Having turned down a crooked job to avoid having to fight a longtime friend turned sheriff, a gunslinger comes to town to help his sheriff friend out after learning that somebody very violent has accepted the job instead in this popular western drama starring John Wayne and Robert Mitchum. The chemistry between the two stars feels very real every step of the way and as Wayne teams up with James Caan who has recently avenged a friend's death, the movie ultimately becomes a testament to the power and importance of friendships. There is some nice additional drama along these lines as Wayne finds himself needing to sober Mitchum up before helping him to fend of those incoming. Potent as the drama often is though, the film backfires each and every time it tries to inject humour into the story; at its most excruciating, Mitchum is comically whacked over the head when drunk and Caan imitates a Chinese man by scrunching up his face. Fortunately, the humour is quite sporadic and the overall tale remains powerful until the end. Particularly remarkable are the shots of the three protagonists cautiously wandering the shadowy streets at night, alert for possible sniper attacks. Wayne also impressively manages to ride his horse backwards at one point, as if reversing in a car, in order to keep his eyes on various marksmen who might try to shoot him as he departs.

On the cover, this seems like a run-of-the-mill John Wayne western. Sure, it's got the rough-and-tumble Wayne in his famed gunslinger role, it's got the gunfights, and it's got the saloons. But this one sets itself apart due to incredibly strong supporting roles by Robert Mitchum, James Caan, and Arthur Hunnicut.Every supporting character in this well-directed western has their own personality and feel like more than a typical Western stereotype. The sheriff, the sheriff's sidekick, John Wayne's sidekick, and the love interest all have their own unique flair and work together seamlessly.The humor is woven into the plot very well. Several scenes will even have your sides shaking with suppressed merriment!This is a John Wayne western, but it is among the best of the bunch and definitely in my top 10 Westerns.

Aging gunfighter (John Wayne), drunken sheriff (Robert Mitchum), cantankerous old deputy(Arthur Hunnicutt), and a knife-throwing gambler (James Caan) team up to protect a rancher and his family from hired gunmen. Contrary to what some say about this movie, it's not a remake. It borrows a lot from Rio Bravo but there are a lot of differences, too. Wayne and Mitchum are great. Really good cast backing them up. Arthur Hunnicutt is lots of fun. James Caan has a nice rapport with Duke. Charlene Holt and Michele Carey are the sexy and tough Hawksian women. Christopher George and Ed Asner play the heavies. A good western with likable actors, nice direction, and a fun script.

I was trying to compile a list of my All-time Favorite movies/Movies you have to see at least once. There's is no way I could select one favorite. I have so many real favorites. Then I came to El Dorado! Well, that, if I had to select only one, would be the one! It still holds up today. And consider the language and limitations of 1967. Just proves when you have such outstanding actors such as John Wayne and Robert Mitchum, they measure up even in today's world. But not only Mitchum and Wayne,every single cast member was significant and played their role so well. James Caan as "Mississippi", Charlene Holt as "Maddie" and Arthur Hunnicutt as "Bull". I have watched this movie so many times and also bought it for a friend in Brazil. Funny, I vaguely recall the music. That ring. But it didn't bother me, as it did others, that I read in another review. I must admit, Robert Mitchum is my All-time favorite actor, so maybe that has an effect. I love all his movies. I loved his independent nature and everything I could read about him. He would be so beautiful in today's world!