Finally, an answer to the question we've all been waiting for - where did Kirk Douglas's characteristic dimple come from? From the man himself to the pretty Indian senorita - he sleeps with his chin on his ring! Who's going to argue with that? Well this was a decent team up between two of Hollywood's legends, Douglas and the great John Wayne. They don't start out necessarily as compadres, in fact, Emmett, New Mexico town boss Pierce (Bruce Cabot) wants to hire Lomax (Douglas) to kill Taw Jackson (Wayne) before Jackson can stir up too much trouble when he shows up back in town. Pierce even had the audacity to move into Jackson's ranch home while he served out a three year prison sentence. It didn't sound like this would end well for the bad guys.By now, I can't even say how many Westerns I've seen where a wagon full of gold wound up the target of outlaws and good guys, though this is one of the more entertaining ones. Jackson puts together a colorful bunch to assist him, each with their own foibles that threaten the success of the mission, but with the Duke in charge, no one can go off course very far before being reigned right back in.You know what I couldn't figure out? When Lomax and Billy Hyatt (Robert walker Jr.) broke into the safe at Pierce's ranch, why didn't they just switch the bottles of nitroglycerin with the empty ones Bill brought with him? That would have shaved a minute off their getaway time. Seems it would have been a whole lot safer too.With the gold dust from the War Wagon winding up in those casks of flour, I pretty much thought things were going to go the way of the Treasure of Sierra Madre, but darn if there wasn't enough left over to make the original plan worthwhile. I guess if there was a sequel we'd know if Taw Jackson ever made the split with his partners. I'd bet he did. For an outlaw, he seemed like that kind of guy.

The personal sentiments of John Wayne and Kirk Douglas were often light years apart. Both socially and politically, these two veteran stars were of different mindsets and caused on-set tension more than once. Yet in a professional case of opposites attracting, Wayne and Douglas worked together – and often exceptionally well – on three motion pictures in the late 1960s.Their last project was 1967's 'The War Wagon,' a tongue-in-cheek Western financed by Wayne's Batjac Productions company. Made at the tail-end of American cinema's great Western era, 'The War Wagon' combines action and dark comedy in what is very much an homage to the grand tradition that Wayne, in particular, was an integral part of.Wayne, in his 162nd film appearance, plays Taw Jackson, a New Mexico rancher who has been released from prison after serving three years of his term. Jackson is seeking revenge against Pierce (Bruce Cabot), a mining company owner who stole his land and sent him behind bars on false charges. He aims to hijack Pierce's notorious War Wagon, a steel-lined coach that is used to transport precious metals.Aware that a half-million dollars' worth of gold will be shipped in the coming days, Jackson brings together some assistants. He hires a dependable gunman (Lomax, played by Douglas), a drunk explosives expert (Billy Hyatt, Robert Walker Jr. of 'The Ceremony'), a paranoid horse driver (Wes Fletcher, Keenan Wynn of 'Shoot, Gringo...Shoot!'), and an Indian who has assimilated to the White ways of doing business (Levi Walking Bear, 'Dallas' regular Howard Keel).'The War Wagon' offers a few engaging subplots, including the absence of loyalty from Lomax, who already shot Taw years earlier and has been offered a fair sum by Pierce to finish the job. Character actress Velora Noland plays Fletcher's young, bartered wife who is trapped in her relationship and confides in Hyatt, a man closer in age. The supporting cast is dotted with Hollywood veterans, including Joanna Barnes, Bruce Dern, and Gene Evans.With a cast of Wayne, Douglas, and familiar support, it is inevitable that 'The War Wagon' entertains. The film seems to wink at campy Westerns of previous decades and never takes itself seriously. Clair Huffaker's screenplay (adapted from his novel 'Badman') uses a taut storyline and keeps us guessing at what happens next. The characters in Taw Jackson's entourage, never really fleshed out by Huffaker's writing, are still an amusing group who don't like each other but must rely on one another to stay alive.Burt Kennedy's direction is reliable, moving the film at a steady pace. The action scenes are sure-handled and Kennedy (who also directed Wayne's 'The Train Robbers') makes good use of the rugged country in Durango for bands of horsemen and scenes involving Indian tribes who are being driven off the land. The direction is complemented by gritty cinematography from William Clothier ('The Comancheros,' 'Stagecoach') and a rousing score by Dimitri Tiomkin.Released in 1967, 'The War Wagon' came very late in the game for traditional Westerns; it was around the time that new frontiers were being crossed by directors like Sergio Leone. 'The War Wagon' is aimed at fans of old-time Western stories and doesn't concern itself with a mastery of cinema. There are more than enough clichés and plot gaps to go around and Wayne is making his umpteenth reprise as his old Western self. However, it is impossible not to like the historic combination of Wayne and Douglas, who are almost synonymous with the prairie.For Western fans, 'The War Wagon' is one of those essentials that should not be missed. Universal Studios has made two releases of the film on DVD, although there is reportedly no difference between them. The more recent was a 2003 disc that is part of the 'Universal Western Collection.' 'The War Wagon' is presented in 2.35:1 widescreen with language options of English, Spanish, and French in Dolby 2.0 mono. Subtitles are provided in English and Spanish only.Universal's DVD treatment of the film is minimal. Visually, 'The War Wagon' appears to have been transferred from a studio print without cleanup. There are small artifacts throughout the running time and grain, though not overtly noticeable, can be seen on lighter tones. Sound, including dialogue and effects, is generally clear and Dimitri Tiomkin's score is given due recognition in the speakers. The only extras are the theatrical trailer, notes on the production, and written bios of Wayne, Douglas, and Burt Kennedy. Universal's presentation is rather lean, but as one of the actors' lesser films, it will have to do for now.** ½ out of 4Roving Reviewer - www.rovingreviewer.blogspot.com

