THE WAR WAGON

DIRECTED BY BURT KENNEDY
MUSIC BY DIMITRI TIOMKIN
A BAJAC PRODUCTION-A MARVIN SCHWARTZ PRESENTATION
RELEASED THROUGH UNIVERSAL

278279280

INFORMATION FROM IMDb

Plot Summary

Taw Jackson returns from prison having survived being shot, to the ranch and gold that Frank Pierce stole from him.
Jackson makes a deal with Lomax, the man who shot him 5 years ago to join forces against Pierce and steal a large gold shipment.
The shipments are transported in the War Wagon, an armored stage coach that is heavily guarded.
The two of them become the key players in the caper to separate Pierce from Jackson's gold.

Summary written by John Vogel

Writing credits
Clair Huffaker (novel Badman)
Clair Huffaker (screenplay)

Full Cast

John Wayne .... Taw Jackson
Kirk Douglas .... Lomax
Howard Keel .... Levi Walking Bear
Robert Walker Jr. .... Billy Hyatt (as Robert Walker)
Keenan Wynn .... Wes Fletcher
Bruce Cabot .... Frank Pierce
Joanna Barnes .... Lola
Valora Noland .... Kate
Bruce Dern .... Hammond or Brown
Gene Evans .... Hoag
Terry Wilson .... Sheriff Strike
Don Collier .... Shack
Sheb Wooley .... Snyder
Ann McCrea .... Felicia
Emilio Fernández .... Calito
Frank McGrath .... Bartender
Chuck Roberson .... Brown/outrider
Boyd 'Red' Morgan .... Early (as Red Morgan)
Hal Needham .... Hite
Marco Antonio .... Wild Horse
Perla Walters .... Rosita
Ariadna Welter
Margarite Luna .... Asian girl (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons .... (uncredited)
Miko Mayama .... Asian girl (uncredited)
Midori .... Asian girl (uncredited)
José Trinidad Villa .... Townsman at bar (uncredited)

Stunts

Chuck Roberson .... stunts
Jim Burk .... stunts (uncredited)
Steven Burnett .... stunts (uncredited)
Everett Creach .... stunts (uncredited)
Richard Farnsworth .... stunts (uncredited)
Tom Hennesy .... stunts (uncredited)
Gary McLarty .... stunts (uncredited)
Hal Needham .... stunts (uncredited)
Alex Sharp .... stunts (uncredited)
Dean Smith .... stunts (uncredited)
Jack Williams .... stunts (uncredited)

Cinematography by
William H. Clothier

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Al Jennings .... assistant director
Cliff Lyons .... second unit director

Other crew
Ed Ames .... singer: title song

Filming Locations

Durango, Mexico

Sierra de Organos, Sombrerete, Zacatecas, Mexico

Trivia

* As Lomax is riding into Chabisco, the music coming from the saloon is an instrumental version of "The Ballad of the War Wagon."

Goofs

* Anachronisms: Pierce's men carry Henry rifles, but their bandoleers hold .30-40 Krag ammunition.

Henry rifle ammunition was short and blunt, not long and tapered.

* Revealing mistakes: As Pierce looks out of the gun port modification to the war wagon at the adobe wall with pots on it
, the magazine of the Gatling gun is seen to be empty. Also there is physically not enough room above the gun for one to fit on the gun.

* Plot holes: Although he is able to speak and understand Spanish throughout the movie,
Taw Jackson still needs an interpreter while bargaining with Wild Horse.

* Revealing mistakes: In the Pierce's ranch, after Lomax and Billy enter in the shack,
Lomax lights the lampion. Then his shadow holding the lampion is projected on the wall,
but the only light inside the shack comes from the lampion itself.

* Continuity: After he opens the safe, Lomax takes a bottle of nitroglycerin and delivers it to Billy.
It is completely full. When Billy begins to spill it in another bottle, it is almost empty.

* Revealing mistakes: The wagon that runs ungoverned, after the last barrel with gold falls, is driven through the opening below the seat.

Memorable Quotes

[after shooting down two bad guys]
Lomax: Mine hit the ground first.
Taw Jackson: Mine was taller.

Lomax: I can't afford to let you get killed, unless I do it!

Lomax: You caused me a lot of embarrassment! You're the only man I shot, that I didn't kill.

Lomax: [Jackson and Lomax see a man getting shot at by a gang] Let me guess which one's your friend.

INFORMATION IMDb

Hi,

349

Although not one of Duke's all time classic westerns,
I really like this film, and is one of my personal favourites.
I love every bit of it, right down to the title tune, da da da, dum dum, da da da, dum dum!!
Can't you just hear it now!!!
Although Duke and Kirk were not bosom friends, they respected one another,
and the chemistry between the two, is magic, constantly bouncing remarks off
one another, some of which are mentioned in the Memorable Quotes.
Kirk, said of Wayne, that he was a bully on the set, and bullied Kennedy, shamelessly.
Kennedy, admitted he was tough, especially, as it was his company.
With support from Howard Keel and Bruce Cabot, and guess who,
that nasty piece of work Bruce Dern!!!
Although the film was judged, an above average, horse-opera, much of its
humour failed to come off, even with Duke and Kirk in it., and it's plot bordered on the cliche.

The NYTimes, branded it,
Pretty, flabby prairie stuff
I like this film, apart from what the critics said, and I thought
it made for, a good all round, family piece of entertainment.
Rating 8/10

Hi,
I have been researching all the threads, back to the start of the JWMB,
looking for previous discussion, relating to the movies.
I have found the following, comments, and have copied them here,
so that they are now under one forum:-


The War Wagon ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

Originally posted by ethanedwards@Jan 29 2006, 02:07 AM
Memorable Quotes

[after shooting down two bad guys]
Lomax: Mine hit the ground first.
Taw Jackson: Mine was taller.

