung cancer. He left a void that may never be filled.
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