By the late 1960s the Western as an art form was pretty much fagged out and this is a nearly perfect example of its decadent period.Douglas is hired to knock off Wayne but discovers that, if he throws in with Wayne's plan, he stands to make much more money. The plan is to rob a wagon train full of gold. The problem is that the wagon is armored and equipped with a Gatling gun. Wayne and Douglas remain friendly enemies and trade wisecracks but they combine their efforts. They dig up a queer crew of gangsters including an Indian, Howard Keel, and a youngster who is an expert in explosive and an abject drunk, Robert Walker, Jr.It's as if everyone involved recognized the futility of continuing CPR on the corpse and just gave up. It was directed by Burt Kennedy, who wrote some of the most interesting little Westerns imaginable for Randolph Scott. His direction is pedestrian.Howard Keel, almost unrecognizable under his make up, I suppose is added for comic effect but isn't funny. Often the producers will insist on adding a younger actor for appeal to a different audience -- Ricky Nelson here, Fabian or some other heart throb there. In "The War Wagon" it's Walker and the attempt fails. He's not cute, talented, or appealing, although for all anyone knows he might be a splendid young man in real life, with a stamp collection and a Shih Tzu.If there's a cliché missing, I didn't notice. It's opens with a lively Country and Western tune about the things men will do for one of those wagons full of gold. (Music by Dmitri Tiomkin. Dmitri -- what happened to YOU?) We have one of those bar room brawls in which everyone is slugging everyone else without reason. Men have sturdy chairs splintered over their backs, then turn around and bash the guy who wielded it. Men are thrown through windows. A piano is flung around. Banter: the two heroes shoot a couple of bad guys. Douglas: "Mine hit the ground first." Wayne: "Mine was taller." A wagon load of flour detaches itself from the horses, as all racing wagons must, before rolling off a cliff and exploding at the bottom. Danger: Radioactive Flour.Even Wardrobe gave up. Wayne is dressed as he was always dressed in his later, less imaginative Westerns: jeans, pink shirt, vest, bandanna up around his chin, and the usual beige hat. Douglas is dressed as no cowboy ever was: an olive-green suede vest and matching boots. He wears what appears to be a pair of leotards. He has a black leather glove on his left hand and a big silver ring on the outside of the glove.No need to go on. I sat through it years ago and tried again recently but couldn't do it. It was almost painful to see some of these actors growing old and flabby, hefting themselves onto horses yet again, for the long ride downhill to the end of the trail.

John Wayne and Kirk Douglas appeared together in three films between 1965 and 1967. First off was "In Harm's Way" in 1965, then the ensemble picture that was "Cast a Giant Shadow" in 1966. Then came this film, their first Western, and sadly their last outing together. Sadly because The War Wagon shows a real genuine chemistry between two men who were very different socially; but on screen they clearly had regard for what each one gave to a movie. Directed by Burt Kennedy and coming out of Wayne's own Batjac Productions, The War Wagon centres around two old friends (some what grudgingly it seems) who plan to rob the vehicle of the title. An armoured stage coach, resplendent with Gatling Gun, manned front middle and centre with crack shot gunmen, and full of gold, lots of gold! Adding fuel to the fire is that the Wagon is run by a man called Frank Pierce (Bruce Cabot), who stole Taw Jackson's (Wayne) ranch as he "cough-cough" served time in jail. Further upping the intrigue is that Pierce wants to hire known gunman Lomax (Douglas) to kill Jackson, oblivious that the two men are plotting to rob him.If that all sounds like a caper movie then you would be right, because it is, and a splendid one at that. A caper movie in a Western setting, lusciously photographed by Duke Wayne's favourite cinematographer, William H. Clothier at Durango in Mexico, and rattling along at a fair old clip. Support comes in the form of Howard Keel (a humorous turn as Indian Levi Walking Bear), Robert Walker Jr, Keenan Wynn, Valora Noland and look out for Bruce Dern in a short but effective role. We got quips aplenty as the two machismo fuelled stars play off each over with glee, we got one almighty punch up that had me personally laughing out loud and for those that like good stunt work, well we are well served there also. It's also a film to note because it sees Wayne playing a baddie, an ex convict leading an odd bunch of robbers, driven by revenge and greed. A role that by the looks of it, Wayne loved immensely. So saddle up folks, and as soon as you hear the quirky strains of Ed Ames' warbling "Ballad of The War Wagon," you should know you are in for a smashing little treat. 7/10