INFORMATION IMDb26147
One of our FAVORITE lines, especially since it was upon the death of Bruce Dern's character. Unfortunately, he wasn't the taller of the two :lol: .

Deep Discount DVD ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) has this movie at the unbelievable price of $6.10! They also have one movie poster.

Amazon ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) has it for a slightly higher price, although it is still less than $10.

Chester :newyear:

Hi,

This is this weeks Movie Of the Week,
Please let's hear your comments and Discussion

The rivalry between Wayne and Douglas is very funny, and apparently not on-screen only. A thoroughly entertaining movie

I never listed this movie amoung my great favorites, but when I watch it I always enjoy it. And it never became dull to watch. Music is certainly among my favorites. And this company of good losers who almost get that money and lost it at the final moment. I think this way the ending is much better, as if they get all at last.
I don't like Douglas, but he is right in the place here.
I shall watch it again this week.
Regards,
Senta :rolleyes:

This was one of my favorite movies as a kid, and it's still one I really enjoy; one of the most fun Duke Westerns. I've always been a fan of Kirk Douglas as well. Duke and Kirk did a couple of good war movies together, but I always wish they would have done more westerns like this.

Not much to add to what others have said. Over one and a half hour of entertainment with everything you want in a western. I like these movies having a touch of comedy. Maybe it's not great art, but I enjoy every minute of this one.

Regards
Popol Vuh

Thanks everyone, who's joined in,
any other members, wish to add
any comments, on this Movie, please do.

Decent movie, pretty funny in places as has been stated. The 'War Wagon' was pretty cool, making this like a bank heist on horses.

Wasn't the duke wearing the exact same outfit from one of his other movies? Or maybe he just re-wore this outfit in a later movie. Or I'm just crazy.

Well worth an hour and a half.

Originally posted by dc65@Nov 13 2006, 05:49 PM
Wasn't the duke wearing the exact same outfit from one of his other movies? Or maybe he just re-wore this outfit in a later movie. Or I'm just crazy.

36930


Hi dc65,

No you're not going mad,
he wore more or less the same clothes,
in most of his westerns, from
The Comancheros (1961) onwards.

The same leather waistcoat,
is there in all, but a couple of films afterwards.
The Red-River 'D' belt buckle appears,
in Hawk's films.
You can bet the same hat, shirts and trousers,
are also re-cycled!!

Hi all,
What always interest me, why these horses they going among while visiting the his former ranch are in such a bad shape. It seems they brought them to the movie location from the slaughter house. :fear2:
Regards,
Senta

Hi Vera,

The same probably applied to the horses too.
They probably used them in every movie also,
no wonder they were looking worn out by
the time they appeared in this film!!!

This is really a fun movie to watch. I particularly like Howard Keel in the role of the Indian. He had some really funny lines. But the banter between Wayne and Douglas is what makes this movie really enjoyable. Plus Tiomkin's music and Ed Ames' (he of tomahawk fame :rolleyes: on Johnny Carson's tonight show) balladering in the title song.
Cheers - Jay :D

Here is a photo of

The War Wagon,

taken at Universal Studios, Florida,
a few years back.

1249

Hi Keith

I dont remember seeing that. When do you reckon the photo was taken?

It would be typical of Universal to have it in some warehouse now rather that exhibited for fans.


Mike

Hi Mike,

I guess it must be,
about 1990!

Hi All

I remember viewing this picture in the 'John Wayne film society' magazine based in England some years ago. Its good to know our beloved 'War Wagon' is still about.

:agent:

Thanks Keith

I was first at Universal in 1993. Was it around the Wild West /Stunt Show they used to hold?

It definitely wasnt there a few years ago


Mike

It was sort of in a back-lot of all sorts of props and things,
exactly where Mike, I just don't know!!!

What was the message that Kirk Douglas sent on the telegraph before he cut the wires?


Mike

What was the message that Kirk Douglas sent on the telegraph before he cut the wires?


Mike


I always wondered the same thing!

GSP

The last line said "El Paso" but you couldn't read the rest.

Wonder who the message was to be given to?

Mike

This poster for The War Wagon has the same artwork at the bottom, as the poster in Keith's introductory post in this thread.

2036

I picked up a book not too long ago, I may have even posted about it in another thread, but it's a book of 334 movie posters that were auctioned off back in 2004.

[Only registered and activated users can see links] ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

The poster you have of The War Wagon went for $129. The prices depend on the condition. The same place that put out the book is still selling posters. I know someone donated a mint condition poster of The Quiet Man at the centennial celebration and the owner was donating it to the new museum. He wanted the starting price listed at $15,000. It looked like it was brand new and encased in glass probably for the last 50 years.

Thanks, DS, for the info about the book and the poster. What an interesting book! Personally, the more I see of many of the older posters, the more impressed I am with the artistic quality of them. You know those display cases for posters, in stores, where you can flip through them like a giant book? I think it would be neat to have enough room in my house to have one of those, with all these cool posters in it (how else could you display so many?).

The pictures of posters that I have been sharing came from Les Adams, and have been shared with his permission. I believe he owns many of the posters pictured.

Chester :newyear:

Hi

Whilst i have a couple of the original posters where to display them is a problem and like many I keep them rolled up. However the mini posters are good and these are kept in a folder which is open to view in the front room. The art work on these posters is good.

Regards

Arthur

Here are examples of the book and comic of the movie. Enjoy!

Mark

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]