John Wayne’s Last Western “The Shootist” Perfectly Captures the End of an Era

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1976 marked the swan song of Hollywood and the Western genre for 69-year-old John Wayne, portrayed in “The Shootist.” This film narrates the story of a terminally ill, aging gunfighter living in Nevada at the turn of the 20th century. Notably, this was Wayne’s final screen appearance as he succumbed to stomach cancer three years later, concluding a half-century career that included 80 Western films. Beyond being his last Western production, “The Shootist” is now widely recognized as one of John Wayne’s finest performances.

The reason why “The Shootist” is so powerfully farewell for John Wayne isn’t due to its gunfights or action scenes; instead, it’s about a man who embodies his genre grappling with his own mortality. By the time the movie was released in theaters, Westerns had mostly moved away from the traditional good versus evil narrative towards more nuanced antiheroes like Clint Eastwood’s The Man With No Name. In this context, John Wayne’s character in “The Shootist” is not just an old gunslinger dealing with death; it’s a legend confronting the evolving genre he helped shape.

What Happened To John Wayne’s Character In The Shootist

Wayne’s J.B. Books Goes Out On His Own Terms

In “The Shootist,” John Wayne portrays J.B., a notorious lawman-turned-gunslinger who has claimed the lives of more than 30 men. In the year 1901, J.B. arrives in Carson City, Nevada, seeking a second medical opinion from Dr. Hostetler (James Stewart) after receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis. Upon discovering that his time may be limited, J.B. adopts a pseudonym to rent lodging from widow Bond Rogers (Lauren Bacall), and takes on the role of mentor for her son, Gillom, who is played by future filmmaker Ron Howard.

Nevertheless, Books’ time in Carson City was far from quiet, as both familiar foes and new threats sought to cause trouble. Consequently, Books decided to act independently and organized a confrontation with three adversaries at The Metropole saloon, set for 11:00 a.m. on his birthday, January 29th. After purchasing a drink at the bar, Books faced off against the three men, but was ultimately shot in the back by the bartender and succumbed to his injuries on the bar floor, with Gillom standing nearby.

The Shootist Is A Great Farewell To John Wayne – And His Type Of Western

John Wayne Was Synonymous With The Genre

One aspect of “The Shootist” that is seldom talked about is its intriguing opening, which combines snippets from John Wayne’s previous films such as “Red River,” “Rio Bravo,” and “El Dorado.” Narrated by Gillom, this collection of clips serves to portray Books’ past deeds in the years prior to his time in Carson City. In essence, this compilation intertwines the character’s history with the legend of John Wayne himself, thus offering a heartfelt homage to both the actor and his iconic role as the quintessential gunslinger in some of Hollywood’s most memorable Western films.

In “The Shootist,” we don’t see John Wayne at his fastest pace, and it doesn’t aim to be. The movie recognizes its main actor as a legendary figure in a genre that’s rapidly outgrowing the kind of Westerns he helped create. Rather than attempting to keep up with the times, “The Shootist” embraces Wayne’s status as a myth from a bygone era and structures the story around this iconic character as he embarks on his last journey before his final sunset.

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2025-04-22 02:09