Cahill U.S. Marshal (1973) User Reviews

How would Rooster Cogburn have handled it?

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 22 June 2005]

As portrayed by John Wayne, United States Marshal J.D. Cahill is a man obsessed with his work as a lawman. I guess you needed super dedication in doing that job right. Trouble is, he's neglected his two sons, Gary Grimes and Clay O'Brien who've fallen in with bad company. In fact that bad company has thought of a pretty good scheme in how to rob the town bank with the help from the Cahill boys. One unforeseen consequence of the scheme is the sheriff and deputy from the town are both killed.

Wayne catches up with some nefarious characters who fit a general description and have a chunk of cash on them. They're not the right guys and he suspects as much. The rest of the story concerns what happens as Grimes and O'Brien are conscience stricken and how that brings about a general righting of wrongs.

My problem with the story is that marshal's kids or not, they've committed a major league felony. In another film Grimes would have hung for it. Two law enforcement officials were killed in the performance of their duty. You do recall in Hang 'Em High those two kids who did not help Bruce Dern overpower Clint Eastwood still hung in the end. Or in True Grit, John Wayne shoots without hesitation some young criminals there.

But this is a John Wayne film involving his family so the Duke is trapped by certain parameters that his fans expect. It makes for some weakly resolved issues in the plot.

But if you're a fan of the Duke, Cahill U.S. Marshal will fill your bill.

Good and enjoyable western with a great casting and a sensational John Wayne against his nemesis magnificently played by George Kennedy

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 22 March 2014]

This exciting film packs action Western , go riding , thrills , emotion , shoot-outs and is quite amusing . It contains a magnificent main cast as John Wayne facing off his contender George Kennedy and a top-notch support cast . it's a sympathetic western , with a beautiful cinematography , glamorous scenery and great soundtrack . It deals with J.D. Cahill (John Wayne) is the toughest U.S. Marshal they've got, just the sound of his name makes bad guys stop in their tracks . Break the law and he's the last man you want to see , and the last you ever will . When his two children (Gary Grimes , Clay O'Brian) want to get his attention they decide to help some cutthroats (George Kennedy) to rob a bank . As five killers robbed a bank , the lucky ones get caught and the events go awry .

Nice Western packs thrills , family feeling , shoot'em up and results to be pretty entertaining . Besides , it contains good feeling as friendship , faithfulness , companionship , and enjoyable father-sons relationship . Furthermore , an anti-racism subtext was written into the script in response to ongoing criticism of John Wayne . The screenplay is plain and simple, with a conventional plot , but ultimately gets overcome . Gorgeous outdoors with decent production design by Walter Simonds , though the opening and finale scenes were filmed entirely in the studio . Enjoyable acting by always great John Wayne . Most of the scenes showing John Wayne riding from a distance were filmed with Chuck Roberson substituting for Wayne . His son is well played by Gary Grimes (Summer of 42, Class of 44) , he performed in similar role as a naive cowboy other films (The spikes gang , CulpepperCattle) , though he virtually disappeared without much trace and nowadays is retreated . Neville Brand was surprised to be offered the role of half-Commanche scout Lightfoot, a part he felt he was badly unsuited for, but accepted it just because he liked working . There also appears notorious secondary actors from numerous Westerns such as Denver Pyle , Paul Fix , Harry Carey Jr , Hank Worden , Marie Windsor , Dan Vadis , Walter Barnes , Royal Dano , among others.

Rousing musical score by Elmer Bernstein in his ordinary style , including some marvelous songs with lyrics by Don Black . Colorful and spectacular cinematography in Panavision by Joseph Biroc , being filmed on location in Durango , Mexico . Rightly produced by Batjac Production , a company presided by John Wayne and his son Michael A. Wayne . This well-paced film was compellingly directed by Andrew V. McLagen , son of great actor Victor McLagen . The pic contains McLagen's usual themes as familiar feeling , a little bit of charming humor , friendship and and sense of comradeship among people . Andrew does the human touch and full of insight that accompanied him during most of his films and the story develops pleasantly in a large frame with an interesting plot and fully adjusted to the requirements of the action . Andrew McLagen is a known Ford's disciple introducing similar themes in his films . Andrew holds the distinction of directing the most episodes of "Gunsmoke" . Furthermore , he holds the honor of filmmaking the most episodes of ¨Have gun , Will travel" . And is one of the few directors to have directed both Clint Eastwood and John Wayne . He's a Western expert (McLintock , Shenandoah , Bandolero , Chisum , Cahill , Way West) and warlike specialist , such as proved in several films (Return to Kwai, Wild Geese , Dirty dozen: the next mission, Sea wolves, Breakthrough) . Rating ¨Cahill¨ : Agreeable , and above average Western 6'5 . The picture will appeal to John Wayne fans . Worthwhile watching .

