4.26.2010

el dorado


the year: 1966

the genre: western


the cast: John Wayne (Cole Thornton); Robert Mitchum (J.P. Harrah); James Caan (Alan Bourdillion Traherne ['Mississippi']); Ed Asner (Bart Jason)


the plot: Hired gunman Cole Thornton turns down a job with Bart Jason since it would mean having to fight his old friend, J.P. Harrah - sheriff of El Dorado. When Cole finds out the lawman is on the bottle and a top gunfighter is heading his way to help Bart, he returns to help the sheriff help a local ranching family, the MacDonalds, fight Bart, who is trying to steal their water rights. Along for the ride is the green gambler Mississippi, handy with a knife and armed with an impressive shotgun.


listen for: "Don't you think I could know a girl?"

don't miss: Johnny Diamond's "kill or cure" for drinking.

watch for: the montage of paintings that depict various scenes of cowboy life in the opening credits. The artist was Olaf Wieghorst, who appears in the film as the Gunsmith, Swede Larsen.



did you know: Oliver, the bartender shot by Sheriff J.P. Harrah is played by Robert Mitchum's brother John.

extra bonus points if you can name the author of the poem "El Dorado" that is quoted by Mississippi.

2 comments:

B Porter said...

"Well I'll be a suck egged mule!" I can't believe you left Bull out of the write up.

"Ride Bollie, Ride, to the land of El Dorado!" That was one of Johnny Diamon's favorites.

"Just give me another rifle and I'll play Marching into Georgia."

"Dos mas por favor!"

Millie Motts said...

Glad you liked it - this post was mostly for you, Blaine. :)

Answer: Edgar Allen Poe