Story of movie The War Wagon : The War Wagon is a 1967 American western film starring John Wayne and Kirk Douglas, released by Universal Pictures, directed by Burt Kennedy, produced by Marvin Schwartz, and adapted by Clair Huffaker from his own novel. The supporting cast includes Howard Keel, Robert Walker Jr., Keenan Wynn, Joanna Barnes and Bruce Dern. The picture received generally positive reviews.
| The War Wagon | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Burt Kennedy |
| Produced by | Marvin Schwartz |
| Written by | Clair Huffaker (novel and screenplay) |
| Starring |
|
| Music by | Dimitri Tiomkin |
| Cinematography | William H. Clothier |
| Edited by |
|
Production company | Batjac Productions |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 101 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $9,528,000 |
Filming took place in Sierra de Órganos National Park in the town of Sombrerete, Mexico
Wayne and Douglas had earlier made In Harm's Way (1965) and Cast a Giant Shadow (1966) together within the previous two years.
Screenplay
Rancher Taw Jackson (John Wayne) returns to his hometown to settle a score; he was released early for good behavior. Three years earlier, he was framed by corrupt businessman Frank Pierce (Bruce Cabot) and wrongfully imprisoned; Pierce then appropriated Jackson's land, where he discovered gold.
Jackson has returned to steal a shipment of gold from Pierce. He hires Lomax (Kirk Douglas) to assist him, even though Lomax had worked as a hired gun for Pierce and was instrumental in sending Jackson to prison. Jackson needs Lomax not only because of his marksmanship, but also because he is a safecracker. The gold shipment is being transported in a "war wagon", a heavily armored stagecoach armed with a deadly Gatling gun in a top-mounted steerable turret. Jackson and Lomax assemble a gang and plan to rob the war wagon at the weakest point in the route it travels.
Things do not quite work out as planned. Pierce dies in a shootout with one of his own men trying to escape from the war wagon. The wagon crashes into a ravine, Lomax opens the safe, and the men move the gold into a separate wagon. However, before they can haul it away, a group of Kiowas try to take it from them. During the ensuing gunfight, the horses are spooked and run away with the wagon, and most of the gold is lost as a result. Nevertheless, Taw manages to recover a portion of it, and they agree to meet in six months to divide it, since "it wouldn't be very smart to flash gold around after a robbery".
- John Wayne as Taw Jackson
- Kirk Douglas as Lomax
- Howard Keel as Levi Walking Bear
- Robert Walker Jr. as Billy Hyatt
- Keenan Wynn as Wes Fletcher
- Bruce Cabot as Frank Pierce
- Joanna Barnes as Lola
- Valora Noland as Kate Fletcher
- Bruce Dern as Hammond
- Gene Evans as Deputy Hoag
- Terry Wilson as Sheriff Strike
- Don Collier as Shack
- Sheb Wooley as Snyder
- Ann McCrea as Felicia
- Emilio Fernández as Calita (as Emilio Fernandez)
- Frank McGrath as Bartender
- Chuck Roberson as Brown
- Boyd "Red" Morgan as Early (as Red Morgan)
- Hal Needham as Hite
- Marco Antonio as Chief Wild Horse
- Perla Walters as Rosita
The film was based on the Claire Huffaker novel Badman which was published in 1957. He later said he wrote the novel in ten days.
In September 1962 Huffaker announced he would adapt the novel into a script at Producers Studio for his own Lucifer Productions. They were also going to make Guns of Rio Conchos, The Day Before Tomorrow and Ship on Highway 7. The project eventually went to Universal. Huffaker spent three months writing the script.
In June 1966 John Wayne announced he had signed a two picture deal with Universal, the movies being The War Wagon and The Green Berets. The film would be a co production between Wayne's company, Batjac, and producer Marvin Schwartz.
It was the eleventh book of Huffaker's that he had sold to the movies. As a result Trident Publishing put him under contract to write a book a year for five years.
In July 1967 Kirk Douglas was announced for the co-starring role. The same month Burt Kennedy signed to direct.
Filming started 19 September 1967 and went for q2 weeks. The film was shot in Durango, Mexico and Curubusco Studios in Mexico City. "We have great, manly cynical humor going for us now," said Wayne. One cute scene and we're dead." He added that "We're gaining a day every week. This combined Hollywood and Mexican crew is great. If we can come home a week under schedule, we'll all be home with our families for turkey dinner."
Huffaker was present on set for the first and last three weeks of production. While there he made a number of further changes to the script.
Kennedy said he let Wayne direct himself.
- Dell Movie Classic: The War Wagon (September 1967)
Box office
The film opened at number one at the domestic box office in 1967. It grossed $9,563,000 in total, making it a success.
One account called it a "smash success".
Critical response
The War Wagon was met with generally positive reviews from critics. Roger Ebert gave the film three out of four stars, who called it "that comparative rarity, a Western filmed with quiet good humor. It is also a point of departure for John Wayne, who plays a bad guy for just about the first time in his career."
The movie holds an 90% "Fresh" score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 10 reviews.
- List of American films of 1967
- John Wayne filmography
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