Thematically strong, but executed with little gusto.

[hitchcockthelegend · 5/10 · 14 March 2008]

"If you don't like the treatment, then don't rob banks"

J.D. Cahill is a fearsome Marshal, his reputation goes before him where ever he roams, but when his two sibling boys decide to get his attention by way of joining a gang and then robbing a bank, he is perhaps faced with his toughest challenge.

This is not a great John Wayne film, in fact it's distinctly average, but at its heart, the tale of a single father trying to balance his work and bring up his children properly, is interestingly watchable. Unfortunately after a brisk and entertaining opening the film ambles along without any wish to up the ante. John Wayne, and chief bad guy George Kennedy appear to merely be going through the motions, and some of the technical work here only compounds the cheap feel that cloaks the story. It's ultimately mostly unforgettable stuff, but it deserves a watch because it does at least say a bit more than at first thought, it's just real sad that it's not put together very well. 5/10

A good film for Wayne

[rfrankssr · 1 August 2004]

Unlike the comment that said "unoriginal", for a western of the early seventies, when the western was at that time dying out for a period, this is a gallant effort on the part of all involved in the production. I must confess, it would be hard for me to say anything bad about a John Wayne movie, it certainly is not "The Searchers", but no where near "The Geisha and the Barbarian". Cahill was a milder Wayne as a family man, with a good lesson of being there when your needed as a father. A strong point that stands out in the movie, with the other elements (bank robbers, bad guys, boys in trouble) well incorporated around the basic theme. Andrew V. McLaglen did justice to the script, keeping things simple but well rounded, with a conclusion that will satisfy the western fan. After watching the film on TCM recently, I came to realize that it may be dated, somewhat, but a true measure of what good film making is all about. In a world of high budgets, overpaid actors and grand special effects, "Cahill, U.S. Marshall" gives what any viewer would want from such a film: A good story.

Little known John Wayne western where his charm still comes through...

[dwpollar · 6/10 · 24 December 2001]

1st watched 12/24/2001 - 6 out of 10(Dir-Andrew V. McLaglen): Little known John Wayne western where his charm still comes through despite his age. This is the perfect John Wayne movie made very much like his older western movies despite the fact that it was made near the end of his life. This shows me that he knows what he's best at and returned the formula that brought him fame & fortune. Here he plays a U.S. Marshall named Cahill that is a workaholic despite having 3 young sons that are constantly being neglected. They involve themselves in a robbery to get his attention and get mixed up in more than they had hoped for. Wayne comes to the rescue for his children and win's their hearts before it's all over(which is what we'd expect from his most popular movies). The All-American man realizes his faults and takes back the responsibility that he knew was his all along and they all live happily ever after.

Great hats

[ctomvelu1 · 6/10 · 10 July 2010]

As Wayne aged, either he or someone working for him began pairing him with a series of young actors, which was a pretty good idea. In CAHILL, a routine western from the early 1970s, that youthful role was filled by Gary (SUMMER OF '42) Grimes as U.S. Marshal Cahill's rebellious teenage son Danny. The kid has gotten involved with some pretty nasty bank robbers, led by squinty eyed, mustachioed George Kennedy. Cahill doesn't know this, and goes off in search of the robbers while Danny and his little brother decide to defy and deal with the robbers, who killed the town sheriff during the robbery. Several old-time actors are in the cast, including Marie Windsor and Denver Pyle, but most notable is Neville Brand as Cahill's favorite tracker, a wisecracking, self-proclaimed Indian chief who is actually half white. While CAHILL was shot in Mexico, it is painfully apparent that some scenes were shot on soundstages, which hurts the story's believability factor. Also, while director Andrew McLaughlin was well known for his action movies, some of the fights and gun battles here are clumsily staged at best. Wayne was getting on in years and appears tired a lot of the time, but he plays the role this way, so we buy into it. He would do this again in THE SHOOTIST, to similar effect. The highlight of the movie is clearly George Kennedy, playing one of the meanest, low-down, no-good villains to be found in a Wayne western. There is a whole generation that only knows Kennedy as the buffoonish sergeant in the NAKED GUN movies, but an older generation remembers his amazing performance in COOL HAND Luke and several other movies of that period. His piercing stare and sneer here are priceless, and he goes out in high fashion.

