EL DORADO is another strong pairing for director Howard Hawks and star John Wayne, and possibly my favourite western that they made together. This one has an easygoing feel, a likeable storyline and a great performance from Wayne, possibly at his most iconic. The fact that he suffers from physical disability here gives his character a kind of warmth and fragility that you don't normally see from the impassive action man. The supporting cast is particularly excellent, with impeccable turns from an up-and-coming James Caan as Mississippi and old-timer Robert Mitchum as the drunk sheriff. Christopher George is also particularly good as one of the villains; a great make-up job there. The narrative moves along at a good clip, ably mixing suspense, shoot-outs and dialogue, all of which don't disappoint.
Review of El Dorado
