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The 1967 Western with John Wayne and Kirk Douglas is celebrated as a fan favorite and is on Film4 tonight at 4.50pm
A fan ‘favourite’ western film is being broadcast for free on Film4 tonight, starring legendary stars John Wayne and Kirk Douglas. Wayne portrays Taw Jackson, a rancher who is framed by corrupt businessman Frank Pierce and then imprisoned before being released on parole.
Pierce seized control of Jackson’s land, which happened to sit on a huge deposit of gold dust. Determined to reclaim what is rightfully his, Jackson devises a heist to intercept Pierce’s regular shipments before they reach the railroad.
To help him reclaim his former life, Jackson recruits Lomax (Douglas), a charismatic and talented gunman. The biggest challenge they face is the transport itself: a heavily fortified, iron-clad stagecoach equipped with a turret-mounted Gatling gun, feared throughout the territory as the War Wagon.
The 1976 film has an impressive 83% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is widely celebrated as an understated but brilliant Western. Awarding the film five stars, one viewer said: “This film has always been a fun favourite. Just the right mix of drama, humor and light-hearted western adventure.
“Many of the same actors will star alongside Wayne in The Hellfighters – another action-packed film based on the life of Red Adair,” reports the Express.
One IMDb user added, “As far as Westerns go, I really can’t think of many that John Wayne failed. The only way to rate a John Wayne movie is to compare it to other John Wayne movies. That being said, I’d give The War Wagon a solid 5 stars.”
“In War Wagon you will find some humor, drama, deception, love and adventure. You will see John Wayne (Taw Jackson) put together a rag tag group of hold-up men that you think could not complete a game of checkers without killing each other. In a period of only 4 days, this group plans a robbery of $ 500,000,000. count the horses, called “The War Wagon” A great John Wayne movie suitable for the whole family.
Another reviewer wrote: “Against the machinations of a greedy businessman, Jackson and his gang of misfits wage war against the might of Pierce and his hired guns—not to mention a horse-drawn tank that infuses the action-packed adventure with a light steampunk element.
“Although this film is not groundbreaking, it is without a doubt one of my favorite Westerns and – I firmly believe – is one of Herzog’s funniest and most entertaining films.”
The War Wagon is on Movie 4 at 4.50pm.