Tries to deal with moral issues but does not really think them through

[JamesHitchcock · 6/10 · 2 February 2021]

"Cahill U.S. Marshal" came towards the end of John Wayne's long career; he was to make only another four movies, the two police dramas "McQ" and "Brannigan" and his two final Westerns, "Rooster Cogburn" and "The Shootist". Here he plays the title character, an ageing widowed lawman with two teenage boys, Danny and Billy. Cahill is dedicated to his job- so much so that he tends to neglect his sons in his obsession with his duties. Seeking excitement, and rebelling against their father's strict "law and order" values, Danny and Billy help a notorious outlaw named Abe Fraser and his gang to escape from jail and to rob a bank.

Fraser promises the boys that nobody will be hurt, but of course that is not how it works out; the town's sheriff is shot and killed during the robbery. Cahill is charged with tracking down the perpetrators, and arrests four suspicious-looking characters who are found to be in possession of large amounts of money. Despite appearances, however, the four are innocent, but nevertheless they are found guilty and sentenced to death. This presents Billy and Danny with a difficult moral dilemma. Do they confess their involvement, thereby implicating Fraser and his associates, or do they let four innocent men hang?

Wayne himself said of the film that it had a good theme but wasn't a well-done picture. I am not so sure about the "good theme". The scriptwriters tried hard to come up for an original idea for a Western, something not so easy in the seventies when the genre, having been worked to death in the preceding decades, seemed to be becoming increasingly derivative. The script, however, rather downplays the moral responsibility of the Cahill boys who are treated as rebellious but basically decent lads and their involvement in a serious crime as a piece of teenage naughtiness on a par with sneaking out to play football rather than doing your homework. The adults involved in that crime, however, are treated as human vermin fit only to be gunned down in the inevitable final shootout with the Marshal, who now has his sons on his side.

Wayne was probably closer to the mark when he said that the film wasn't done well, although it is by no means the worst of his films. It isn't even the worst of his late period films. (That is probably "The Green Berets"). It is a reasonably good Western, reasonably well directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and with some reasonably good acting, especially from George Kennedy as Fraser. Its main problem is that it tries to deal with moral issues but does not really think them through. It is not in the same class as "Chisum", an earlier Wayne collaboration with McLaglen. 6/10

"Mister,I ain't gotta bigoted bone in my body"..............................

[ianlouisiana · 6/10 · 30 November 2010]

I'm glad Duke didn't bow out with this bit of hack work from A.V.McClaglen which doesn't bear comparison to even his routine Westerns. Names familiar from his John Ford days decorate the cast including the great Mr Hank Worden,but on the whole "Cahill - U.S. Marshal" doesn't add up to much. Mr George Kennedy is a bit of a pantomime villain,I almost expected him to disappear from every scene in a cloud of smoke like the Demon King. Duke's attitudes to racial minorities had been called into question and his answer in the movie was to inform an African - American prisoner that if he kills him it won't be simply because of his colour. Unfortunately the movie's more liberal approach is slightly spoiled by having Mr Neville Brand - splendid though he is - blacked up as a "half - breed". There are several stumbling - blocks scattered throughout the exposition of the plot that are better ignored. Nice to see "The Body" as she was briefly known cast as a Boarding House keeper with half - hearted designs on Marshal Cahill. I couldn't in all honesty recommend this untidy and unsatisfactory film,but as an admirer of the late Mr Wayne I don't have the heart to trash it either.

