The 1970s saw John Wayne's long-running career come to an end with the actor's death in 1979, but before that point he made two contemporary police thrillers, the only ones of his lengthy career. These were made in response to his missing out on Clint Eastwood's role in DIRTY HARRY. Of the two, I have a huge fondness for BRANNIGAN due to the London setting, but MCQ turns out to be a serviceable little picture that feels heavily indebted to BULLITT with plenty of car-focused mayhem and chasing taking place on the streets of Seattle. Wayne plays a cop in the usual maverick mould, hunting down the killers of his partner who is executed in the film's violent opening sequence. Police corruption and drug dealing are the elements of the story here, and it's all stylish and fast-paced enough to be watchable. Wayne does feel long in the tooth but his trademark charisma and charm shine through and there's very little to dislike overall.

This thrilling movie is a genuine ripping yarn with intrigue , mystery , tension and outstanding twists plots . An agreeable all action seventies nostalgia trip , being fast paced and rightly developed . The picture is packed with a stuffed ragbag of drugs , heavy arms and cars . Seattle cop Lon McQ (aging Wayne , he was 66 when he played a cop for the first time) investigates the murder of his best friend , Stan Boyle (William Bryant) , and the corruption within the police department . McQ believes Manuel Santiago (Al Lettieri) is behind this killing . McQ is a peculiar cop who lives on a boat (this boat McQ lives on actually belonged to John Wayne) and using mercilessly weapons (introducing the MAC-10 submachine gun to the general public and creating a demand for it) against enemy . As defying the orders of his superior , Captain Ed Kosterman (Eddie Albert) , lieutenant McQ takes justice on his own hands , he resigns to track them down . McQ enlists the help of private detective "Pinky" (David Huddleston) and J . C. (Jordan Christopher) . Meanwhile , McQ becomes involved with a twisted intrigue filled with narcotics , corrupt people , big dope dealers , shotguns and traitors . McQ driving his car Brewster Green 1973 Pontiac pursues and shoots nasties , mobsters and corrupt police officers . Including an exciting and breathtaking finale car chase .One of Duke's last movies with a more work modern day assignment than most . Stepping out of his ordinary Westerns and into the character of a Seattle police man , here Big Duke goes in search of revenge on the gangsters who killed his best friend . Although , it was originally intended as a vehicle for Steve McQueen , it was heavily rewritten for John Wayne . John Wayne starred in this film , along with Brannigan (1975) , because he missed out on starring in Dirty Harry (1971). Stirring film in which there are nail-biting action scenes , intrigue , blasts , suspenseful set pieces and a big star as well as an excellent plethora of secondaries such as : Eddie Albert , Colleen Dewhurst , Clu Gulager , David Huddleston , Al Lettieri , Roger E. Mosley , Julian Christopher , and Julie Adams . This thrilling film is just a rip-off of Bullit (1968) and Dirty Harry , taking parts here and there . Colorful and atmospheric cinematography by Harry Stradling . Including the spectacular ending sequence in which McQ (Wayne) and Lois (Diana Muldaur) driving along the coast , it was filmed on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State ; there were filming delays when the beach was foggy . Original musical score by the classic Elmer Bernstein , including a catching leitmotif . The motion picture was compelling and forcefully directed , thanks capable hands of filmmaker John Sturges , if not much continuity , though at the beginning he was opposed to the casting of John Wayne in the title role , due to the actor's age . This is the only movie westerns director John Sturges and westerns film actor John Wayne made together . The redoubtable John demonstrates his skill and mettle here . Sturges was a warlike genre expert (Great escape , Never so few , The Eagle has landed) and Western master (Gunfight OK Corral , Last train of Gun Hill , The law and Jake Wade , Magnificent Seven , Escape from Fort Bravo ). McQ rating: 6.5/10 , Acceptable and passable. It is like Dirty Harry done with a veteran Big Duke . Well worth seeing , the movie will appeal to John Wayne fans .

" . . . let's get a drink," is John Wayne's last line as Lon McQ, title character in his stab at the BULLITT/DIRTY HARRY market. Throughout its history, America has allowed Big Business to dictate how Government picks winners and losers in regard to "recreational drugs." McQ is too dense to realize that there's absolutely no reason other than the whims of his Fat Cat Puppetmasters that he can LEGALLY satisfy his hankering for alcohol (or cigarettes) after just shooting seven people to death over a little coke. George Washington would be jailed today for all the pot he grew, while alcohol tycoon Al Capone might be free of Alcatraz and giving fellow Gaming Baron Donald Trump a run for his casino money as our next American President, were he alive and flush with booze today. The Vice Squad in McQ is totally confused, since one cop's junk is another cop's treasure in America, and you need a scorecard to keep track of what's legal one day, and not the next. The only sinus medication that ever worked for me is unavailable today, because the Vice Squad would rather have me suffer severe headaches than inconvenience a few housewives by outlawing the bleach that Tweekers need as much as my Meds to brew up a batch of their "illegal" fun time formula. McQ comes off as a total clown here, and John Wayne was too ancient to realize that the scriptwriter was making a buffoon out of him.

Originally turning down the role of 'Dirty Harry Callahan', Wayne was given another shot by Warner Bros. to play his first 'policeman' role in the legendary career.Not out of his league by any means, the Duke definitely fills the bitter seen it all lost my partners kill some drug dealers genre cop of the early 1970's.Not so much a rip-off of 'Dirty Harry' as a different take on the idea. Just as Eastwood's character was another take on 'Bullit'.The story moves along and doesn't skimp on much, definitely bring the popcorn and maybe one quick bathroom break.