View Full Version : The War Wagon (1967)


ethanedwards
January 29th, 2006, 05:01 AM
THE WAR WAGON

DIRECTED BY BURT KENNEDY
PRODUCED BY MARVIN SCHWARTZ
MUSIC BY DIMITRI TIOMKIN
BAJAC/ MARVIN SCHWARTZ PRODUCTION
UNIVERSAL PICTURES

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/078322803101_aPE65_The_War_Wagon_SC.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/bWARWAGON.jpg..http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/cwar_wagon_1_sized.jpg

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

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)

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

Produced
Marvin Schwartz .... producer

Original Music
Dimitri Tiomkin

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
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

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

During the production, Kirk Douglas was late to the set because he was shooting a commercial endorsement for the Democratic Governor of California, Edmund G. Brown. John Wayne was furious, and was late to work the next day because he was shooting a commercial for the Republican candidate Ronald Reagan.

According to director Burt Kennedy, he gave up half his salary so that he could afford to hire Kirk Douglas (quoted in the Production Notes on the Universal Western Collection DVD).

The "War Wagon" itself was built mostly of plywood and other lightweight materials, and painted to look like iron (appropriate "metallic" sound effects-such as when the "heavy" iron doors are opened and closed, etc.) were added to complete the illusion. For many years, at least through the 1980's, the deteriorating remains of "The War Wagon" were displayed in "The Boneyard" (a collection of old outdoor movie props) as part of the Universal Studios Backlot Tour in California.

Average Shot Length and Median Shot Length = ~5.8 seconds.

According to the production notes on the 2003 DVD release, Keenan Wynn's battered hat that he wears in the picture was Leslie Howard's Confederate cavalry hat from Gone With the Wind which Wynn purloined from MGM. Wynn first wore the hat in a 1942 MGM screen test and "wore it in every picture he made".

According to John Wayne, the fight in the saloon was his 500th on-screen fight.

Although Keenan Wynn plays the crazy old man, he was in fact nine years younger than John Wayne.

Length of the War Wagon: 47.5 feet, from lead horse to the back end of the wagon.

John Wayne, who had lost his entire left lung and several ribs in major surgery for cancer in 1964, had great difficulty breathing on an airplane while flying to the location for the start of filming and had to use an oxygen mask throughout the journey. Kirk Douglas recalled that he hadn't realized just how fragile Wayne was until this moment.

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.

* Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Although he is able to speak and understand Spanish throughout the movie, Taw Jackson still needs an interpreter while bargaining with Wild Horse. Given that Wild Horse doesn't want "the white man" in his camp or at his dinner table, it is reasonable that he would refuse to bargain directly with him. Also, it may be that Jackson didn't want Wild Horse to know that he spoke and understood Spanish.

* 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.

* Revealing mistakes: When the Gatling gun is fired against the wood wall, you can see that the squibs fired from the back side of the boards.

* Continuity: As Pierce and Lomax are talking to each other, at the top left corner of the screen, you can clearly see Billy enter the bar with his empty whiskey bottle too early.

* Factual errors: The bandoleers of ammo that guards have across their chests contain ammo too large to fit any of the guns (Colts revolvers, Henry repeating rifles) they are carrying.

* Continuity: During the fight in the saloon, Taw's hat is alternately on/off/on between shots.

* Continuity: When the war wagon crashes, we see one wheel on the upside-down wagon spinning counter-clockwise. In the next shot, it's spinning clockwise.

* Revealing mistakes: When Lomax is opening the safe with the nitro, he sets the lamp (the only light source) in a position which would put the lock in the shadow of the safe itself, yet there is remarkably plenty of light on the lock.

* Continuity: When the gold wagon crashes it stops with it's right side wheels up. When Taw gets to it, it has it's left side wheels in the air.

* Continuity: When Taw is standing by the front of Wes' wagon and notices the loose gold near Wes's hiding spot, he turns back to the rest of the gang. When the camera angle changes he turns back towards the gang again.

* Continuity: From the outside of the War Wagon, the port for the Gatling gun extends to the roof of the turret. From the inside, there is a large metal panel between the top of the port and the roof.