Solid Action Picture

[FightingWesterner · 8/10 · 13 January 2010]

While US Marshall Cahill (John Wayne) hunts outlaws, his wayward sons get in way over their heads when the supposedly safe, after-hours bank robbery plan with slimy saddle-tramp George Kennedy turns into a bloodbath. When Cahill returns and ends up arresting innocent men, it sends the two youths scrambling to do the right thing.

Though one of Wayne's later, less acclaimed movies, there's still a whole lot of fun to be had in this well produced, action filled morality tale.

Kennedy is in truly fine form here as a truly vile bad guy, while Neville Brand, who's usually typecast as despicable villains and psychopathic cretins, delivers a standout, heroic performance as Wayne's halfbreed sidekick.

The tense, bloody climax is pretty good.

Interesting and highly underrated Duke flick.

[ContinentalOp · 7/10 · 12 July 2009]

Many liberals like to bitch John Wayne out - I know because being a left-winger I have to put up with whiny liberals for company! What many of these liberals forget is that John Wayne - whilst politically unacceptable in many ways - was still an actor and a human being. Something some ''liberals'' complain about is Republican political oriented criticism on liberal actors and directors and the disrespect of the artistic talents of these liberal personages. I see no difference in disrespect to a left-winger or a right-winger so the hypocritical stance of these liberal ''film fans'' doesn't do their ideology any favours.

The film 'Cahill U.S. Marshal' whilst not being the greatest of westerns, is an enjoyable western with a good message - which isn't as Republican or right-wing as some other voters claimed. The wonderful acting from John Wayne and George Kennedy is on par with their best work, the plot is original and the opening of the film is fantastic and rousing.

One of the features that other voters have not commented on is the music by Elmar Bernstein. The score for 'Cahill' is amongst the great composer's finest work and the song 'A Man Gets To Thinking'' sung by Charlie Rich is a good theme on par with the 'True Grit' by Glen Campbell and I am sure that a lot of Country and Western fans - I am only mildly enamoured with this genre - will enjoy it.

What happens when an Old West Marshal neglects his two sons

[Wuchakk · 5/10 · 20 May 2017]

Released in 1973 and directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, "Cahill United States Marshal" is a Western starring John Wayne as the titular marshal and Neville Brand as his half-Native tracker in the Southwest. Widower Cahill is so busy with his work that he's neglectful of his two sons, 10 and 17, and thus they veer toward delinquency, hooking up with a group of ne'er-do-wells (led by George Kennedy). After getting away with robbing a bank, the sons must deal with the moral conundrum of a (dubious) group of men being hanged for a crime they didn't commit.

The Duke had some great or near great Westerns in the final two decades of his career (e.g. "The Horse Soldiers," "The Alamo," "The Comancheros," "El Dorado," "True Grit," "The Cowboys," "The Train Robbers" and "Rooster Cogburn"), but "Cahill" isn't one of 'em. While I appreciate that Wayne tried to do something different by having the story focus on the ramifications of his neglected kids, the movie simply isn't very compelling and the boys aren't interesting as characters. It doesn't help that Kennedy is decidedly cartoony as the villain. Disregarding the awesome Western locations, the storytelling smacks of a 60s or 70's TV show Western.

Yet, if you're a Duke fan, "Cahill" is mandatory viewing. The relationship between Cahill and the tracker (Brand) is a highlight, as is the Western scenery. Speaking of the latter, the movie is further hampered by three nighttime sequences obviously shot in the studio, which appear at the beginning, middle and end, but that's a minor cavil.

The film runs 103 minutes and was shot in Sonora, Mexico; Arizona; and Calderon Ranch, California. The screenplay was written by Harry & Rita Fink based on Barney Slater's story.

GRADE: C

There ain't nothing too late... if you love it.

[lastliberal · 8/10 · 26 May 2007]

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.

Not one of Wayne's finest films

[MattyGibbs · 6/10 · 15 November 2016]

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.

