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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."

1976-07-21 Western 1hr 40m

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.

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The Shootist
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Storyline

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.

  • Released
    1976-07-21
  • Revenue
    $13,400,000
  • Budget
    n/a
  • Runtime
    1hr 40m
  • Genre
    Western
  • Status
    Released
  • Language
    English
  • imdb-logo
    7.6
  • Production
    The De Laurentiis Company, Paramount Pictures

Crew

Don Siegel
Director
Glendon Swarthout
Novel
William Self
Producer
Keywords:
sniper based on novel or book widow nevada retirement terminal illness aging dying man gunfight boarding house one last job gunfighter terminal cancer 1900s western expansion old west legend widow with son aging gunfighter carson city, nevada

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Cast

John Wayne

John Wayne
J.B. Books
Lauren Bacall

Lauren Bacall
Bond Rogers
Ron Howard

Ron Howard
Gillom Rogers
James Stewart

James Stewart
Dr. Hostetler
Richard Boone

Richard Boone
Mike Sweeney
Hugh O'Brian

Hugh O'Brian
Jack Pulford
Bill McKinney

Bill McKinney
Jay Cobb
Harry Morgan

Harry Morgan
Marshall Thibido
John Carradine

John Carradine
Beckum
Sheree North

Sheree North
Serepta
Rick Lenz

Rick Lenz
Dobkins
Scatman Crothers

Scatman Crothers
Moses
Gregg Palmer

Gregg Palmer
Burly Man
Alfred Dennis

Alfred Dennis
Barber
Dick Winslow

Dick Winslow
Streetcar Driver
Melody Thomas Scott

Melody Thomas Scott
Girl on Streetcar
Kathleen O'Malley

Kathleen O'Malley
School Teacher
Jack Berle

Jack Berle
Man Outside Metropole (uncredited)
Johnny Crawford

Johnny Crawford
Books' Victim in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)
Chuck Dawson

Chuck Dawson
Extra (uncredited)
George Dunn

George Dunn
Man Delivering Headstone (uncredited)
Duke Fishman

Duke Fishman
Barfly (uncredited)
Christopher George

Christopher George
Books' Victim in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)
Jonathan Goldsmith

Jonathan Goldsmith
Books' Victim (uncredited)
Leo Gordon

Leo Gordon
Books' Victim in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)
Charles G. Martin

Charles G. Martin
Murray the Bartender (uncredited)
Jim Michael

Jim Michael
Barfly (uncredited)
Ernesto Molinari

Ernesto Molinari
Barfly (uncredited)
Darren Patrick Moloney

Darren Patrick Moloney
Paper Boy (uncredited)
Ricky Nelson

Ricky Nelson
Books' Fellow Lawman in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)
James Nolan

James Nolan
Gambler (uncredited)
Nick Raymond

Nick Raymond
Barfly (uncredited)
Henry Slate

Henry Slate
Pulford Confidant (uncredited)
Bob Steele

Bob Steele
Books' Victim in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)
Ralph Volkie

Ralph Volkie
White-Haired Bartender (uncredited)
John Zimeas

John Zimeas
Barfly (uncredited)

Videos and Photos

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Movie Reviews

Reviews for The Shootist
reviewer avatar

A Review by John Chard 8

Written by John Chard on 2019-05-29

The big man bows out and leaves an indelible mark. Legendary gunfighter J.B. Books rides into Carson City, diagnosed with terminal cancer... read more

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

reviewer avatar

A Review by barrymost 8

Written by barrymost on 2019-09-07

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, high... read more

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!

reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 7

Written by Geronimo1967 on 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... read more

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.

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)
A Review by John Chard

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 someth...

reviewer avatar

A Review by John Chard 8

Written by John Chard on 2019-05-29

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 wid...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by barrymost 8

Written by barrymost on 2019-09-07

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 fac...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 7

Written by Geronimo1967 on 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 b...

read more