* Revealing mistakes: In the scene where the Gatling Gun is fired at a barrel of water, although large holes in the barrel are pouring out gallons of water, the level of the water in the barrel never goes down.

* Revealing mistakes: In the scene where Pierce is inspecting the war wagon, there are 2 small spots visible on the wagon not covered by black paint, revealing that the wagon is actually made of wood, not metal.

Memorable Quotes (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062472/quotes)

Filming Locations
Durango, Mexico
Sierra de Organos, Sombrerete, Zacatecas, Mexico
Six Points Texas, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Watch the Trailer:-

6I39-Fe7Rc4

ethanedwards
January 29th, 2006, 05:07 AM
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

ethanedwards
January 29th, 2006, 05:10 AM
Hi,

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/war_wgaon.jpg

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

ethanedwards
February 5th, 2006, 07:15 PM
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 (http://www.dukewayne.com/showthread.php?t=329)

chester7777
February 6th, 2006, 12:12 AM
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 (http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemID=MCA020298) has this movie at the unbelievable price of $6.10! They also have one movie poster.

Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0783228031/qid=1139202582/sr=1-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-2966141-4147854?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=130) has it for a slightly higher price, although it is still less than $10.

Chester :newyear:

ethanedwards
November 6th, 2006, 08:10 PM
Hi,

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

etsija
November 7th, 2006, 08:44 AM
The rivalry between Wayne and Douglas is very funny, and apparently not on-screen only. A thoroughly entertaining movie

Senta
November 7th, 2006, 03:52 PM
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:

ZS_Maverick
November 7th, 2006, 05:16 PM
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.

Popol Vuh
November 8th, 2006, 06:28 PM
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

ethanedwards
November 11th, 2006, 08:12 PM
Thanks everyone, who's joined in,
any other members, wish to add
any comments, on this Movie, please do.

dc65
November 13th, 2006, 12:49 PM
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.

ethanedwards
November 13th, 2006, 01:08 PM
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!!

Senta
November 13th, 2006, 01:14 PM
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

ethanedwards
November 13th, 2006, 02:10 PM
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!!!

Jay J. Foraker
November 14th, 2006, 11:32 AM
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

ethanedwards
January 27th, 2007, 07:59 AM
Here is a photo of

The War Wagon,

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

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/94d0c519.jpg

DukePilgrim
January 27th, 2007, 10:25 AM
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

ethanedwards
January 27th, 2007, 10:50 AM
Hi Mike,

I guess it must be,
about 1990!

Robbie
January 27th, 2007, 04:16 PM
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:

DukePilgrim
January 27th, 2007, 04:49 PM
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

ethanedwards
January 27th, 2007, 08:48 PM
It was sort of in a back-lot of all sorts of props and things,
exactly where Mike, I just don't know!!!

DukePilgrim
January 28th, 2007, 05:18 PM
What was the message that Kirk Douglas sent on the telegraph before he cut the wires?


Mike

General Sterling Price
January 28th, 2007, 05:25 PM
What was the message that Kirk Douglas sent on the telegraph before he cut the wires?


Mike


I always wondered the same thing!

GSP

DukePilgrim
January 28th, 2007, 05:45 PM
The last line said "El Paso" but you couldn't read the rest.

Wonder who the message was to be given to?

Mike

chester7777
August 15th, 2007, 02:59 AM
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

DakotaSurfer
August 15th, 2007, 11:41 AM
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.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c279/CJane_59/Duke/Magazine/th_scan0009.jpg (http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c279/CJane_59/Duke/Magazine/scan0009.jpg)

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.

chester7777
August 15th, 2007, 12:12 PM
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:

arthurarnell
August 15th, 2007, 01:22 PM
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

dukefan1
April 6th, 2008, 10:49 AM
Here are examples of the book and comic of the movie. Enjoy!

