John Wayne may have left us decades ago, but his legacy as the quintessential Western hero endures. Now, fans can revisit the Duke's final bow on the big screen without spending a dime. The Shootist, the 1976 film that closed out Wayne's legendary career, has just landed on Pluto TV, the free ad-supported streaming service.
The movie tells the story of J.B. Books, an aging gunslinger who, after learning he has terminal cancer, decides to spend his remaining days quietly in a boarding house. But even in his final chapter, trouble finds him, forcing one last confrontation. It's a poignant, meta-textual role for Wayne, who was himself battling illness at the time—he died just three years later.
Directed by Don Siegel, The Shootist boasts an impressive supporting cast, including James Stewart, Lauren Bacall, and a young Ron Howard. The film holds a 79% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising it as a fittingly elegiac swan song for one of Hollywood's most iconic stars.
Interestingly, the movie has a special place in the heart of Quentin Tarantino—a self-proclaimed Wayne superfan who has famously clashed with the director John Ford. In his book Cinema Speculation, Tarantino wrote about The Shootist, acknowledging that while it doesn't reinvent the wheel, it serves a singular purpose: to be a cinematic eulogy to Wayne's career. He even mused that ending Wayne's run with Rooster Cogburn & the Lady would have been a shame.
Tarantino's admiration for Wayne is well-documented, even if his feelings about Ford are less warm. He has often cited Wayne's performances in Ford classics like Stagecoach and The Searchers as essential viewing, even if he can't stand the director behind them. It's a complicated relationship, but one that underscores Wayne's enduring influence on filmmakers.
For those who want to experience the Duke's final ride, The Shootist is now available on Pluto TV. It's a perfect opportunity to revisit a classic Western and appreciate the craft of a true screen legend. And if you're in the mood for more Wayne, you might also check out his 1951 submarine thriller, which has been making waves on Tubi.
Meanwhile, Tarantino is gearing up for his next project, The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth, a spin-off of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood starring Brad Pitt, with David Fincher at the helm. It's a project that has fans buzzing, especially given Tarantino's long-standing claim that he'll retire after his tenth film.
So, whether you're a longtime Wayne devotee or a newcomer curious about the man who defined the Western genre, The Shootist is a must-watch. Head over to Pluto TV and settle in for a classic tale of honor, mortality, and the end of an era.