Cahill U.S. Marshal - A Missed Mark on Western Glory

[ArtdoorLife · 3/10 · 15 September 2023]

"Cahill U. S. Marshal" had the potential to be a compelling addition to the Western film canon but ends up falling flat. The movie's limited budget is conspicuously noticeable, not just in the set designs but also in the overall production quality. What could have been an engrossing narrative feels compromised, making it difficult for the viewer to fully engage or invest in the characters and storyline. But the most jarring element that shatters any semblance of immersion is the music. The soundtrack, desperately trying to be contemporary, forgets the soul of the Western genre, and instead echoes the excesses of the 1970s. This not only disrupts the mood but also detracts from the essence of what makes Westerns great. One can't help but reminisce about the golden era of Westerns in the 1960s, where storytelling and atmosphere took center stage, and every element felt purposefully placed to serve the narrative. In "Cahill U. S. Marshal," there's a disjointedness that makes you wonder what could have been, had the filmmakers stayed true to the genre's roots. In conclusion, "Cahill U. S. Marshal" serves as a cautionary tale for the Western genre, a stark contrast to its more illustrious predecessors. It stands as a reminder that authenticity and careful crafting are essential for a genre so deeply rooted in American history and culture.

World premiere information

[nadervideo · 1 December 2002]

"Wednesday Morning" was the working title; "Cahill U.S. Marshal" had its world premiere in Seattle, Washington on June 14, 1973 at the 7th Avenue Theatre, where there were pickets by American Indians protesting the film. John Wayne had just arrived in Seattle the week before to start shooting "McQ". Cast and crew members from "Cahill", "McQ" and "The Cowboys" were at the premiere: Mark Rydell, Diana Muldaur, Eddie Albert, Robert Duvall, Clay O'Brien, Michael Wayne, James Caan, Marsha Mason (these two were filming "Cinderella Liberty" in Seattle at the time), Andrew McLaglen, Marie Windsor, Jackie Coogan. The regular run started the next day at the Town Theatre.

good father and sons conflict but not well made

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 26 December 2014]

J.D. Cahill (John Wayne) is the toughest U.S. Marshal but an often-absent father to his sons angry Danny (Gary Grimes) and little Billy Joe (Clay O'Brien). Abe Fraser (George Kennedy) convinces the boys to let his gang escape to rob a bank and then return back to their cells. Abe promises not to hurt anybody but they kill the sheriff. When J.D. returns, the boys lie to their father and Abe's gang has an airtight alibi. Billy Joe had hidden the money. Abe and his gang are released. Then four innocent men are caught for the crime and about to be hung. Abe pressures Billy Joe to give him the money but he doesn't really remember where he left it.

I like the story of the boys and the conflict with their absent father. The problem in this movie is that the kids need to be great actors. Both boys are workable but nothing special. They don't have the charisma to be the center of the movie. Yet the story requires them to be. In many ways, Cahill is the least interesting of the three characters. This being a John Wayne movie, he has to be on screen a lot. He and Lightfoot keep having light banter which distracts from the more serious aspect of the story. Also if J.D. suspects the boys of the crime, he should have just taken the boys and squeeze the truth out of them.

Cahill U.S. Marshal (1973)

[WandrinStar · 6/10 · 24 January 2012]

(6/10) Not a great film, but is underrated simply for the fact that this is labeled by many as one of Wayne's weaker westerns in the latter stages of his career. Duke has a great supporting cast around him highlighted by Neville Brand as Indian tracker Ben Lightfoot, and villain George Kennedy. The Fink couple and writing team famous for penning Dirty Harry lacked originality for bringing up the same plot devices used in the Duke western Big Jake they wrote two years prior (Wayne choosing a gun slinging career over his children and Wayne teaming up with an Indian tracker). However I can forgive them since both areas were improved in this go around. Although some of their writing, such as Kennedy's sudden change of heart when Billy Jo was sick, was pretty weak.

A decent late John Wayne western

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 31 January 2019]

JD Cahill is a tough US Marshal working in Texas; he is also the widowed father of two boys; Danny and Billy. His job keeps him away from home and his boys leading to them rebelling. Danny ends up in the town jail with a bunch of ne'er-do-wells then Billy lights a fire to distract the sheriff before helping Danny and the gang escape to rob the bank before returning to jail for the perfect alibi... not everything goes to plan though; the sheriff and a deputy are killed and Fraser, the gang leader, threatens to kill the boys if either talks or if Billy doesn't keep the money hidden for them. When JD gets back he takes the lead in the search for the robbers; this includes deputising Danny. The pair of them head off and team up with Lightfoot, a half-Indian tracker. They quickly make arrests and Danny starts to feel guilty... something that JD notices. Will he be able to clear these men, arrest Fraser and his gang without condemning his boys?