Mark

http://www.dukewayne.com/imagehosting/2147f8e24e65de9.jpg

http://www.alljohnwayne.com/Comics/The%20War%20Wagon%20comic.jpg

Heber Snow
March 18th, 2009, 06:51 PM
The War Wagon also appeared in an episode of 'Desperado' some years back.
Best thing about the movie was the Dimitri Tiomkin score (one of his last I think) It lifted the picture greatly, just as Elmer Bernstein's score elevated 'Big Jake'.

alamo221
November 29th, 2009, 10:37 AM
The last time I was in Florida to Universal-2000-the War Wagon had pretty much rotted to a pile of wood. A sad end. Last I heard, they removed the entire prop area for another attraction.

Hondo Duke Lane
February 28th, 2010, 09:20 AM
There was a scene that seems to have a problem. This is where Taw Jackson (Duke), Lomax (Douglas) and Billy (Robert Walker) went to Taw's old ranch to get the nitro from the old shed. When they capture the one gaurd, all three were with him and Taw told them they had five minutes to get done with their job. Now the question I have is why didn't the gaurd say something to Pierce (Bruce Cabot) when they went in the house? You know he heard Taw tell Lomax and Billy about the 5 minutes since that gaurd knew that Lomax was suppose to gun down Taw.

Just curious if anyone knows what I am talking about.

Cheers :cool: Hondo

909punk
November 29th, 2010, 05:39 PM
I watched this yesterday, Hondo, your correct!

Also, I had the closed caption on, when Taw and Levi talk to Wild Horse, the captions told me it was in Spanish and then Native. Was that the case? I don't know either. :D

"twenty dollars and a horse" :D

Gorch
December 1st, 2010, 07:22 PM
If anyone is interested, Intrada has released the full, uncut Tiomkin score in glorious stereo. I picked it up and was knocked out by the quality. Some of the liner note images were provided by Roger Nash, one of the foremost collectors of Wayne memorabilia.


We deal in lead, friend.

lasbugas
March 9th, 2011, 02:53 PM
http://i67.servimg.com/u/f67/11/97/59/03/fax_so69.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=2598&u=11975903)

http://i67.servimg.com/u/f67/11/97/59/03/fax_so70.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=2599&u=11975903)

http://i67.servimg.com/u/f67/11/97/59/03/wayn1064.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=3650&u=11975903)

http://i67.servimg.com/u/f67/11/97/59/03/wayn1065.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=3651&u=11975903)

lasbugas
March 9th, 2011, 02:55 PM
http://i67.servimg.com/u/f67/11/97/59/03/wayne772.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=3214&u=11975903)

http://i67.servimg.com/u/f67/11/97/59/03/wayne773.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=3215&u=11975903)

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http://i37.servimg.com/u/f37/11/97/59/03/a_duke37.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=7043&u=11975903)

lasbugas
March 23rd, 2011, 03:34 PM
Lobby Card Mexicaine
http://i67.servimg.com/u/f67/11/97/59/03/loby_e14.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=2645&u=11975903)

http://i27.servimg.com/u/f27/11/97/59/03/lucha_10.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=5183&u=11975903)

dukefan1
November 6th, 2011, 01:58 AM
Check this video out about the world premier of The War Wagon. Enjoy!

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675072509_Dual-World-Premiere_The-War-Wagon_John-Wayne_dinner-reception_cowboy-band-plays

lasbugas
December 10th, 2011, 02:38 AM
http://i47.servimg.com/u/f47/11/97/59/03/wayne_11.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=9210&u=11975903)

alamo221
December 10th, 2011, 05:04 PM
Quick question-anyone know who doubled Duke in the bar fight? It's not "Bad" Chuck or Jim Burke in the long shots. Looks a bit like Red Morgan, but he's not. Anyone know for sure?

wtrayah
December 11th, 2011, 07:43 AM
I liked it! very entertaining! Amazing how we always love the Duke! Even when he's a bad guy!

Lt. Brannigan
December 11th, 2011, 03:04 PM
I liked it! very entertaining! Amazing how we always love the Duke! Even when he's a bad guy!

I would disagree that Duke was the bad guy in this movie.. I would say that Bruce Cabot is the bad guy.

Jay J. Foraker
December 12th, 2011, 12:47 AM
Taw Jackson wasn't a great person, but on the whole was the good guy in "War Wagon." He was framed by the bad guy, played by Bruce Cabot.