Cahill U.S. Marshal

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Trailer—Cahill U.S. Marshal

Cahill U.S. Marshal

An American Western. A story about a veteran law officer who realises that his sons have turned to a life of crime while he is away tracking down law breakers. John Wayne musters up some spirit as a hard-nosed old-timer but he is weighed down not least by a tacky, preachy script about the extent to which modern youth corrupts. It all ends predictably as the widower realises he is partly responsible, due his neglect. An unavoidable impression is that this film has a drowsy pace with some pretty stiff acting from the younger cast. Despite George Kennedy's good performance and best effort to create some menace and tension as outlaw and ringleader, he, and Wayne, are let down because the material is not directed with much verve.

"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.

Well, if you have seen 'Big Jake' or 'Chisum' or 'Train Robbers' or 'Cowboys', then you have seen this early 70s Duke flick. It's nothing special, he's a Marshall, his kids are falling in with baddies lead by George Kennedy, Duke goes after'em with the help of some familiar faces ala Neville Brand, with regular Duke stock company guys like Denver Pyle, Royal Dano and Paul Fix along for the ride. Gets a little preachy, but it's watchable. Have always wondered what happened to Gary Grimes, who was in a lotta TV and movies around this time. I would give it a ** outta ****, passable time-filler if yer in a Duke mood, nothing to miss 'Red River' for though.

John Wayne stars as tough-as-nails U.S. Marshal J.D. Cahill. When Cahill finds out a bank is robbed and an old friend killed, he grabs an Indian friend (Neville Brand) and heads out looking for them. Little does he know that mixed up with the bank robbers are his own two sons. Starts out well but gradually bogs down in feelings of sameness. I felt like I had seen this movie before with John Wayne. Still, it's watchable and avid fans of the Duke will enjoy it most. Lots of recognizable faces in minor roles. George Kennedy makes for a good villain. The kids are annoying. It's the kind of movie you don't seek out but if it's on TV and you have time to kill, you watch it.

"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

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.

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.