An excellent oater drama, laced with adroit comedy and action relief, and set off by strong casting, superior direction and solid production.
El Dorado (1967)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:10
Fresh:10
Rotten:0
Average Rating:7.9/10
Runtime: 2 hrs 6 mins
Genre: Westerns
Synopsis: In the town of El Dorado, wealthy landowner Bart Jason (Ed Asner) is embroiled in a struggle with the MacDonald family, who own a large amount of land just outside town lines. Jason hires gunman... In the town of El Dorado, wealthy landowner Bart Jason (Ed Asner) is embroiled in a struggle with the MacDonald family, who own a large amount of land just outside town lines. Jason hires gunman Cole Thornton (John Wayne) to scare the MacDonalds in hope that they'll back down. Cole is pleased to discover that his old friend J.B. (Robert Mitchum) is now the sheriff of the town. The sheriff warns Cole that involvement with the crooked Jason will get him arrested. Further circumstances entwine the hired gun with the MacDonald family, and he sets out to destroy Jason. Hawks' unheralded western, with a fine script by Leigh Brackett (THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK), features plot similarities to his earlier classic RIO BRAVO. [More]
Starring: John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Michele Carey
Starring: John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Michele Carey, Charlene Holt, Arthur Hunnicutt, R.G. Armstrong, Edward Asner, Paul Fix, Christopher George, Johnny Crawford
Director: Howard Hawks
Director: Howard Hawks
Screenwriter: Leigh Brackett
Story: Harry Brown
Composer: Nelson Riddle
Producer: Howard Hawks
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Release:
May 19, 2009
Reviews for El Dorado
EL DORADO addresses the standard Hawks themes of group loyalty and professionalism, but is also a poignant meditation on the passing of the old and the coming of the new.
Wayne and Mitchum pair up for the first time in a western, and very good it is too.
As the middle panel in Hawks' Western trilogy (all starring John Wayne), the film is not as fresh as Rio Bravo, but it's superior to the third segment, Rio Lobo in 1970, due to the strong characterization and chemistry between Wayne and Robert Mitchum
...one can hardly resist the charisma of its stars, the affectionate guidance of its director-producer, and the comfort of its supporting cast.
a loose and extended mediation on Hawks's favorite themes of loyalty and professionalism.
Howard Hawks is too good a director to depend upon stereotyped violence to keep the interest of the audience, and his well-made scenes between Wayne, Mitchum, Arthur Hunicutt and James Cann never lag for a moment.
Hawks and his cast and crew make El Dorado seem so easy. It's like a refined blockbuster that's confident in hitting its ability to hit the right notes.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
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