While the opening credits roll, several Seattle cops are shot dead. Awakened fully-clothed on his boat, groggy policeman John Wayne (as Lon "McQ" McHugh) learns one of the cops killed was his partner. Complicating matters, his partner looks like the one who killed the others. An assassin also tries to shoot Mr. Wayne, but Wayne is too quick to be killed and guns down the assailant. Wayne decides to track down the killers, who are involved in drug-trafficking. He viciously beats one suspect and deposits him in a men's room urinal. His violent outburst gets Wayne in trouble with superior police officer Eddie Albert (as Kosterman). Wayne won't accept his transfer to a desk job, quits his job, and becomes a vigilante...
Wayne as a modern action hero does not work; the legendary actor appears old and uncomfortable in a role likely considered for Steve McQueen...
While the script does make appreciated adjustments for Wayne's age, he sometimes seems stiff and labored. Conversely, he dashes around town in a little speedster called the "Green Hornet". In one of the most interesting sequences, Wayne immorally uses sex and drugs to obtain information from recovering addict Colleen Dewhurst (as Myra). It's incredible that Wayne prostitutes himself, albeit secondarily (to drugs), but Ms. Dewhurst's delicate performance carries the day. Directed by John Sturges, "McQ" does manage to maintain Wayne's screen presence. Often, Wayne teamed-up with a much younger actor, usually resulting in a great western film. It would have been better to see him similarly co-star, in a modern drama...
Wayne does get to kick a "hippie" early in the running time; to boot, the lad has a full head of natural, fuzzy hair.
***** McQ (1974-01-04) John Sturges ~ John Wayne, Diana Muldaur, Eddie Albert, Colleen Dewhurst
Wayne as a modern action hero does not work; the legendary actor appears old and uncomfortable in a role likely considered for Steve McQueen...
While the script does make appreciated adjustments for Wayne's age, he sometimes seems stiff and labored. Conversely, he dashes around town in a little speedster called the "Green Hornet". In one of the most interesting sequences, Wayne immorally uses sex and drugs to obtain information from recovering addict Colleen Dewhurst (as Myra). It's incredible that Wayne prostitutes himself, albeit secondarily (to drugs), but Ms. Dewhurst's delicate performance carries the day. Directed by John Sturges, "McQ" does manage to maintain Wayne's screen presence. Often, Wayne teamed-up with a much younger actor, usually resulting in a great western film. It would have been better to see him similarly co-star, in a modern drama...
Wayne does get to kick a "hippie" early in the running time; to boot, the lad has a full head of natural, fuzzy hair.
***** McQ (1974-01-04) John Sturges ~ John Wayne, Diana Muldaur, Eddie Albert, Colleen Dewhurst