This isn't up there with Wayne's best westerns but it is still pretty good. John Wayne is convincing as a tough marshal even though he was in his sixties by the time this was made. The story was enjoyable even if the final outcome wasn't in too much doubt... it is a traditional western after all. The moral of the story; that children need parental guidance and that one must face up to ones actions is solid enough if perhaps a little heavily handled at times. The locations used add a lot to the film; making a change from all the lower budget westerns that were clearly filmed in the same area of Southern California. The cast is solid enough; as well as Wayne we get notable performances from Neville Brand as Lightfoot, even if the idea of having a white actor playing a half-Indian is awkward for modern viewers; and George Kennedy is suitably menacing as Fraser. Overall I'd recommend this to fans of the genre, especially if you like John Wayne; not a classic but still a decent enough film.

An above average Wayne effort.

[jordondave-28085 · 6/10 · 11 June 2023]

(1973) Cahill- US Marshall WESTERN

Passable John Wayne film which is sort of like a "long" Western semi-biography since "The Duke" (uncredited according to imdb) and his eldest son, Michael Wayne was also credited as producers. Anyways, John Wayne stars as J. D. Cahill a devoted and committed sheriff but as a result of being away from home most of the time (similar to an actor's life), his two rebellious underage sons were somehow involved in a bank robbery as accomplices to two rowdy outlaws, led a gang by Fraser (Western movie veteran Arthur Kennedy) and his accomplice, Brownie (Dan Vadis). Killing two sheriffs in the process. The two kids then decide to return the money after spending some quality time with their dad, who has already figured what had happened. By looking at the big picture this film is not that bad, the major problem is that the film needs more editing since it almost feels it drags on forever because it has to be two hour film, inciting viewers to want it to cut-to-the-chase especially as soon as it reaches towards the end. It's also an unusual piece for John Wayne to be involved since as a real life public figure he was known to possess some ideals similar to a bigot, and in this one he's civilized towards Mexicans, Native Americans and an African American in a small pivotal role.

Conflict: duty to family? or to oath of office

[morrisonhimself · 10/10 · 17 January 2019]

Probably considered a "lesser John Wayne," this movie shows once again that John Wayne was a great actor.

He is given more opportunity to show emotional facets of a character, and grabs that opportunity.

Yes, he is the prototypical tough lawman he played often, but with additional and different pressures: His character's sons are being ignored, being raised by a family retainer while Marshal Cahill is trying to make the West a better place, a safer place.

Wayne is backed by a superlative cast, including the always mesmerizing George Kennedy, whose character slides from vicious to fake-gentle in such terrifying fashion.

In a much softer role than she was often given is the fascinating and beautiful Marie Windsor, still looking lovely after such a long career -- in fact looking even more lovely than often. Her character is a motherly type rather than the hard-bitten toughie she did so well.

I don't know why I have never watched this entire movie until now, January of 2019, but I found it on YouTube and am I glad I did. Director Andrew McLaglen and score composer Elmer Bernstein give us some of their best work, and their best was usually in partnership with John Wayne.

Others of the "John Wayne stock company," including Paul Fix, Chuck Roberson, Hank Worden, and Harry Carey, Jr., are joined by the outstanding veterans Jackie Coogan and Royal Dano to create a motion picture joy.

The Law of Average

[NoDakTatum · 6/10 · 26 November 2023]

In 1973, John Wayne continued making safe, similar westerns that really did nothing to change the genre, except for his final film "The Shootist." "Cahill: United States Marshal" falls into this sure category. Wayne is the title character, a tough U. S. marshal who is gone from home a lot, letting his sons Danny (Gary Grimes) and Billy Joe (Clay O'Brien) fend for themselves. In order to get back at their dad, seventeen year old Danny and eleven year old Billy Joe join with a gang led by Fraser (George Kennedy) to rob the town bank. The group has a foolproof plan- get themselves locked in jail, escape, rob the bank, then lock themselves up again with a perfect alibi. The bank is robbed, but Fraser's empty promises about no one getting hurt are broken as two people are killed. Billy Joe is told to hide the loot, and the brothers are threatened if they ever talk. By this point, Cahill has returned to town, and takes Danny to go track the imaginary bank robbers. They do stumble upon a group of outlaws, and these men are arrested and sentenced to hang. The brothers must now work to get the hidden loot to Fraser, save the four innocent men, and look over their shoulder as their father becomes more suspicious of their weird behavior.

