MattyGibbs
This is a typically glossy late John Wayne western. Wayne plays Cahill a US Marshall whose job has meant that he has somewhat neglected his kids. When they decide to rob a bank with the help of George Kennedy and his gang they find themselves in trouble. John Wayne looks pretty tired in this although he still has a great screen presence. The film is essentially about a man's relationship with his sons and as such there is relatively little action. This is itself is no bad thing but it's just that the plot is a little too thin to carry the film. As a result it's just intermittently interesting mainly when George Kennedy is on screen. This is John Wayne in reflective mood but it's just not comparable to his great performance in the brilliant 'The Shootist'. Overall although watchable there's just not enough of interest here to make this anything but an average western.
Scott LeBrun
John Wayne is fine as always in the title role of J.D. Cahill, a man who's very good at his job. However, it's required him to always be on call, and as a result he hasn't had much of a part in the lives of his two sons. Now his teenage kid, Danny (Gary Grimes of "Summer of '42") is being rebellious and hooking up with very bad types played by the likes of George Kennedy (as Fraser), Morgan Paull (as Struther), and Dan Vadis (as Brownie). Danny and his younger brother Billy Joe (Clay O'Brien) become implicated in a bank robbery masterminded by the older men in which the sheriff and one of his deputies are killed."Cahill United States Marshal" is a good, diverting Western. It's not exceptional in any way, but it tells a decent story (scripted by Harry Julian Fink and Rita M. Fink of "Dirty Harry" fame) told in capable enough fashion. The Duke is good as a single father who realizes that his experience as a parent hasn't been the best for his children. But the best moments tend to belong to the supporting players. Kennedy gives the tale a real shot in the arm with his villainous performance, as does Neville Brand as Lightfoot, the half breed Comanche hired for his services as a tracker. Brand didn't feel that he was right for his role, but it's one of the better ones that he had. It's a treat to spot the continuous lineup of familiar faces in supporting and bit parts: Marie Windsor, Royal Dano, Scott Walker, Denver Pyle, Jackie Coogan, Harry Carey Jr., Walter Barnes, Paul Fix, Pepper Martin, Hank Worden, and Hunter von Leer.Production design (by Walter M. Simonds), cinematography (by Joseph F. Biroc), and editing (by Robert L. Simpson), are generally well done, and Elmer Bernsteins' score is catchy and rousing. Things get fairly intense - Billy Joe does get a knife held to his neck - and the violence is definitely of the post-"The Wild Bunch" variety.It's not a great Western, but it held this viewers' attention for 103 minutes.Seven out of 10.
lastliberal
There may be a lot of people that will dismiss this movie as just another example of John Wayne's typical western persona. If they do, they really didn't pay attention to what was being said throughout the film.In the 150+ hours of John Wayne movies on TV this week in honor of what would be his 100th birthday, this one is an excellent example, not only of his range as an actor, but also of his personal philosophy.You can dismiss John Wayne as just a cowboy actor, but you really don't know him if you do. He played a lot of different characters and showed variation in each one, even if it was just another western.In Cahill, he shows the struggle many fathers have gone through to raise their children and fulfill their responsibilities at the same time. Sometimes, it is difficult to appreciate how much of a struggle that is. Those of us who grew up with Depression-era fathers know that they just wanted to make sure that their children did not suffer as they did. Sometimes, that meant we felt fatherless as they were working all the time. This is very evident in this film.But one thing our fathers did manage to impart was duty and responsibility. You see that evident in every thing that Cahill does. He showed respect for women, regardless of race, he treated everyone the same. He emphasized the need to finish the job you agreed to do even if it caused you pain or hardship.There are many lessons in the film that would speak to all of us today. It is not done in a preachy way - it is just a natural part of the story.Sure, it's just another John Wayne western, but it is so much more if you take the time to really watch it. AMC and Encore Westerns, and TCM would all be doing us a favor to show this film every Father's Day.
MartinHafer
This is not one of John Wayne's better flicks from his later years. It really isn't because it's a bad film, but the energy level is so low due to the fact he was so gosh-darn old! Unlike the energy that he somehow mustered for MC Q and BRANNIGAN, this movie just seems to crawl along and offers very little more than what you might see in an episode of BONANZA or GUN SMOKE. I really wish Wayne had held out for a more worthy film, but considering he spent most of his life just churning out films, it isn't too surprising that he did the movie. The 5 rating is for the average viewer. If you are a Wayne fan, a score of 6 or 7 would probably suffice, as it is still enjoyable because it's still pure John Wayne.
AD
