This is another cop film from the 70's, (probably the best decade for this genre). If you've seen Brannigan and enjoyed that, then you'll know what to expect. The plot is surprisingly cleverly worked out, the clues casually planted along the way and never given too much attention until they fall into place even if one of the villains among the boys in blue seems rather obvious. John Wayne plays McQ, a Seattle cop. When his friend, also a cop, gets killed McQ sets out to find his killers, and has no ethics about how he does it. As the plot leads him into the seedy underworld, (what 70's cop film doesn't) he quits the police force and becomes a private eye in order to catch and bring the killers to justice.This is by no means a great John Wayne action picture. It does, however, hold its own and hold interest. Wayne, as usual, take the high moral ground and refuses to compromise on what he believes to be right. Lettieri is a terrific villain, underplaying the menace, and there's a decent funky Elmer Bernstein score, but it's a solid film rather than an inspired one. Director Sturges creates an uncomplicated sense of flow, keeping the story moving along, using the backdrop of Seattle very well. Some parts that would normally seem slow (character development) are kept afloat by better than average performances by Watkins, Muldaur and Dewhurst, who, incidentally, doesn't do any skag. I liked the hot pursuit car chase sequences (there were three) not because they were car chase sequences, but thoughtfully done, well-planned, professionally shot, highly exciting car chase sequences. It may not have all the CGI special effects and fancy stuff newer movies have, but some of the best movies ever made were made before computers.Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

Regretting turning down Dirty Harry a few years earlier, John Wayne tries to make his own "cop who plays by his own rules" movie with this Swingin' Seventies thriller directed by John Sturges. Wayne plays McQ, a Firebird-driving tough-as-nails detective who investigates the killing of his friend and uncovers corruption in the police department. It's a part that would be a better fit for a younger man, but the same could be said for many of Duke's later film roles. He does a fine job with what the script gives him, which isn't much. He's backed up by a solid cast, most of whom are going through the motions. Colleen Dewhurst is a standout in her small role as a junkie bartender Duke sleeps with. The film owes a little to the Steve McQueen classic Bullitt. One can't help but wonder how much of that was intentional, given the name of the title character here. The action scenes are decent but the mystery elements are limp. It's dated, cheesy, and sometimes fun but never quite as much fun as you want it to be. It also goes on too long for its own good. Worth a look for fans of the Duke but it'll probably bore most viewers.

I know this film since four decades now, and believe it or not, but I only realize now that the true nature of it. I mean the most known western actor who works with one of the most famous western director for the fist time after all these years, and for making: guess what...A CRIME MOVIE !!!Is not this incredible?Yes, John Wayne will always remain the most popular western actor in movie history. And every movie buff knows how much John Sturges is also a great western maker: THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, GUNFIGHT AT OK CORRALL, LAST TRAIN FROM GUNHILL, BACKLASH, HOUR OF THE GUN, LAW AND JACK WADE... And the two did not work together, but finally met at only a few years from their retirement for both of them. And to make NOT A WESTERN but a crime flick. A good one indeed. Sorry if I repeat myself, but I still can't believe it...Even after forty years. They made this film, the year John Ford died...Hmmm.

McQ is somewhat of a change of pace for John Wayne, as he trades in his horse for a Trans Am and plays a Seattle cop looking for the men who gunned down his partner. Wayne brings his trademark style into the role of Lon McQ, a no-nonsense type who is not above smacking around suspects in order to get to the truth. While it's kind of an odd fit, Wayne does deliver a credible performance, and he's assisted by a strong supporting cast, with Diana Muldaur and Colleen Dewhurst delivering standout performances in particular.The plot of McQ is filled with twists and turns, but it's also kind of thin in certain parts. I will say that the cinematography is top-notch, and really gets the most out of its location of Seattle. There are a couple of good chase scenes, which while obviously borrowing from Bullitt and The French Connection, still add quite a bit to the movie as a whole.Overall, while McQ may not be as good as say, Dirty Harry, it's still a good movie which provides a different type of role for one of Hollywood's most legendary actors.