The Shootist (the movie) playing on AMC this week.

[rjohns94]

One of my all time favorites! They have been playing a lot of old westerns recently. This weekend they had "the bend in the river" with J. Stewart, "the good, the bad, the ugly with Clint, "the comancheros" with the duke and "hang em high". It was a great weekend for westerns. Saw Clint use a sharps in the good, the bad and the ugly, also I think he used 1860's? which he carries under that poncho.

Reminds me of growing up where after church, dad and the boys would gather around the tube watching the westerns or tarzan as mom cooked sunday dinner.

(I didn't mark this OT because of the name, the guns and just because I thought it was On Topic. Hobie, feel free to change it if you think it needs to be (or I can if you want me to))

[Blaine]

Maybe Ron Howard's best acting, too.......

BTW, I think John actually knew he was dying at this point and time...at least that's what I always heard ( could be wrong)

[Gun Smith]

The film was released in August of 1976. At that time Wayne was still suffering from the results of the removal of his lung and he was weak. Also his voice was bad and it shows that in the film. His main worry (in 1976) was that he might lose his voice. But he did not have the stomach cancer operation until January 10,1979. He had had a heart valve replaced on March 29,1978 and kidded his family he now "oinked". He knew, along with his wife Pilar and some friends, in November 1978 he was nearing the end. I believe the story of him thinking this was his last movie (in 1976) was premature. I believe it has become mixed with the legand of the dying gunfighter going out as he lived, and Wayne, at that time, did not think that.
This information comes from the book Pilar Wayne wrote in 1987. Good biography, if you can find a copy.

[JerryB]

If the Lord don't come back before Thursday nite we will be watching 'ol John.

[Ysabel Kid]

I think I remember crying like a baby the first time I saw this one!