Softwing Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.

Ploydsge just watch it!

Gurlyndrobb While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Scott LeBrun The Duke and Kirk Douglas are paired in this enjoyable Western / action film generally laced with knowing humor. The Duke plays Taw Jackson, former rancher who's released from prison after being wronged by a nefarious character named Pierce (Bruce Cabot). Taws' idea of revenge will be to plan a daring heist of the gold being transported in Pierces' "war wagon" of the title, an iron plated, gun equipped stagecoach that resembles a tank. Taw rounds up a few associates to participate in the heist: wise guy Indian Levi Walking Bear (Howard Keel), alcoholic young explosives expert Billy Hyatt (Robert Walker Jr.), transporter Wes Fletcher (Keenan Wynn), and a man named Lomax (Douglas), a gunslinger who Pierce wants to hire to kill Taw.Clair Huffaker wrote the screenplay, based on his own novel, and director Burt Kennedy, a man who often specialized in Westerns with strong comedy content, does a fine job of bringing it to life. The action is first rate, with an impressive explosion, a chase sequence, and a riotous barroom brawl adding to the fun. The War Wagon itself is pretty amusing to behold.Kirk and The Duke make a good team, generating a proper amount of chemistry. The supporting cast is solid and full of familiar faces. Cabot is great as the unrepentant villain, Wynn is at his loudest and funniest, and Keel regularly steals his scenes. Bruce Dern, Gene Evans, Terry Wilson, and Sheb Wooley all make the most of their screen time.Given a rousing score by Dimitri Tiomkin, this may not be among The Dukes' all time best, but it's an engaging diversion for an hour and 41 minutes.Seven out of 10.

Wuchak Released in 1967 and directed by Burt Kennedy, "The War Wagon" is a Western starring John Wayne and Kirk Douglas as Taw and Lomax. Taw is a recently-released prisoner who wants to get his ranch and gold back from the rich business man who framed him and now lives on his ranch, Pierce (Bruce Cabot). While Taw enlists Lomax to heist half a million in gold from Pierce's "War Wagon," an armored stage coach with a Gatling gun on top, Pierce also hires Lomax to assassinate Taw. The other members of the heist team are Howard Keel as a Native who has learned the white man's ways, Robert Walker Jr. as a young drunkard who's skilled in explosives, and Keenan Wynn as a curmudgeon who plays on both teams. Valora Noland has a small role as the babe while Joanna Barnes and Bruce Dern have glorified cameos. People say this is a Western Comedy, but that's just not the case. It has the same general tone as Wayne Westerns like 1967's "El Dorado," 1971's "Big Jake" and 1973's "The Train Robbers." Sure there are a couple amusing moments, like those other Wayne flicks, but it's generally a serious Western. Anyway, if you liked those movies you'll like this one too; it's about on par, although everyone has their favorites ("El Dorado" is the best, IMHO, followed by "The Train Robbers," although "The War Wagon" is marginally better than "Big Jake"). Wayne was 59 while filming in 1966 and still looked good, all things considered; he fits the role of a likable, but intimidating, take-no-sheet Westerner. Douglas was 50 during filming and was in tip-top shape, even performing many of his own nigh-acrobatic stunts. His smiling charisma is palpable. Highlights include the breathtaking Mexican Southwest vistas, the camaraderie of the two stars, several quality action sequences, Keel's interesting take on a Native American who's assimilated into civilized culture and the suspense build-up to the heist of the so-called War Wagon. The film runs 96 minutes and shot in Durango & Zacatecas, Mexico, and Universal City, California.GRADE: B

Get_your_azz_to_Mars 'The War Wagon' will never be considered one of John Wayne's great Westerns like 'Rio Bravo', 'The Searchers', or 'Red River', but it is a an enjoyable Western with fine performances and great rapport between Kirk Douglas and John Wayne. The action sequences are well done, the humor dry as the desert it takes place in, and the caper story line rather refreshing for a John Wayne film.The problem? When the picture ends it leaves you feeling empty. The characters are not particularly interesting (save for Douglas) and the villain is your standard cattle baron murderous jerk. The war wagon itself is an interesting prop and well used, but never really becomes the menacing character it should've been. I enjoyed the movie as a fan of John Wayne and Westerns in general, yet I doubt most of his fans will find this film particularly impressive when compared to many of his other Westerns directed by Hawks and Ford. That isn't to say you should avoid seeing 'The War Wagon', but you should temper your expectations for what is really just an empty Saturday-afternoon adventure. You'll like it while you're watching it and then forget it as soon as the credits roll.

ctomvelu1 John Wayne and Kirk Douglas, both big stars of the period, team up in THE WAR WAGON to steal $500,000 in gold and wreak revenge on a nasty land baron (Bruce Cabot) who has stolen Wayne's ranch while Wayne was in prison. Douglas' gunslinger character initially is hired by Cabot to eliminate Wayne, but ends up falling in with Wayne when promised a much bigger payoff. Along the way, they gather together a motley group (including Howard Keel as a feisty Indian and Robert Walker Jr. as an explosive expert) to grab Cabot's gold. A grizzled Keenan Wynn also is along for the ride. The title refers to a steel-plated wagon, an early version of an armored car, that Cabot uses to transport his gold. Douglas, who appears to have done all his own stunts, steals virtually every scene he is in, but he and Wayne manage to play very well together. An unusual role for the Duke, playing an ex-con with robbery and murder on his mind. Watch for a very young Bruce Dern as a hired thug.