I have always liked John Wayne. He had huge screen presence that has never been equalled. The voice, the stance, you know right away when he is onscreen. Say what you want about the bad film choices he made, and he made some doozies, even his mediocre films are better than some of the cow plop Hollywood passes out today. "Cahill" is a good film, despite some flaws. There is never a scene where Wayne finds out the truth about his criminally inclined children, one second he doesn't know, the next second he does. I would have liked to see him figure it out and react. Also, some of McLaglen's action sequences are stilted. Watch the scene where Wayne catches a knife in his shoulder, barely wincing, and knowing that the knife was already there when the scene began. Same for the ridiculous owl-scares-kids scene, with a large fake bird on some string. Neville Brand, a name you may not know, but a face you have seen in films before, is excellent here as Lightfoot, a half Comanche tracker who fancies himself a great warrior. Denver Pyle, Jackie Coogan, Royal Dano, and Paul Fix are all well known film veterans, but are given just one or two scenes each and just a handful of lines. Some of the gun scenes are bloody, but the gore looks like bright red paint and is not convincing. "Cahill: U. S. Marshal" rests on John Wayne's shoulders, and he is up to the task. He is very watchable, and does a good job in a role he could have sleepwalked through.

Mistaken facts in lines

[pffear · 2/10 · 23 November 2022]

Like most Westerns out of Hollywood in those days, the writers played fast and loose with the facts of the day and times... Typically the types of weapons used in the era they are shown using them in... In particular to this movie, Cahill tells Pee Wee Simser that he recognized the sound of his old Spencer (Spencer repeating carbine) when he shot Cahill in the shoulder again... But in the shootout, the rifle Simser was using was clearly a Henry Repeater lever action rifle (The prelude to the first few Winchester lever guns based on Henry's togle action bolt patton first used in the old Volcanic pistols in the late 1840s early 1850s...

Not an iconic Western, but still a very strong John Wayne title.

[those_who_dig · 8/10 · 8 June 2015]

'Cahill' is a film which follows US Marshal J.D. Cahill, played by John Wayne, on the trail of a group of bank robbers. To Cahill's surprise, he finds out that his two sons were implicit in the robbery, and he feels compelled to adapt his usual no-nonsense form of law enforcement. The film doesn't have one of the strongest Western plots, and it doesn't contribute anything substantial to the wider genre (especially for a 1973 film), but a number of qualities in 'Cahill' greatly benefit this title. McLaglen's film contains some of the most enjoyable cinematography I've ever seen in a Western, and I'd say that it almost compares to some of Sergio Leone's material in this regard. Moreover, the supporting cast is pretty great: George Kennedy portrays the menacing antagonist, and delivers a performance comparable to Lee Van Cleef's Angel-Eyes ('The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'); Neville Brand also shines as Cahill's war-chief accomplice, Lightfoot; and lastly, Clay O'Brien, around the age of 12 in 'Cahill', delivers an admirable performance. The film, for the reasons given, shouldn't be considered alongside the likes of 'Once Upon a Time in the West' or 'High Noon', but in its own right can be very enjoyable, and I was profoundly surprised when I saw that it only had a 6.5 IMDb rating. I consider it one of Wayne's stronger films, and I think it does a substantially better job than some of the other films from Wayne's later years, such as 'Big Jake' and 'Rooster Cogburn'.

Adequate entertainment for fans of The Duke.

[Hey_Sweden · 7/10 · 6 September 2015]

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.

Worst John Wayne movie ever

[adxpitz · 3/10 · 20 August 2021]

If it wasn't for his incredible skills and the production budget, this movie might not have been released at all. The storyline that revolves around the kids is full of plotholes and that cuts of the ability of the other great supporting roles.